More recently I spent a morning at St Joseph’s Primary School, Gloucester, meeting the beautiful students and the whole staff. The time spent reading with Kindergarten was joyous, although I found it hard to get up off the carpet after sitting cross-legged for so long! The wonderful school choir then performed three songs which was so entertaining. My congratulations on their recent win at the Eisteddfod.
The afternoon was spent discussing leadership with students at San Clemente High School, Mayfield, and that proved to be enlightening, listening to the students explain how they love their school, and the pastoral concern the staff have for them as learners. The day after I had occasion to tour the facilities at St Francis Xavier College, Hamilton and to speak with the student leadership team. All of this assured for me that Catholic education is in fine shape in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese and that there is a bright future in Australia with the calibre of informed student graduating from our schools.
With the pending school holidays, I wish each of our school community members a safe and relaxing period of rest and recuperation. I also thank the staff at the Catholic Schools Office for their dedication to supporting our Diocesan schools in an exemplary fashion. I continue to keep each of you in my prayers and ask that you say a prayer for my wife Alison and I as we embark on leading our 8th Spiritual Immersion with 12 Australian adults to the slums of Nairobi Kenya.
