CSNSW plays a central role in strengthening the mission of the Catholic school, which is “the integral formation of students…for the common good of society”
- St Pope John Paul II
The core of our mission and identity
The mission and identity of Catholic schools flow from the person of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord. Christ the Teacher is the cornerstone that schools are built upon.
Catholic schools embody his sacramental presence by being vibrant communities of faith and learning.
Mission and identity in Catholic schools
The mission and identity of Catholic schools give rise to a distinctive holistic approach that involves the education of the whole person by integrating faith, culture and life.
This approach, combined with the pursuit of excellence, prepares students to make a strong contribution to building God’s kingdom on earth. It also supports students on their spiritual journey and in the development of their moral character.
Students are formed through the study of subjects covered in the NSW Curriculum and participation in extracurricular activities.
These studies and activities are integrated with a Catholic curriculum, which includes:
- a range of Church teachings
- attendance at regular liturgies
- annual retreats
- pastoral care.
The work of Catholic schools is enriched by being a part of a broader Catholic community. It incorporates parish life and a range of Church social welfare, health care and aged care agencies.
CSNSW supports mission and identity
We work with:
- Member Bishops
- Catholic School Agencies (CSAs)
- RI/MPJP authorities
- schools.
We facilitate statewide approaches to strengthen the mission and identity of NSW/ACT Catholic schools.
We support this broad activity by providing:
- policy development support
- advocacy and external relations activities
- opportunities for collaboration across the Catholic education sector
- approaches to maximise student educational and faith outcomes.
The role of parents and carers
Catholic schools work in close partnership with the families and carers of students.
As primary carers, they have the responsibility of being the primary educators of their children.
We liaise with the Council of Catholic School Parents (NSW/ACT) to make sure the voice of parents is clearly heard throughout the Catholic school sector.
Staff faith and spiritual formation
We provide opportunities for our staff, leadership team and Board members to receive ongoing faith and spiritual formation.
This formation inspires our strategic and operational functions. It strengthens our resolve to accompany our stakeholders in Catholic education.
We seek innovative ways to proclaim the liberating message of Christ’s gospel to our students. This allows them to discover the ‘fullness of life’ that he has to offer (John 10:10).