The new pastoral guidelines concerning gender and sexuality are “groundbreaking”, says New Ways Ministry’s Robert Shine. Primarily targeting Catholic educators, “Aroha and Diversity in Catholic Schools” is the opposite of so many policies which have harmed students and upset school communities in recent years, Shine comments. The document clearly shows the bishops’ core concern is Read more
Education is a spiritual work of mercy not because it imparts information, but because it helps another find meaning and learn to shine, Pope Francis told members of a Catholic group from Argentina. When done with respect, “education offers a meaning, a narrative to every element of human life,” and it “helps to bring out Read more
An initiative challenging Bishops to support the evangelising mission and ministries in Catholic schools saw religious education leaders learning together last week. Some participated online, others came together in person. Organised by Catholic Education Auckland in partnership with the Diocese of Hamilton and Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College, the Spiritus Aotearoa NZ 2022 summit responded Read more
Dialoguing with the local community while protecting and promoting the Catholic school’s identity are vital components of the modern Catholic school. The instruction comes in a new document about Catholic schools from the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education. “The Identity of the Catholic School for a Culture of Dialogue” focuses on the schools’ obligations to Read more
Catholic schools in New South Wales are divided over a proposed anti-trans education bill. The proposal seeks to ban any discussion of gender diversity in the state’s classrooms. The state’s main Catholic education body supports One Nation leader Mark Latham’s the bill. The large Parramatta diocese, however, is lodging a strong objection. Latham’s bill proposes Read more
Carley Dunphey principal at St. Patrick School in Brighton, Michigan worked on the school’s roof after students surpassed 100,000 minutes of reading over two weeks during a read-a-thon. “I put a challenge out there to our students that if they reached 100,000 minutes reading as a combined total for our whole school, that I would Read more
Hato Pāori College timuaki, principal, Nathan Matthews said he was pleased with the announcement of a new $20 million fund for Māori boarding schools. “The ability to upgrade our facilities is timely. Our preference would be to put it into pastoral care, because [students] spend 17 hours in the living environment and only seven hours Read more
Taupo’s St Patrick’s Catholic School Year 7 and 8 students stayed in cardboard boxes last Thursday night and fasted on Friday. Sponsored by friends and family, the students raised $2400 to go towards backpack bedrolls and sleeping bags and washing facilities for the homeless, and also for foodbanks in Taupō and Tūrangi. Read more
Andrew Murray is the new principal of St Mary’s College in Thorndon, Wellington. He is the first man appointed to the role in the 170-year history of the Catholic girls’ secondary school. Murray, pictured above with his wife Benita and their daughter Charlotte, will start his new role at St Mary’s at the beginning of Read more
Parents who are saving up to get their child into a private school should be aware that state-integrated schools might give them better bangs for their bucks. This the conclusion policy analyst Joel Hernandez comes to in a report he prepared for The New Zealand Initiative. Many parents want their kids to go to private Read more