Hundreds of students, parents and carers, teachers and clergy from Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Parramatta gathered for the 2024 Education Mass to celebrate our schools’ commitment to Faith in Action and their positive engagement in the community.
Held at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, the Mass was led by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and celebrated the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In his inspiring Homily, Bishop Vincent said the Mass was a renewal of our commitment to follow the example of Mary in our lives and be bearers of her son Jesus’ good news.
“Blessed Virgin Mary is the prototype of the normal disciple,” Bishop Vincent said.
She exemplifies closeness with the poor, solidarity with the needy, compassion for the afflicted. Like Mary, we must be totally permeated by the Holy Spirit. We must be consumed by action for God's Kingdom – Mary is the sign of hope for humanity.
In his address, Executive Director Jack de Groot reflected on his own experience of mission and service while announcing CSPD’s new Religious Education curriculum Encountering Jesus.
“When I think about why my work has always taken me to places of service, I can pinpoint two things: my education and my faith,” said Jack.
“When my parents chose to send me to a Catholic school, they knew they wanted to provide me with an excellent education grounded in Catholic tradition. They wanted me to experience opportunities to put my faith into action and to live it out within the community.”
Jack said his hope is that the new Religious Education curriculum builds on and reflects this same intention families have for their children at our schools.
“Encountering Jesus reflects our intention for all students to have a deep encounter with the person and message of Jesus Christ, to really get to know and love Jesus. To see Him in others, and to be Him to others,” he said.The curriculum has been endorsed by Bishop Vincent along with Australian and international Catholic theologians and educators.
“Encountering Jesus isn't so much about learning some external rules; it is to internalise the experience of encountering, knowing, loving and serving Christ,” Bishop Vincent said.
Following the Mass, participants were invited to explore the Mission Agency Expo. The expo highlights the work of the many expressions of faith and service that are already present in our learning communities, including Catechist teaching in local government primary schools, Eucharistic minister training, as well as advocacy and support of church agencies such as Mercy Works, St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services.
“Today’s celebration was a significant moment in the life of our Diocese,” said Andrew Wilson, CSPD’s Head Mission. “Encountering Jesus will provide our students with an opportunity to come to know Jesus and to grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith. I am excited to work with our teachers and leaders, and to hear how our students are putting their learning into practice in their communities.”
Learn more about the Religious Education Curriculum.
View photos from this event View full gallery
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
-
16 Oct 2026
From Facebook
✨ Year 6 Reflection Day ✨ Our Year 6 students gathered for a deeply special and meaningful Reflection Day, stepping away from the daily rush to pause, pray, and connect. The day began with a beautiful liturgy that set a peaceful tone. Throughout the experience, our students were remarkably calm, reflective, and fully engaged. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to step back, focus, and leave tomorrow's worries in God’s hands. As our Year 6 cohort prepares for the next step in their journey, this day allowed them to cherish their memories, celebrate their classmates, and look to the future with confidence. They are walking forward together, knowing that God is with them always. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated teachers who prepared and led this wonderful experience for our students. Your care, thoughtful planning, and guidance made this day so meaningful for everyone involved! ❤️16 Oct 2026
From Facebook
⚽ Catholic Mission Socktober! ⚽ This October, our school is supporting Catholic Mission Socktober as part of Mission Month. Our students are learning about the importance of helping others access basic needs such as food, clean water, healthcare and education, so everyone has the opportunity to live a full and dignified life. This year’s focus country is Malawi, Africa. Through learning, fundraising and putting our faith into action, we can help make the world a more just and caring place. Families are invited to support this important mission by donating here: https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/HolyCrossPrimarySchoolGlenwood or scanning the QR code provided.
Latest news More news
16 Oct 2026
From Facebook
✨ Year 6 Reflection Day ✨ Our Year 6 students gathered for a deeply special and meaningful Reflection Day, stepping away from the daily rush to pause, pray, and connect. The day began with a beautiful liturgy that set a peaceful tone. Throughout the experience, our students were remarkably calm, reflective, and fully engaged. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to step back, focus, and leave tomorrow's worries in God’s hands. As our Year 6 cohort prepares for the next step in their journey, this day allowed them to cherish their memories, celebrate their classmates, and look to the future with confidence. They are walking forward together, knowing that God is with them always. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated teachers who prepared and led this wonderful experience for our students. Your care, thoughtful planning, and guidance made this day so meaningful for everyone involved! ❤️
16 Oct 2026
From Facebook
⚽ Catholic Mission Socktober! ⚽ This October, our school is supporting Catholic Mission Socktober as part of Mission Month. Our students are learning about the importance of helping others access basic needs such as food, clean water, healthcare and education, so everyone has the opportunity to live a full and dignified life. This year’s focus country is Malawi, Africa. Through learning, fundraising and putting our faith into action, we can help make the world a more just and caring place. Families are invited to support this important mission by donating here: https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/HolyCrossPrimarySchoolGlenwood or scanning the QR code provided.
28 Sep 2026
Celebrating 40 years of Voice of Youth and the power of student voice
Six Year 6 students from 58 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Primary schools came together at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens on 22 September for the Voice of Youth Grand Final, showcasing their public speaking skills through a series of thoughtful and engaging speeches.
18 Sep 2026
From Facebook
💧🌏 Season of Creation 2026 at Holy Cross 🌿 Our school community has been celebrating the Season of Creation through prayer, learning and action. We began with classroom liturgies for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, followed by Faith in Action activities led by our iHelp students, including Creation Scavenger Hunts and Earthcare Eco Expo, where students explored ways to reduce waste. Our Year 6 iHelp students led Creation Prayer Time with their Kindergarten buddies, while our Year 3 students put their learning about showing mercy to God’s creation into action by picking up rubbish during recess and collecting containers for Return and Earn. As a whole school, we have also recommitted to using our Return and Earn baskets to help reduce waste and care for our common home. ♻️ Together, we are putting our faith into action and caring for common home. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese #faithinactioncspd
15 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Today, we celebrated our school Feast Day! ✝️✨ While the official Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross falls on September 14th, our school community gathered together today to celebrate our unique identity, founded on the Cross. We shared in the Eucharist and remembered Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for us—a constant reminder of His call for us to “Live Life to the Full.” After Mass, Father Jolly blessed our beautiful new foyer cross! ✝️✨ More than a piece of art, this cross powerfully reflects our Catholic faith and our Holy Cross identity. The Tree at the Centre: Jesus is the trunk, deeply rooted in our faith. We are the branches, called to grow and share his message with the world. The Surrounding Cross: A daily reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice, God’s enduring love, and the hope of new life. We want to thank two High Schools from our Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese: St John 23rd for supporting us with our band and choir during Mass, and CathWest, who graciously made our cross. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
04 Sep 2026
From Facebook
What a wonderful morning celebrating all the incredible fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in our school community! 💙✨ Here is a look at how we spent our Father’s Day celebration today: Father's Day Breakfast: We kicked off the morning with an early Father's Day breakfast. Father's Day Liturgy: We came together in prayer, reflecting on the love, guidance, and strength our dads provide every day. Special Student Presentations: Each grade took to the stage to share what they love most about their dads. Classroom Activities: Dads joined the kids in the classrooms for fun collaborative games and some friendly competition. Picnic Lunch: We wrapped up the celebrations enjoying lunch together in the sunshine. Thank you to all the father figures who joined us and made today so memorable, and to our staff and parent volunteers who helped bring it all together. Happy Father's Day to all our amazing dads this weekend! Check out some of our favourite moments from the day below 👇📸
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
A few more shots of the Book Week fun at Holy Cross today 💜💚 The students had a great time dressing up, and thoroughly enjoyed the visit by renowned author Tim Harris ✍️
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
This morning we held our annual Book Week Book Parade and it was another exciting event for our community! 💜💚 The students had a great time singing and dancing as they paraded their costumes for everyone to see. Well done to everyone for getting involved and making it so much fun! Big thanks to Mrs Morris and Mrs Calabritta who did an awesome job of hosting the event!
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Celebrating 40 years of Catholic education in our Diocese! 🎒✨ On Wednesday, our student representatives attended the annual Education Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. This special Mass brought together students, staff and parents from across the Diocese of Parramatta to celebrate their vital role in the mission of the Church. Adding to the joy, this year's service coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the Diocese of Parramatta, marking four decades of rich history, learning, and community across our Catholic school system. We are so proud of our student leaders for representing our school at such a meaningful event!
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, it’s surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
21 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Thank you to our Year 2 students who shared their learning with us this afternoon! 💜💚
20 Aug 2026
Six Habits That Help Children Develop a Love of Reading
Book Week is a celebration of stories, imagination and creativity, but helping children love reading isn't just something that happens during one week of the year. The good news? It doesn't take expensive resources or hours of extra time. Often, it's the small, everyday habits that make the biggest difference.
Browse Categories