Catholic Education, Diocese of Bathurst

Post Graduate RE Studies: Liturgy and Prayer
The 2026 cohort of the Graduate Certificate/Master's in Religious Education has recently begun their second unit: Liturgy and Prayer in Schools and Other Settings. Facilitated by Dr Gavin Brown from the Australian Catholic University, this unit prepares teachers to lead prayer and liturgy in Catholic schools and parishes. Throughout the unit, teachers critically evaluated existing educational resources and built hands-on skills for planning liturgical celebrations. By the end of this unit, teachers will have deepened their knowledge of Catholic traditions and theology and developed the professional expertise needed to lead religious education effectively.

World Communications Day 17 May 2026
This year, the 60th World Communications Day – has the theme “Preserving human voices and faces”, reflecting Pope Leo’s concerns about the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
"We need faces and voices to once again speak the person. We need to safeguard the gift of communication as the deepest truth of the human being and to orient every technological innovation toward it."

🎓📈 Mathematics - Pathways to Progress🎓📈

This year, we’ve taken a major step in the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst by introducing Mathematics Instructional Coaches in all K-6 schools.

In Week 8, our coaches met in Dubbo and Bathurst to collaborate, analyse data, and refine our key programs: EM2 (Stage 3 enrichment) and MAP (Stage 1 intervention).

It is inspiring to see such a strong sense of collective responsibility. Our coaches are building incredible momentum, capability, and enthusiasm within their communities. This is system improvement in action evidence informed and focused on student learning! 🎓📈

It's Catholic Schools Week!
Catholic Schools Week is a time to celebrate the incredible value our schools bring to students, families, and the wider community. It’s a moment to reflect on our rich history and embrace the exciting journey ahead - a time for connection and celebration. At the heart of Catholic education lies a commitment to nurturing the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Our schools are led by teachers who are expert educators and who are passionately committed to the learning and wellbeing of each student in their care.
Our Catholic schools are affordable, inclusive, and quality learning communities.
We warmly invite you to celebrate Catholic Schools week with us. Visit your local Catholic school and experience what makes our schools unique.
Check your local Catholic school website and page for the dates of open days and meetings with the principal, or visit our website www.bth.catholic.edu.au, to make an enrolment enquiry.

Executive Director experiences school spirit!

On Tuesday, our Executive Director of Schools, Christina Trimble, enjoyed a heartwarming visit to St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Dunedoo and All Hallows Catholic Primary School, Gulgong.

Christina was welcomed with wonderful student greetings that reflected the joy, warmth and vibrant spirit these communities are known for. She spent time in classrooms, witnessing inspiring learning and strong student engagement, connected with dedicated staff and collaborated with Principals Judy Gibson and Brad Toole.

We are proud of these schools where faith, learning and nurture come together helping every student to shine.

🏆 Fantastic Results at CCC Touch! 🏉

What a fantastic two days of competition! Our students represented the Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst with pride, teamwork, and determination. It was a thrill to see such high-level play, resulting in outstanding achievements across multiple age groups:

🥇 15 Years Boys: CHAMPIONS!
🔥 15 Years Girls: Made the Play-offs
🌟 Open Girls: Semi-Finalists
💪 Open Boys: Quarterfinalists

👏👏 A Massive Thank You to our dedicated coaches for their leadership and strategy and to all the parents and families who travelled and cheered from the sidelines over the two days.

Holy Week
Easter is a significant time for us, it is the holiest week in the Church's year. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of all Christianity. This is why we rejoice.
During the holiest season in our faith, we are reminded of the everlasting gift of love that God gave us and continues to give us through Jesus, his Son. At this time, we pray for peace. We pray for wisdom for those who have the power to influence the future of so many lives, and we pray for all those caught in wars not of their making.
May the love of God, shown through the sacrifice of Jesus, be the example of true peace so needed in our world.

Today we welcomed 32 new teachers to the Bathurst Diocese a wonderful milestone for our community.

The day was filled with reflection on the Diocese's rich history, Mission, and Culture, and concluded with an exploration of Pope Leo's Encyclical, "Drawing New Maps of Hope" reminding us that "their witness is as valuable as their teaching."

New staff also explored the unique history and charism of their own schools, deepening their connection to the communities they'll serve.

Seeing these educators share their experiences and build connections with one another was truly inspiring. The CEDB is stronger for having them. Welcome!

Farewell and Welcome to CEDB Board Members
On 19 March 2026, we farewelled outgoing Board members Mr Paul Crennan (Chair), Mr Paul Mann, and Mr Mike Crowley with heartfelt gratitude for over a decade of leadership and service to Catholic education. Bishop Michael McKenna expressed thanks for their dedication and prayed for blessings in their future endeavours.
We also warmly welcomed new Board members, Mr William Walker and Mr Ricky Puata, and congratulated Mr Peter Turner as the new Chair of the Board. We are grateful for their commitment to the mission of Catholic education in the Diocese of Bathurst.

🌟Congratulations Poppi 🌟

We are thrilled to announce MacKillop College student Poppi, has been selected for the All-Australian Merit Team following the 2026 15 Years & Under School Sport Australia Cricket Championships, held in Bunbury, WA recently.

This is an incredible achievement and a testament to Poppi's hard work, determination and outstanding performance throughout the School Sport Australia Cricket Championships.🏏

Congratulations Poppi on this well-deserved recognition! 🙌🏽🏆