In 2020 Clean Up Australia celebrates 30 years of campaigning encouraging Australians to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment. As usual many of our CEDoW schools have joined in to do their bit to "care for our common home".

A blend of wisdom and youth filled the room, as over 200 guests gathered at Villa D’oro Function Centre on 27 February to welcome new staff to the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW).

The Plenary Council in Australia is now just months away. The Plenary Council will begin on:
• Sunday 4 October 2020 in Adelaide and conclude on Sunday 11 October 2020
• Monday 28 June 2021 in Sydney and conclude on Saturday 3 July 2021

Update regarding overseas school excursions

Based on the advice we have received from Catholic Schools NSW, the NSW Department of Education, the NSW Ministry of Health and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CEDoW has determined that all overseas school excursions are currently 'on hold' until further notice. This also means that parents/students are not required to make any further scheduled payments for school-based overseas travel until further notice. 

Wollongong Catholic School students come together in solidarity with the world's poor at Project Compassion for 2020. Ten-year-old Tawonga often had to miss school because she was too sick from hunger. The youngest of six children, Tawonga was born in a region of Malawa plagued by food insecurity and poverty.  For most of her life, her parents struggled to put meals on the table. The family has also faced discrimination in their community due to Tawonga having a disability. 

Good things seem to come in fives for Dylan Anderson. Fifteen years ago, he walked through the gates of St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Nowra for the first time. Five years later he was school captain. Now he’s back as the school’s newest teacher, sharing a class with the woman who first inspired his love for education – his Year Five teacher, Maree Hamilton.

Starting small was revealed as the secret to large successes at the Mount Carmel Catholic College Varroville’s HSC High Achievers ceremony last Friday, which celebrated the outstanding results of the school’s 2019 Year 12 cohort.

Mount Carmel recognised an impressive 14 HSC High Achievers, including student, Shequina Pereira, who placed first in all NSW-based schools in Indonesian Beginners. Mount Carmel was pleased to welcome special guests from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia for the occasion.

Over 100 CEDoW students and staff who attended December’s Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Perth have gathered together at Holy Spirit College, Bellambi to reconnect and reflect on the vibrancy of the special event and the many ways the experience has positively impacted them.

See photos from the ACYF trip and read the delegations five-day blog inside.

St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown student - Amy Sligar - was the recipient of the prestigious Vince Villa award at the recent 23rd NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) Blue Awards evening, staged at St Mary Star of the Sea College, Wollongong on Monday 3 February.

According to Chinese philosopher Confucius, 'if you’re lucky enough to find a job that you love, you will never work a day in your life'. This belief was shared by Mr Peter Turner, recently-retired CEDoW Director of Schools, who, at a recent event celebrating and honouring his lifetime commitment to Catholic education, gave thanks that he, indeed, had chosen work that he loved.

View our photo gallery and read more about how the CEDoW community acknowledged Mr Turner’s retirement with a Mass of Thanksgiving and a Farewell Dinner.

All Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools are operational today, Tuesday 11 February 2020.

Following the devastating bushfires and drought in their region, the community at St Michael's Nowra is responding in a practical way to fire-affected animals and native birds. 

Due to the worsening wet conditions, three of our schools are CLOSED THIS MONDAY 10 February – St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, Picton; St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Albion Park and St Joseph's Catholic High School, Albion Park.

Students should remain at home, but supervision is available if needed. 

Based on the current weather conditions and the latest Severe Weather Warning from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) (ie: Sunday, 9 February 2020 at 5:25pm), CEDoW is asking all families and staff not to put their personal safety at risk when it comes to travelling to school this Monday 10 February...

For the first time in 18 years, the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux are currently visiting Australia on a four-month pilgrimage with her parents, Ss Louis and Zélie Martin. Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville has fittingly been the first school to host the relics of Carmelite saint and her parents on this 2020 pilgrimage.

Mount Carmel teacher, Victoria Lee, captured the spirit of the school’s Opening Mass celebrating the occasion…

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS UPDATED ADVICE: Based on the new federal government advice today, 3 February 2020, the following applies to travellers from China...

UPDATE: The NSW Government has today requested that children who have visited China in the past two weeks [or who has been in contact with a person confirmed as having novel coronavirus] not attend school or childcare services until 14 days have lapsed from their date of departure from China. 

More information from NSW Health inside. Parents with concerns can contact their local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055 for advice or visit the dedicated NSW Health information page on novel coronavirus here.

My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I am writing to invite expressions of interest from prospective Diocese of Wollongong delegates to attend the Plenary Council 2020...

Completed applications using the Expression of Interest Form must be sent via email to Mr John Tubridy by 5.00pm Tuesday 4 February 2020. More information and forms inside.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I write these words at a time when many within your communities have lost so much and many grieve the loss of friends and family. There are really no words that can be said that can take away the pain or the loss that you are suffering at this time...

Read more from Bishop Brian inside.