South Maroota
Dharug National Park Popran National Park
Yarramalong
Tuggerah
Ourimbah
Brisbane Water National Park
Woy
Mooney Mooney
Hornsby
The
Berowra Heights
Ku-ring-gai
Lake Munmorah
Warnervale
Wyong
Tumbi Umbi
Asquith Wyoming
Waitara Wahroonga
Pennant Hills
Carlingford
Shelly Beach
Terrigal
Kincumber
Barrenjoey Lighthouse
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Manly
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Willoughby
As the Bishop of Broken Bay, I commend these Shared Mission Principles to all involved in the mission of Catholic education within the newly incorporated Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB).
These principles help to articulate our core mission to deliver an authentic, professional Catholic education with care and compassion, and to nurture young hearts and minds throughout the Diocese.
The Code of Canon Law makes clear that the provision of Catholic Education is of major importance to the Diocesan Bishop, and requires my particular care and oversight to ensure it is both academically rigorous and faithful to Catholic teaching (Canon cf. 793 - 821).
It is my hope that these principles chart a course that guides the collective partnership between parents, parish priests, principals, and staff to realise our vision to provide an holistic education, that enables all our students to come to know Christ and be their very best.
As one community of the Church, we are called to be synodal in our approach; to be Christ-centred, to walk together, so that each person, every student, is welcomed and valued.
By embracing a synodal culture, we strengthen our communion with Christ and each other, and our ability to respond to the needs of our young people with creativity and fidelity to the Gospel.
Together, as one community of the Church in Broken Bay, we must all work together to make these principles a lived reality in the experience of all who come into our schools, our parishes, and our communities.
I offer my wholehearted endorsement of this document, and extend my sincere gratitude to all involved in the discernment to advancing the mission of Catholic education.
Sincerely yours in Christ
Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD, JCL Bishop of Broken Bay
I am delighted to add these words of introduction to the Shared Mission Principles that underpin our commitment to advancing the mission of Catholic education under the incorporated structure of CSBB.
At the heart of CSBB’s mission is the delivery of an authentic, professional Catholic education with care and compassion. It does this as an expression of the Bishop’s mission for the Diocese outlined so clearly in the Diocesan Vision on a Page. This Mission is enriched when delivered in close partnership with the parish, in parish schools.
Drawing from the wisdom of the Canons, this document outlines the fundamental purpose and nature of Catholic schools, emphasising the pivotal role of the Bishop of the Diocese, as well as the partnership between parents, parish priests, principals, and staff. Together, we embrace the shared responsibility of nurturing and shaping young hearts and minds to learn to love Jesus and to grow to be followers of Jesus Christ, as people made in his image.
The incorporation of CSBB has been carefully designed to uphold and facilitate the Bishop’s integral role and mission within our schools. This goes far beyond approval processes; actively embedding his influence, connection, and canonical authority across all aspects of schooling. These are the things that inform the essence of Catholic education - the selection and formation of staff and leaders, enrolment priorities, curriculum and learning, and parent partnership.
These Shared Mission Principles seamlessly complement the broader governance frameworks of CSBB, ensuring that our schools remain vibrant hubs of authentic encounters with Christ, and thriving Catholic communities.
Together, we will uphold these principles as we continue to live out our Vision and Purpose of inspiring hearts and minds to know Christ, to love learning, to use their talents to be the very best they can be.
Danny Casey Director of Schools
Incorporation of Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) provides a new model of governance for the delivery of Catholic education in the Diocese within system schools, but one which does not lessen the leadership of the Bishop and parish priests, or diminish the significance of the local parish community. These are crucial to the shared mission of Catholic education. These principles reflect the centrality of this mission to the work of CSBB, and that this mission has deeply informed and shaped the governing documents of the new entity. This intends to protect CSBB from future temptations toward mission-drift and secularisation.
The Shared Mission Principles articulate what a Catholic education is and the role schools play in the Bishop’s mission (see Appendix A). This role is not changed by a modification to the governance structure of the school system; the strong intention of school and church leadership is to use the opportunity to strengthen the partnership in mission between the Diocese and parishes, and education.
CSBB exists to evangelise and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Schools exist to form young people in Christ’s vision of life as it has been entrusted to the Catholic community of faith.
To fulfil this purpose, CSBB provides authentic, professional Catholic education with care and compassion; inspiring hearts and minds to know Christ, to love learning, to use their talents and to be the very best they can be.
The ongoing mission of CSBB is centred on the following principles as articulated in our Catholic Charter:
Catholic Schools Broken Bay will:
1. Work in partnership with and support parents as the primary educators of their children and accompany them and their families to know Christ and to grow in faith.
2. Promote authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development by leading teaching and learning to maximise the learning growth of each student and recognise and respond to learner diversity.
3. Enable students to know, understand and celebrate their Catholic faith through the implementation of the Religious Education curriculum.
4. Support teachers of Religious Education to develop strong content knowledge to implement excellent classroom practices and to be witnesses to the Faith.
5. Strengthen structures, building on the relationships and connections between family, school, parish and Diocese.
6. Encourage students and their families’ participation in and commitment to the Catholic life of the school through prayer, formation and involvement in the life of the parish, including Sunday Mass with the purpose of developing a personal relationship with Christ.
7. Teach students and staff, in justice and mercy, to place the poor at the heart of the Church.
8. Care for students and staff through inclusive pastoral care and wellbeing policies and practices.
9. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, foster a culture of vocation for all by building the capabilities of our staff for mission.
These principles reflect the purpose of Catholic schooling.
Can. 796 §1. Schools are the principal assistance to parents in fulfilling the function of education.
Can. 803 §2. Instruction and education in a Catholic School must be grounded in the principles of Catholic doctrine; teachers are to be outstanding in correct doctrine and integrity of life.
▶ “It is recognised that the proper place for catechesis is the family helped by other Christian communities, especially the local Parish. But the importance and need for catechetical instruction in Catholic schools cannot be sufficiently emphasised. Here young people are helped to grow towards maturity in faith.” Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School” Prefect Gabriel-Marie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1922 para 51
▶ “To fulfil the mandate she has received from her divine founder of proclaiming the mystery of salvation to all men and of restoring all things in Christ, Holy Mother the Church must be concerned with the whole of man’s life, even the secular part of it insofar as it has a bearing on his heavenly calling. Therefore, she has a role in the progress and development of education. Hence this sacred synod declares certain fundamental principles of Christian education especially in schools” Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Christian Education “Gravissimum Educationis” proclaimed by his Holiness Pope Paul IV, 28 October 1965 para 4
▶ This clarifies that the educational action pursued by the Church through schools cannot be reduced to mere philanthropic work aimed at responding to a social need, but represents an essential part of her identity and mission. Second Vatican Council Decree on the Bishop’s Pastoral Office in the Church “Christus Dominus” - “The Identity of the School for a Culture of Dialogue” Prefect Joseph Cardinal Versaldi 25 January 2022, para 10
Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Broken Bay
▶ Provides a community that offers an opportunity for a genuine encounter with Christ
▶ Encourages the full flourishing of human life, cultivation of human values, and the discovery of truth beyond the mere attainment of knowledge
▶ Provides religious education and a Catholic perspective through all teaching and learning
▶ Is an aid towards a fuller understanding of and communion with people, events and things
▶ Fosters an understanding of God’s call to serve him in spirit and truth, in accordance with the commandments of God and precepts of the Church.
CSBB provides an authentic Catholic education. This means the school education we provide is:
▶ Infused with the teachings of the Catholic Church and a biblical framework, giving opportunities to hear about Jesus and to be encouraged to follow Him
▶ Established for the purpose of human flourishing through providing highquality, accessible education, especially for the children of Catholic families
▶ Meeting the needs of families, building strong Catholic communities in our schools which translate into families who participate in sacraments and parish life; building-up and encouraging children, so they are raised as disciples of Christ in a lifelong journey of faith and service to the Gospel
▶ Centred on Religious Education that is faithful to the Word of God and effective in raising children of faith and character, in partnership with their parents
▶ An education where truth and love develop together. (Gravissimum Educationis #3).
CSBB is committed to the holistic development of each of our students - physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually. An education without formation in all these respects would be incomplete and ineffective for formation.
CSBB works in accordance with the relevant government authorities and education department requirements so schools are eligible to be registered and accredited, and can access funding. The education provided by CSBB schools meets all requirements of the NSW curriculum and the schools operate at all times in compliance with relevant legislation. This is essential so that CSBB can offer affordable Catholic education, to ensure our schools are accessible to as many families as possible who wish to have a Catholic education for their children.
▶ The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay is a portion of the people of God, a community of Christ’s faithful in communion of faith and sacraments with its Bishop. It exists to evangelise, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, gathered as one body, and sent out to be missionary disciples. CSBB Catholic Charter
▶ Cooperation between clergy and school… “guarantees the distinctive Catholic character of the school. While the Bishop’s authority is to watch over the orthodoxy of religious instruction and the observance of Christian morals in the Catholic schools, it is the task of the whole educative community to ensure that a distinctive Christian educational environment is maintained in practice”. Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School” Prefect Gabriel-Marie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1922 para 73
▶ “In the whole diocese or in given areas of it the coordination and close interconnection of all apostolic works should be fostered under the direction of the Bishop. In this way all undertakings and organisation, whether catechetical, missionary, charitable, social, family, educational, or any other programme serving a pastoral goal will be coordinated. Moreover, the unity of the diocese will thereby be made more evident.”Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Christian Education “Gravissimum Educationis” proclaimed by his Holiness Pope Paul IV, 28 October 1965 para 17
Can. 794 §2 Pastors of souls have the duty of arranging everything so that all the faithful have a Catholic education.
Can. 806 §1. The diocesan bishop has the right to watch over and visit the Catholic schools in his territory….He also issues prescripts which pertain to the general regulation of Catholic schools; these prescripts are valid also for schools which these religious direct, without prejudice, however, to their autonomy regarding the internal direction of their schools.
Can. 806 §2. Directors of Catholic schools are to take care under the watchfulness of the local ordinary that the instruction which is given in them is at least as academically distinguished as that in the other schools of the area.
The Bishop’s mission in Broken Bay encompasses foundational responsibility for church life, worship and administration through mission, witness, service and pastoral care. This includes oversight of the parishes (Can. 394 §1, Can. 515 §1) and the schools (Can. 806) in the Diocese. The Bishop serves the Body of Christ directly and through Diocesan parishes, agencies and ministries. These include activities of evangelisation, discipleship, gathering communities, and service to the common good.
In response to this, CSBB serves the mission of God in Broken Bay, as intended by God, and as discerned and directed by the Bishop. Through accompanying and partnering with parents to nurture and raise their children, CSBB fulfills its calling to contribute to the thriving and flourishing of families of the Diocese.
The local school serves in the parish’s mission and works in connection with the parish community to accompany and welcome families (Can. 794). The Bishop establishes schools where he determines there is need (Can. 802) and he has oversight of faith and morals across all schools (Can. 804, Can. 805). The Bishop directs the focus, strategic intent and mission of the system of schools, and will continue to do so for the incorporated entity. The CSBB Board will partner with the Bishop to deliver this intent through strategic planning, appointment of the Director of Schools, resourcing decisions, risk management and governance oversight.
Can. 793 §1. Parents and those who take their place are bound by the obligation and possess the right of educating their offspring. Catholic parents also have the duty and right of choosing those means and institutions through which they can provide more suitably for the Catholic education of their children, according to local circumstance.
Can. 796 §2. Parents must cooperate closely with the teachers of the schools to which they entrust their children to be educated; moreover, teachers in fulfilling their duty are to collaborate very closely with parents, who are to be heard willingly and for whom associations or meetings are to be established and highly esteemed.
▶ Parents are the first and foremost teachers of their children. Ephesians 6:4 entreats parents to raise their children in the teaching and discipline of the Lord. Children are considered a gift from God (Ps 127), and to be raised by their parents to know the Word of God. (Deut 6:7)
▶ Through Catholic schooling the church “helps to promote that freedom of teaching which champions and guarantees freedom of conscience and the parental right to choose the school best suited to parents’ educational purpose”. Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School” Prefect Gabriel-Marie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1977 para 14
▶ A school is, therefore, a privileged place in which, through a living encounter with a cultural inheritance, integral formation occurs”. Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School”
Prefect Gabriel-Marie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1977 para 26
The family is the first ‘school’ or community to which a person belongs. Parents are supported by their parish communities to provide early formation in Catholic faith. Catholic schools work in partnership with parents to assist and support them to raise children who know the truth, are formed in Christ-likeness, and follow Him through their lives.
A Catholic education is one where the role of parents is honoured, respected and cherished. Parents are always recognised and upheld as the first and foremost educators of their children. This recognises their God-given role and responsibility for the nurture, guidance, protection and formation of their children or those children in their care.
An authentic Catholic education supports parents through:
▶ Involving them in decisions about their child
▶ Valuing their views and involvement in the life of the school
▶ Working in accompaniment and dialogue with parents and their children.
The choice of a Catholic education is one made freely in recognition of the ethos that underpins and guides our schools. We partner with parents in the community of Catholic faith. We do this through:
▶ Offering experiences of prayer, conversation, gathering and accompaniment, developed in collaboration with the parish community.
▶ Educating students in the truths of God, Catholic social teachings, moral teaching, Catholic curriculum including dogma, doctrine and faith through the work of the Holy Spirit. Through Catholic schooling, students develop a Catholic worldview
▶ Developing strong and welcoming Catholic communities in our schools
▶ Honouring the central role of parish priests and clergy in our schools to support the formation and instruction of students in the Catholic faith and tradition
▶ Supporting, encouraging and strengthening families throughout their children’s upbringing and beyond, including through linking families with their local parish community.
*Note that parent is used in this document as a term to include natural, adoptive, or foster parents, guardians, and caregivers of students.
Can. 794 §1. The duty and right of educating belongs in a special way to the Church, to which has been divinely entrusted the mission of assisting persons so that they are able to reach the fullness of the Christian life.
Can. 528 §1. A pastor is obliged to make provision so that the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish… He is to have particular care for the Catholic education of children and youth.
▶ This Sacred Council of the Church earnestly entreats pastors and all the faithful to spare no sacrifice in helping Catholic schools fulfill their function in a continually more perfect way, and especially in caring for the needs of those who are poor in the goods of this world or who are deprived of the assistance and affection of a family or who are strangers to the gift of Faith. Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Christian Education “Gravissimum Educationis” proclaimed by his Holiness Pope Paul IV, 28 October 1965 section 9
▶ No Catholic school can adequately fulfil its educational role on its own. It must continually be fed and stimulated by its Source of life, the Saving Word of Christ as it is expressed in Sacred Scripture, in Tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and in the lives of people, past and present, who bear witness to that Word. Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School” Prefect GabrielMarie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1922 para 54
Parishes are the communities of the Church where much of God’s service and our mission are enacted. The parish carries responsibility for the pastoral care, evangelisation and instruction in the Word of God to children and their families. The Catholic school is an essential partner in this mission for school-aged children.
Parishes exercise this duty and partner with their local Catholic school/s through:
▶ Allocating a portion of its property for education
▶ Welcoming families at Mass and into sacramental life, and to parish activities such as Catholic children and youth programs
▶ Thanksgiving and celebration through liturgy
▶ Service and participation in their school and community
▶ Prayer and intercession for the school, staff, students and their families.
The parish and its pastor retain a central responsibility, in law, for education. The parish priest leads the connection with the school and will be involved in the school’s activities, religious instruction, and pastoral care of the community. He will exercise a leadership role in devising new ways for the parish to contribute to its school. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the parish priest therefore will continue to have:
▶ Appropriate and reasonable access and welcome to the school
▶ Involvement and participation in the life of the school
▶ Membership of any governing body of the school
▶ Involvement in the making of major decisions regarding the school.
This recognises the responsibility of the parish for education, in support of the role of Catholic Schools Broken Bay in the operation of the schools.
It is also recognised that parishes as Public Juridic Persons are responsible for the administration of property (Can. 1279 §1) and that the parish priest carries the rights and responsibilities for parish property (Can. 537).
Parishes have an important role in promoting enrolment and encouraging parents to access a Catholic education from the earliest years of learning. They also encourage, provide and promote the sacraments.
Parish priests and principals both hold critical leadership roles in their parish and school communities, which makes the collaborative work that they share an essential aspect of the mission of the Church.
School principals are recognised as local Catholic leaders, alongside the parish priest. Their role ‘stands in the shoes of the Church’; leaders demonstrate commitment to Catholic faith and values through their work as leaders, but also in their lives and personal worship.
Leaders are to be people of prayer, able to open the Scriptures to their staff, students and families, and able to encourage the parent community to experience and participate actively in Catholic culture and Catholic community at school.
Can. 394 §1. A bishop is to foster various forms of the apostolate in the diocese and is to take care that in the entire diocese or in its particular districts, all the works of the apostolate are coordinated under his direction, with due regard for the proper character of each.
Can. 394 §2. He is to insist upon the duty which binds the faithful to exercise the apostolate according to each one’s condition and ability and is to exhort them to participate in and assist the various works of the apostolate according to the needs of place and time.
▶ ”…The Catholic school is the principal educational arm of Catholic families, Parishes and the wider Church for those generally aged under eighteen. It is there to assist parents and Parishes in their educational, evangelical and catechetical mission, as well as to help the wider community in its educational and civic service”. Pastoral Letter of the Bishops of NSW and the ACT ‘Catholic Schools at a Crossroads’ 8 August 2007, pg 10
▶ The fact that Catholic schools are part of the Church’s mission “is a proper and specific attribute, a distinctive characteristic which penetrates and informs every moment of its educational activity, a fundamental part of its very identity and the focus of its mission”. Consequently, the Catholic school “takes its stand within the organic pastoral work of the Christian community”. Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Bishop’s Pastoral Office in the Church “Christus Dominus”- “The Identity of the School for a Culture of Dialogue” Prefect Joseph Cardinal Versaldi, 25 January 2022, para 21
▶ “We likewise believe that Christ shed his blood for each of us and that no one is beyond the scope of his universal love. If we go to the ultimate source of that love which is the very life of the triune God, we encounter in the community of the three divine Persons the origin and perfect model of all life in society. Theology continues to be enriched by its reflection on this great truth”. Encyclical Letter, “Fratelli Tutti”, of the Holy Father, Frances, on Fraternity and Social Friendship, 3 October 2020, para 85
Children grow progressively in their awareness of the love of God, and His purpose and meaning for their lives. This begins through the enabling nurture of their families, supported by their parish. This is strengthened by the Catholic school.
CSBB schools are communities within a wider Catholic community of the parish, Diocese, and the church (see Figure 1). That is not only within the international Catholic Church, but The Universal Church, the Body of Christ eternal.
The joint mission of the parish and its school is an expression of solidarity. As we work together, we continually seek the good of the other. This is done through sharing a common purpose, spirit, and temporal goods, with a constant humility and awareness of the needs of the other and how they may be blessed (see Appendix B). More widely, the parish and the school seek the good of children and their families as we reach, serve and include them as an act of co-responsibility.
This solidarity includes the use of parish land and buildings by schools, and access to school premises by the parish and wider community. Where such arrangements are in place, these will be agreed and documented in the interests of peace, generosity of spirit, honouring government authorities, and meeting our responsibilities.
From time to time, disagreements can arise around matters of temporal goods or the joint mission. Should such a concern arise, the parish priest and principal should meet to discuss, discern and resolve the matter. However, should this conversation not bring resolution, the matter should be raised with the Director of Schools and the Vicar General for assistance. On the rare occasion that further resolution is needed, the Bishop will decide the matter.
In the Catholic school, students, staff and parents have the opportunity to encounter Christ. All families are welcome, and it is recognised that God’s love extends to everyone regardless of church or faith background.
The ultimate purpose of people is to know God and enjoy Him forever. Our prayer is that our students will know that they belong to God, choose to be a member of the Body of Christ, and come to full assurance that they are a child of God.
Those who with God’s help have welcomed Christ’s call and freely responded to it are urged on by love of Christ to proclaim the Good News everywhere in the world. This treasure, received from the apostles, has been faithfully guarded by their successors. All Christ’s faithful are called to hand it on from generation to generation, by professing the faith, by living it in fraternal sharing, and by celebrating it in liturgy and prayer” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Prologue I. The life of man – to know and love God, #3).
Encyclical Letter, “Fratelli Tutti”, of the Holy Father, Frances, on Fraternity and Social Friendship, 3 October 2020, para 85
Pastoral Letter of the Bishops of NSW and the ACT ‘Catholic Schools at a Crossroads’ 8 August 2007, pg 10.
Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education “The Catholic School” Prefect Gabriel-Marie Cardinal Garrone, 19 March 1977, paras 14, 26, 51, 73,
Second Vatican Council Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 18 November 1965, para 2.
Second Vatican Council, Declaration on Christian Education “Gravissimum Educationis” proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, 28 October 1965, paras 3, 4, 9
Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Bishop’s Pastoral Office in the Church “Christus Dominus”“The Identity of the School for a Culture of Dialogue” Prefect Joseph Cardinal Versaldi, 25 January 2022, para 10
Other
CSBB Catholic Charter
Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, “Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith” Prefect William Cardinal Baum, 15 October 1982
Pastoral Letter to the Community of the Church in Broken Bay, “Jesus Christ. Our Beginning and Our End” Most Reverend Anthony Randazzo, Bishop of Broken Bay 29 November 2020
Pontifical Council for Culture, Towards a Pastoral Approach to Culture, 1999
Congregation for Catholic Education, The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School: Guidelines for Reflection and Renewal, 1988
The Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay is a portion of the people of God, a community of Christ's faithful in communion of faith and sacraments with its bishop. It exists to evangelise, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, gathered as one body and sent out to be missionary disciples.
Bishop Anthony Randazzo articulates six pastoral priorities to be placed at the centre of mission for the Diocese.
The person of Jesus Christ, and his message of Good News. (1 John 1:1-4) The Holy Spirit leads us in the way of discipleship. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Building together a culture of vocation for all the baptised.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1877) A united message reflecting the voice of the bishop at the service of his people.
(Colossians 2:2-3)
Authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development. (Evangelii nuntiandi, n. 22)
Justice and mercy place the poor at the heart of the Church. (Matthew 25:40)
Three pillars form a foundation for mission for the Diocese. We stand on these pillars as we go about our work to achieve the six mission priorities
Supporting the Fields of Mission in the areas of Evangelisation, Stewardship, Safeguarding & Communications.
The community of the Church of Broken Bay is made up of 215,000 Catholics that live within
Authentic, professional Catholic education, delivered with care and
Social care services and works of mercy offered to all, in the spirit of our gospel values, serving in justice and love. The community of communities that comprises the Church in Broken Bay proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ with a focus on parish renewal and discipleship.
1. To provide a genuine encounter with Christ, a cultivation of human values, and discovery beyond the mere attainment of knowledge.
▶ Work in partnership with the local parish and parish priest (or their nominee) to promote Catholic education within the school community as integral to the mission of the Church.
▶ Provide engaging Religious Education programs that provide an opportunity for encounter with Christ.
2. To support the Bishop’s Mission for authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development.
▶ Provide all assistance to parents in fulfilling their primary function of education in the Catholic faith.
▶ Foster collaboration between parents and the school in the education of their children.
▶ Lead teaching and learning from a Catholic perspective, including by welcoming students from diverse faith backgrounds and those with additional needs.
3. To support the Bishop’s authority over schools, including to watch over the religious instruction, faith and mission of Catholic schools.
▶ Serve the mission of God in Broken Bay, as intended by God, and as discerned and directed by the Bishop.
▶ Enable students to know, understand and celebrate their Catholic faith through the implementation of the Religious Education curriculum.
▶ Support teachers of Religious Education to develop strong content knowledge including essential church teachings, to implement excellent classroom practices and ways of imparting theological knowledge, and to be witnesses to the faith.
▶ Support schools in providing a religious education encompassing a Catholic perspective through all teaching and learning and supporting families to participate in sacraments and parish life.
▶ Principals and parish priest meet regularly both formally and informally.
▶ Principals ensure that the school is engaged in the life of the parish.
▶ Principals and parishes encourage staff, especially those charged with religious education, to participate in the Eucharistic life of the parish.
▶ Parish priests visit school settings and know the staff.
▶ The parish provides the sacraments to students and welcomes families.
▶ Principals participate in parish welcoming events.
▶ Principals worship within the parishes they live, and contribute to parish life.
▶ Prayerfully and practically support the school leadership to address the pastoral needs of staff, students and families.
▶ Work in connection with the school and the parish community to accompany and welcome families.
▶ Advise on any questions of doctrine or practice raised by the principal.
▶ Parish priests regularly visit school settings and staffrooms.
▶ New teachers, as part of induction, meet with the parish priest or other clergy informally over morning tea.
▶ Principals invite parish priests and parishioners to important school events.
▶ Reciprocal communication between parish and schools in each other’s bulletins/ newsletters.
▶ Principals share matters for prayer and advice with the parish priest.
▶ Parish priests are consulted regularly in decisions that affect the roles and responsibilities of the school, such as key leadership staffing and areas of religious education.
▶ Principals are consulted regularly by parish groups about parish missionary activities.
4. Recognise that parents are the first and foremost teachers of their children and that their role is honoured, respected and cherished.
▶ Work in partnership with the parents and parish priests to assist and support them raise children who know the truth, are formed in Christlikeness and follow him through their lives.
▶ Connect with and support parents through involving them in decisions about their child, value the views and involvement in the life of the school.
▶ Develop strong and welcoming Catholic communities in our schools.
5. Recognise that the parish and its pastor hold a fundamental responsibility in law for education.
▶ Respect the responsibility and role of the parish priest and provide details of the school’s activities, religious instruction, and pastoral needs of the community.
▶ Through the principal and CSBB, operate consistently with civil legislative obligations and explain these requirements to the parish.
▶ Provide the parish priest with an understanding of the school’s activities so that the parish priest can support the religious instruction, pastoral needs of the community and identify ways the parish can continue to bless and contribute to their school.
6. Acknowledge the role of the Catholic school in the broader Catholic community, as the principle educational arm of parishes and the wider Church in their educational, evangelical and catechetical mission, as well as to help the wider community in its educational and civic service.
▶ Work in partnership with the parents and parish priests to assist and support to raise children who know the truth, are formed in Christlikeness and follow him through their lives.
▶ Ensure that the parents are supported by their parish communities to provide an early formation in the Catholic faith.
▶ Offer experiences of prayer, conversation, gathering and accompaniment.
▶ Parish priest is part of the school advisory council and is invited to parent association meetings.
▶ Principals invite and welcome parish priests and clergy into schools to support the formation and instruction of students in the Catholic faith and tradition.
▶ Parish priest support and encourage families throughout their children’s upbringing and beyond, including through linking families with their local parish community.
▶ Provide pastoral care, evangelisation and instruction in the Word of God to children and their families, and leads the connection of this with the school.
▶ Provide the use of agreed parish land and buildings to support the mission of Catholic education.
▶ Be familiar with the civil requirements under which the school must operate and support the principal and CSBB in meeting these compliance obligations.
▶ Connect with the school so that sacramental programs based within the parish are open to all students and families.
▶ Ensure that the parents are supported by their parish communities to provide an early formation in the Catholic faith.
▶ Parish priests are welcoming to the school, often through hosting schools physically on parish land.
▶ Parish priests welcome school families at Mass and into the sacramental life, parish activities and programs, communicating this welcome to Catholic children’s and youth programs; thanksgiving and celebration through worship.
▶ Formalised agreements for use of temporal goods are established, and adjusted as needed through consultation between the principal, parish priest and relevant advisors.
▶ Schools consult the parish priest about all relevant property matters and respect the agreements for use of parish property.
▶ Principal is invited to participate (ex officio) on the Parish Pastoral Council.
▶ Principals and parishes encourage staff, especially those charged with Religious Education, to participate in the Eucharistic life of their parish.
▶ Parish priests are openly invitational and welcoming to all members of the school community.
