Experience our Difference

...our Difference

WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOLS CATHOLIC?

Catholic identity is at the heart of Catholic education. It is perhaps our biggest point of difference as a school system and the reason many parents choose a Catholic education for their children.

At their very core, Catholic schools are places where the values that Jesus taught – love, hope, compassion, reconciliation, inclusion, justice, a promotion of life in abundance, liberation and community – are known and practiced.

However, it is not only through structured Religious Education lessons that our student body experiences the benefits of a faith-based education. Catholic identity is woven into the student experience at every opportunity through the broad themes of community and spirituality. “Catholic schools are communities in themselves and we see generations of families come to our schools and cherish being part of it,” said Louise Vella-Cox, Director of Catholic Identity and Indigenous Education Services, Townsville Catholic Education.

These school communities are known to actively support the broader community, scaffolding within their students a lifelong sense of social responsibility and engagement to support those in need. Staff are focused on providing the best opportunities based on each student to ensure that they can contribute positively in society.

“Catholic identity, social justice, inclusion and excellence are at the core of everything we do. Respect is important to us and we encourage our students to make positive contributions to society and be their best selves every day,” Louise said. Our schools integrate spirituality into everyday life, in subtle ways across all areas of the curriculum, on the sporting fields, in the social justice programs, school liturgies and prayer and meditation time.

Meditation allows students to escape pressures of everyday life and connect with their body, mind and soul, which is especially important as lives become busier and faster-paced.

“Our Catholic identity is nurtured through prayer, liturgy, sacred spaces and sacrament striving to be spiritual, respectful and sharing places,” said Louise.

“Students in our Catholic schools don’t just learn about contemplative prayer, they experience it and do it regularly so that it becomes almost second nature to them. Through regularly praying this way, students are given skills to live spiritually in a world of constant change and motion.”