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Catholic school communities across Queensland will celebrate Catholic Education Week from 23-29 July 2023.

Celebrated annually in week 3 of term 3, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos.

The theme for this year’s celebration is Communities of Faith, Hope and Love. It’s a theme that reminds us that a Christian life is lived in community and at the heart of that community are faith in God, hope for the future, and love of God and each other.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our school communities and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.

Across Queensland, Catholic schools range from small remote primary schools through to large colleges in our major cities, all offering families an important choice in the education of their children.

This year the official launch of Catholic Education Week was hosted by the Diocese of Townsville on Tuesday, 25 July at Sacred Heart Cathedral. 

The seven 2023 Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipients were also be recognised at the official launch. These Awards, including the Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week to celebrate outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Queensland. 

The 2023 award recipients are: 

Mary Dolores Maitland  
Prayer Co-ordinator, Marymount College, Burleigh Waters
Archdiocese of Brisbane

Brent Van Dam  
Hospitality Trainer, St Mary’s Catholic College, Woree
Diocese of Cairns

Ken Theodore
Teacher, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan
Diocese of Townsville

Claire Stitt
Deputy Principal: Mission, The Cathedral College
Diocese of Rockhampton

Megan Mahoney  
Assistant Principal: Formation and Identity, St Joseph’s School, Stanthorpe
Diocese of Toowoomba

Boarding Team
St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Boondall
RI PJP Schools

Gail Laffin
Indigenous Education Teacher, Ryan Catholic College, Kirwan
Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award

Read more about the recipients on the Catholic Education Week website here.

Catholic Education Week in Queensland is proudly supported by sponsors the Australian Catholic University and UniSuper. 

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