School Work

School Work

The school communities of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle have a long and proud record of engaging with and supporting the work of Catholic Mission.
This is testament to the commitment to outreach, social justice and the importance of the work of the Church in communities around the world, by school leaders, teachers, students and their broader communities.

Each year School Liaison officer, Richard Cootes, conducts a program of school presentations in primary schools in the months following Lent. These sessions include a gospel passage, hymns and a musical compilation. The presentation is a reflection upon a specific project that is indicative of the work of Catholic Mission and the associated needs of children in that project.

Teachers can contact Richard on 0413 687 223 to book a presentation for their school.

The focus of much of our activity is directed to October - World Mission Month - when we, as a community, remember, celebrate and raise funds for the work of the Church supporting the needs of children in communities in over 160 countries around the world.

The fundraising carried out by the schools of the diocese is specifically directed to the work of Children's Mission under the mantra of "children helping children" - a unique program within the Church.

In the lead-up to World Mission Month, Catholic Mission provides schools with a resource kit which will typically include a DVD and information sheets about a project or projects that can be used as focus for awareness, education, fundraising and advocacy. It will also include student worksheets and other related material.

This material and other general information about Catholic Mission is available to download from our national website: www.catholicmission.org.au

Teachers Helping Teachers – workplace giving program

The Teachers Helping Teachers workplace giving program is an initiative of the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in partnership with Catholic Mission. The program makes a vital difference to teachers and students in developing countries through regular contributions made by CSO teachers and staff from their fortnightly salary. Each year suitable international projects that support the work of teachers around the world are identified for support by the Catholic Schools Office. Once agreed, funds raised through the Teachers Helping Teachers workplace giving program are transferred by Catholic Mission to these projects.

Projects are developed with in-country partners and are overseen by the local bishop. Catholic Mission staff regularly monitor and visit projects to ensure the best possible sustainable outcomes are achieved and are reported to donors.

Immersions

A Catholic Mission immersion is where a small group of teachers or students visits church and school communities in an Australian Indigenous context or an overseas country for 10 to 12 days.

The purpose of an immersion is for participants to experience life, faith and justice from a new perspective and return home inspired to live a personal sense of Catholic 'mission' in Australia. 

For details about resources, school visits or immersion experiences, please contact the Catholic Mission Director in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle on 4979 1141.