Celebrating 150 years of education

CATHOLIC revellers packed into St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore this week to celebrate 150 years of catholic education in the Lismore diocese.

Liam Giles (left), Kodie Saywell, Craig Pirlo, Matthew Toohey and Joshua Dardengo from Trinity Catholic College during a ceremony at St Carthage’s Cathedral. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

CATHOLIC revellers packed into St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore this week to celebrate 150 years of catholic education in the Lismore diocese.

Students from 47 North Coast schools within the diocese attended the sesquicentenary of catholic education, along with various local MP’s, priests and staff from the Catholic education board.

The solemn mass aimed to both celebrate and acknowledge catholic education in the region and recognise the people who made it all possible.

“Catholic education has provided high quality education to generations of young people in the diocese who have been well-equipped to take their place in our Church and the community,” director of catholic schools Dr Anne Wenham said.

“We commence the sesquicentenary year by giving thanks for God’s blessings so richly bestowed on parish schools across the Diocese.”

Reverend Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett led the mass in the cathedral decked with banners, singing and plenty of praise.

The first catholic school in the Lismore diocese was established in 1851 in Grafton and now there are 16,849 students spread across 33 primary schools and 12 secondary schools within the diocese.

Catholic education has provided high quality education to generations of young people in the Diocese who have been well-equipped to take their place in our Church and community.

Originally published as Celebrating 150 years of education