On Tuesday 23 July, members of the Townsville Catholic Education community gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral to celebrate Catholic Education Week Mass.

In his homily, Bishop Tim made a connection between Catholic Education Week's theme of Communities of Faith, Hope and Love and the distinctive mission of Catholic Education through the work we do in our system of schools.

We would like to share the full message for your reading and reflection in the spirit of Catholic Education Week. 

Catholic Education Week Mass

23 July 2024

Dear Friends,

Last evening some of us gathered in this Cathedral to celebrate the Catholic Education Week Deus Caritas Est and Spirit of Catholic Education Awards liturgy. As we did, we recognised students and individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the life of the school community.

Today more specifically we celebrate the distinctive mission of Catholic education as it strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and wider communities, and challenges young people to live out the message of Jesus. It is good to be here. Last year we celebrated the main Mass for the Province. This year, Cairns Diocese has the honour so we celebrate today in communion with it.

My friends, ‘One faith, one hope, one love’ is the theme of Catholic Education Week. In some ways, this is the distinctive mission of Catholic education. In and through Jesus Christ our mission is defined and built upon him. One thing I did learn about Catholic Identity, highlighted from my Leuven experience some years ago before I became a bishop, is that whilst we are open to all, we must not compromise on the essentials. Our schools are built on Jesus Christ crucified and risen, full stop. Now this goes to the heart of our distinctive mission. We have been distinctive for many, many years in Australia and within the Diocese of Townsville. Our religious sisters have done us proud in this respect and all those who have come after them have also done us proud. Whilst we cannot revert to a Catholic ghetto mentality, that is to say that our schools are only for Catholics, we do need to ensure that a distinction exists.

Catholic means that we must be inclusive. Every effort shall be made to turn no one away. Non-Catholics are in this sense voting with their feet – they value us and want us to educate their children. Alleluia, I say. This does not mean that we dilute what we stand for – faith, hope and love need to dominate all Catholic school activity. Catholic schools in Australia have a long standing and dynamic ministry. The Catholic school today reflects an inclusive, respectful, aspirational, complex, interdependent, multifaith and multicultural community. How is this guided – by global and local conversations, assemblies of the congregation for Catholic education, ad limina visits by bishops, presentations of National Guidelines by peak bodies and varied emphasis in mission and practice by Catholic education authorities.

So, there is this fact that what we do here within Townsville Catholic Education is done with reference to many. But we cannot achieve the mission and vision that we aspire to without these partners including the involvement of parents and parish communities. The Church actually teaches that parents and care-givers are the first teachers in the ways of faith. Parishes traditionally play their part in offering this support as well. The school then helps facilitate a more formal learning environment. The Catholic school therefore has to be the face of the Church. What is experienced there needs to reflect the face of Jesus Christ and all that this means.

A Catholic school in the image of the gospel has to be an image of the Kingdom of God. It has to be receptive to the scattered seed. This agricultural image speaks to us just as it spoke to Jesus’ original audience. St Mark uses Jesus’ parable of the growing seed to comfort us. Seeds are small and vulnerable but can sprout and grow even in tough times. The Catholic school environment must do everything it can to help that seed grow in the hearts and minds of its students.

Seeds take time to grow, nevertheless, and so do our students and staff, and entire believing communities. It is always in God’s time, but growth will happen if we are nourished and encouraged, and invited into the life of Christ and his message and his mission. The school is always his field of encounter which he provides for us. The school is fertile ground in other words, ready for harvest - ready for new life. 

So, let us pray for our schools and their communities during Catholic Education Week. Let us thank God for them. Let us pray for their growth and their success in producing disciples who will be well equipped to engage a world that needs the face of Christ like never before.

May the kingdom of God come, and may we always look beyond what we see to what we hope for.

Blessings today and always.

Bishop Tim Harris