Catholic Schools have a long and proud history in the Australian educational landscape. Originally established by orders of brothers, nuns and priests in the nineteenth century, they are now almost entirely staffed and led by lay people.

Catholic Systemic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong are either Parish Primary Schools or Diocesan Secondary Schools. They are all co-educational schools.

Catholic Schools have a unique character because as well as being places where learning is highly valued, they are places where priority is given to a values-based education in the Catholic Faith. This involves all staff and students proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Staff identify strongly with their school and take pride in their work and the school’s achievements.

OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School is named after Mary, Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia. We celebrate her feast on May 24.

We are proud of our strong Catholic identity and pride ourselves on being a Catholic school community of faith, love and learning. We enjoy a strong relationship with our Parish Priest, Fr Sarkis and the wider parish community, working in partnership to promote and develop the faith life of our students, staff and families.

The staff, students and parents, together with the wider parish community, join together on many occasions to share, reflect upon and celebrate their faith through Mass, prayer, liturgies and Sacramental celebrations. The school environment reflects our Catholic Identity with a beautiful Sacred Garden, a Prayer Garden and sacred spaces in classrooms being central to the faith life of the school. The school is also fortunate to have the Church in close proximity and it remains a focal point for our faith celebrations. The implementation of quality Religious Education programs that help lay the foundation for lifelong faith is given high priority and the Catholic dimension is integrated into all other subject areas, relationships and the daily life of the school. Staff are also aware of, and value, their role in receiving and proclaiming the Good News by word and deed, and by the example of their lives.

For more information, visit the Our Lady Help of Christians Parish website

OUR PARISH

Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Church is located at Rosemeadow but the parish also incorporates historic St Bede's Church at Appin.

The areas covered by Our Lady Help of Christians Parish include Ambarvale, Appin, Englorie Park, Glen Alpine, Menangle Park, Rosemeadow, St Helen's Park, Macarthur Gardens and Wilton.

More information including Mass times can be found on the Parish Website

CHRISTMAS STORY ART EXHIBITION AND COMPETITION

Each year, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong invites Catholic primary schools from across the diocese to submit artworks from Year 5 and 6 students to enter in the CEDoW Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition.

Approximately 50 entries that are deemed to best meet the criteria are chosen for an exhibition at the Wollongong City Art Gallery, which is open to the public commonly around the month of October each year. Major awards are given at the opening of the exhibition, and approximately 12 finalists are selected for entry into the Sydney Archdiocese Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition.

For more information, visit the CEDoW Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition site

YEAR 6 MASS WITH THE BISHOP OF WOLLONGONG

Each year, Year 6 students from across the Diocese of Wollongong gather together to celebrate in an uplifting Mass with the Bishop of Wollongong. This occasion is an opportunity for students to encounter Christ through the Eucharist, through their fellow students gathered together and through the presence of Bishop Brian Mascord. The Year 6 Mass also aims to help students understand their place in the diocese, being part of the broader Church community and how they might embrace their Catholic faith as they take their next steps into secondary school.