CCD Sydney - Catholic Scripture in Public Schools

A big thank you to the team at Our Lady of the Rosary Fairfield Parish, for graciously hosting the Western (Deanery 1 & 2) Area Catechist Mass.

Special thanks to Bishop Danny, all clergy, coordinators, catechists, and helpers for their presence and dedication.

“To be entrusted with the teaching of the young is a great gift and grace of God.”
(St John Baptist De La Salle - MTR 9.1 [Med 201.1])

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS: PARISH RENEWAL CONFERENCE 2024.

For more information contact: [email protected] or visit:

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS: PARISH RENEWAL CONFERENCE 2024 FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS: PARISH RENEWAL CONFERENCE 2024 Do you want to see our parishes renewed? Join us for a day of formation, workshops and networking to be equipped and strengthened for mission. Be part of the transformation in our Church today! Date: Saturday 3 August Time: 8:45am – 5:00pm Ve...

Thank you to the team at the Parish of Christ the King, Bass Hill, for graciously hosting the Central (Deanery 3 & 4) Area Mass.

Special thanks to Bishop Danny, all clergy, coordinators, catechists, and helpers for their presence and dedication.

“I let myself say this to bear witness that a good catechist leaves a trace; not only the trace of what he or she sows, but the trace of the person who has sown.”

- Pope Francis, Third International Congress of Catechists (10 September, 2022)

FREE EVENT with Jason Evert

Parents: an invitation from Sydney Catholic Schools and the Family Wellbeing & Education team.

To register, visit: https://www.trybooking.com/crfur
For more information, email: [email protected]

Parenting for Life and Love Jason Evert is a highly influential Catholic speaker as well as best selling author of more than 20 books, bringing the message of chastity, love...

A big thank you to the team at the Parish of St. Thomas More, Brighton-Le-Sands, for graciously hosting the Southern (Deanery 8 & 9) Area Mass.

Special thanks to Bishop Danny, all clergy, coordinators, catechists, and helpers for their presence and dedication.

“Who are catechists? They are people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves and they are to revive it in others.”
- Pope Francis, Day for Catechists (29 September, 2013)

Liturgical ministers are invited to join the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney and the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia for a Eucharistic Retreat day.

Liturgical ministers include readers, acolytes, cantors, musicians, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters, collectors, audio-visual operators … and CATECHISTS who gather children for “liturgy”.

For more information, email: [email protected]

There are a few more spaces available for this retreat day for liturgical ministers (lectors, eucharistic ministers, etc). Register soon! We hope to see you there. https://www.trybooking.com/CODKM

RE Search Podcast is back for another season.

Episodes at the moment are about Lent and Holy Week.

RE Search can be found on:
Catholic Weekly: https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/category/podcasts/re-search/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/re-search/id1689333368

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6VlI8DSYzxqqKq0iF406lM

RE Search Listen to RE Search on Spotify. RE Search the Podcast where we search for the answers to some of the questions students and teachers ask in religious education classes.

Bishop Greg’s Lenten Talk 2024
St Therese of Lisieux (Part 1 of 3)

Lenten Talks 2024 Ep 1 of 3 - St Therese of Lisieux

Are you searching for Lenten and Holy Week ideas for your Catholic SRE classes or to engage in meaningful activities at home? Look no further!

Visit our CCD website for a collection of Lenten and Holy Week resources: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/

WE CANNOT LOVE WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW (St Augustine)

God is forever revealing Himself to us. Have you ever been curious to find out more?

Join Chris Wolter online for a thought-provoking short course, titled ‘God the Beautiful: An Introduction to Theology’, that will make learning about God both enjoyable and accessible.

Dates: Mondays 4, 11 and 18 March 2024
Time: 7:30pm – 8:45pm
Mode: Online via Zoom
Cost per course: $35 for individuals or $100 per Parish Group for an in-person gathering (+ booking fees).

To find out more and to register, visit gomakedisciples.org.au/didasko

A Lenten Retreat Day with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia.

Women of all ages are invited to join the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia for a Lenten Retreat Day. This day will focus on renewing the foundations of the spiritual life as we strive to live the Paschal Mystery throughout the coming year. The retreat day will include all day Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions, talks by the sisters, a personal testimony, a Holy Hour, and discussion groups. Morning tea and lunch are included.

A $20 fee assists with covering retreat expenses. Women who have attended previous retreat days with the Sisters are encouraged to bring a friend to this event.

To secure your spot, register now at www.bit.ly/3RRAKfa

If you have any questions? Please reach out directly to the Dominican Sisters at [email protected] for more information.

Women's Lenten Retreat Day Women of all ages are invited to join the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia for a Lenten Retreat Day. This day will focus on renewing the foundations of the spiritual life as we strive to live the Paschal Mystery throughout the coming year. The retreat day will include all day Eucharistic Adoration...

A big thank you to the team at St Michael's Church, Meadowbank, for graciously hosting the Northern Area Catechist Mass.

Special thanks to Bishop Danny, all clergy, coordinators, catechists, and helpers for your presence and dedication.

In the words of Pope Francis, “Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit, with joy and much peace.” (December 2021)

On the first Sunday in February, the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney joyfully celebrates Catechist Sunday. This day holds a significant place in our hearts as it coincides with the celebration of Word of God Sunday* in Australia.

A big thank you to all our Catechist Coordinators, Catechists and Catechist Helpers.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the Catechist Service Awards, commemorating 5, 10 and 15 years of service.

If you are interested in supporting your parish as a Catechist or Catechist Helper, please reach out to your Parish Catechist Coordinator or Parish Office.

For further information, visit: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/

Word of God Sunday Homily (2024): Pope Francis – https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024/documents/20240121-domenica-parola-didio.html

*In September 2019, Pope Francis instituted the celebration of Word of God Sunday when issuing the apostolic letter Aperuit Illis – https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20190930_aperuit-illis.html

Happy Feast of the Holy Family.

This feast day honors Jesus, the Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph as the holiest of families, and therefore a model for all Christians families. They were holy because they placed God at the center of their family life, they loved and sacrificed for one another, and they radiated that love to others in the redemptive mission of the Word Incarnate.

May your family also place God at the centre your family life. 🙏❤️

Let us continue to pray for all families. 🙏

Merry Christmas!!! ❤️

May the birth of Jesus Christ bring you and your family peace, joy, and hope. 😊

The beautiful ladies of CCD Sydney at the Cathedral for the CAS Christmas celebration. 😊❤️🙏

We just wanted to share with you and your families some Advent/Christmas materials and activities you ca do with your families. Please feel free to share around!!

Share Christmas Joy 2023 - Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney) For more information scan QR Code or visit: christmasatthecathedral.org.au Christmas at the Cathedral – Flyer CRAFT ACTIVITIES Baby Jesus Prayer Plate Craft Download Angel Craft Download Advent Wreath Candles Download Blessing of a Christmas Tree Prayer Download Christmas Coloured C...

"The perfect gift CCD gave us for Christmas." This was the comment from one of our Catechist coordinator yesterday at the Advent Retreat.

Thank you Fr Ronie for leading the Advent Retreat for Western Region Catechist yesterday at Austral. ❤️

Not even the heat detered the many Catechists from attending. 😊

We started with Mass then a special talk and reflection on our Lady of Guadalupe and ended with Eucharistic Adoration. 🙏

Catechists brought lunch to be shared, which was enjoyed by everyone. What a special day! 😍

Here's a pic from the team.
L-R : Pablo (seminarian), Vincent, Anna (Coordinator at Austral), Fr Ronie (PP at Austral), Trevor, Juliette and Laura

Yesterday was a great day for High School SRE. 😍

CCD Sydney staff, Vincent, Trevor and Juliette with Catechists from Smithfield and Lurnea Parish conducted a Seminar style Catholic Scripture class to over 120 students.

It was a day of learning, observing and piloting an Advent Seminar Lesson plan called "Jesus as a Refugee," which was developed by our friends from

The day was truly spirit led. Young people came to listen, reflect, pray and pledged an action they would commit to during Advent as a gift to Jesus.

Thank you to Jules, Bibian, Kashia and Felicia for their contribution in making yesterday a day to remember. ❤️

Catechists from the South had their Christmas celebrations and final Catechist gathering of 2023 last week.

What beautiful smiles. 😍

What a night!! 🙏❤️

CCD Staff, Anita, Suzanne and Juliette were at the Purpose Conference last night.

What a blessing to have had their photos taken with guest speakers from USA, Jason Evert, and Matt Fradd.

Yesterday over 60 High School Catechists and potential High School Catechists attended a presentation by our friends from CCD Broken Bay

Presenters John and Michael spoke about Discipleship and broke open the CCRESS High School curriculum. The participants also got a taste of what a seminar program can look like in a High school setting.

It was a morning of formation and learning. 😊👏

We are also excited to share that a 'Once a term' seminar style High School SRE is one strategy we're implementing in 2024 so we can be present in more public High Schools. 🙏

If you think you can help facilitate seminars once a Term in a High school next year please contact your Parish Priest or SRE Parish Coordinator.

Please continue to pray for our efforts in going into more public High Schools. 🙏🙏🙏

O Lord, let your blessing come upon us as we light the first (purple) candle. May the light be a sign of Christ's promise of salvation and hope. May He come quickly and not delay.

Recipients of Service Awards for 2023. 👏👏👏

Congratulations and thank you for your service and commitment. 🙏❤️

Thank you to our wonderful Young Catechists (YC) for helping out at our Annual Catechist Mass last Sunday at St Mary’s Cathderal.

From L-R: Thao, Natasha, and Jeninah. ❤️

Blessed to have these young ladies teach Scripture Classes in public schools. 😊🙏👏

📸 Giovanni Portelli Photography