Families and Faith

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Lismore endeavour to support all families in the critical role they play as the first educators of their children in faith.  As a Catholic school, we seek to offer families an experience of a Catholic community focused on the formation of the whole person and to partner with them in order to enable all students to achieve the ‘fullness of life’. (John 10:10)

Catholic Schools Parent Assembly 

In order to support families as partners in their child’s educational journey, the Lismore Catholic Schools Office supports and resources the Catholic Schools Parent Assembly.  The Lismore Diocese is one of the few school systems in Australia to have a strategic, resourced and effective parent organisation that solely serves the needs of the parents.

The Parent Assembly strives to offer families accompaniment, support and assistance on their spiritual journeys by:

  • offering opportunities at school, regional and diocesan levels for parents to learn more about their faith,
  • including meaningful and varied prayer experiences at all parent events and
  • by praying for the families in our parish schools.

Some of the Parent Assembly supported faith enrichment opportunities that St Joseph’s College families can experience include:

Sisterhood Groups

Sisterhood groups exist to provide a place of faith formation, caring support, connection and encouragement for women of all ages as they seek to grow in their relationship with God and with those they do life with.

Sisterhood groups meet in our area for coffee, conversation and spiritual reflection. Each year, the members of the Sisterhood groups across the diocese are invited to a Sisterhood Retreat held in August.

MenAlive

MenAlive is a Catholic men’s movement that seeks to encourage men of all ages in their faith lives and to support men to be husbands, fathers, sons and brothers of integrity, passion and commitment.

Parent Assembly financially supports fathers and male carers to attend the annual MenAlive conference and hosts regional re-connector events to ensure a strong connection between men of faith in our diocese.

Family Retreats

Parent Assembly hosts an annual Family Retreat locally. The Family Retreat is an opportunity to gather as a large group of families to explore our Catholic faith together. The retreat includes a fun and engaging faith formation program for children and a spiritually enriching program for adults.  There are also many opportunities for families to engage in fun family activities including craft, adventure activities and nature walks. All St Joseph’s families are warmly invited to attend this retreat.

If you would like to find out more about any of the faith enrichment opportunities available to you as a parent of a child at our College, contact Leanne Robbins, your local Parent Assembly team member at lrobbins@lism.catholic.edu.au. You can also keep up to date with faith enrichment opportunities on the Parent Assembly Facebook page.

Proclaim Lismore Parents

Proclaim Lismore Parents acknowledges, celebrates and seeks to strengthen family school partnerships as a vital contributing factor in:

  • Strengthening parish school communities as living expressions of our Catholic faith
  • Improved student outcomes
  • Improved social, emotional and mental wellbeing of students, staff and parents
  • Parish schools as communities of welcome and inclusivity.

Proclaim Lismore Parents 2021 is a time for families, school staff, and parishes to learn and explore together how we can develop partnerships between home, school and the community that will be of the greatest benefit to our children. We want the child who is always at the centre of all we do, to be encircled in positive, authentic and respectful relationships between family, schools and parishes. For each of us to contribute to developing such relationships we must come together in a spirit of openness ready to listen and dialogue with one other.

A Series of Unique Proclaim Lismore Parent Gatherings 

Proclaim Lismore 2022 will include a series of unique events to allow this to happen. Each school community is encouraged to attend the gathering closest to them with a diverse mix of parents/carers, school leaders, staff and parishioners who will represent their school’s commitment to developing vibrant and authentic family and parish school partnerships.  Play your part in ensuring our Catholic schools are places where families and schools work together for the good of each child. Mark these dates in your diary.

Port Macquarie                   TBC

Coffs Harbour                     TBC

Grafton                                  TBC

Richmond                             TBC

Ballina                                    TBC

Tweed Heads                        TBC