A Message from the Principal
Bernard Burgess
The Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
It was a delight to be amongst the many pilgrims who walked from Nobby’s Beach to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, for Mass, last Sunday as part of the Pilgrimage of Hope in this Jubilee year declared by Pope Francis. It was equally delightful to be surrounded by CMCC staff and their families and a good number of our students too. As a Catholic school community, we hold dear that Jesus Christ is at the heart of all that we do and embracing opportunities such as this is an important part of the culture of our College community.
Lent has begun and was marked at CMCC by our Ash Wednesday Liturgy led by Father Joyce, our Parish Priest and organised by our Leader of Ministry Siobhan Kelly. Our Acclaim singers and musicians made this occasion extra special and CMCC students are to be congratulated on the way they approached, participated in and showed reverence throughout the liturgy.
The season of Lent is a sacred time to embrace the tender and merciful love of God more fully. It is an opportunity to reflect, to seek forgiveness, and to extend that same mercy to others. This path is not about drawing attention to our actions, but about living with integrity, allowing grace to shape our thoughts, words, and deeds. Lent leads us into the most significant of the Church’s seasons – Easter.
2026 - Year 7 Enrolments
Families would be aware that the Year 7 2026 enrolment period is now open and closes on Friday 23rd May.
Catherine McAuley Catholic College is expecting high numbers of enrolment applications again this year, for the Year 7 2026 cohort.
Families of students in Pathway Catholic Primary Schools, St Brigid’s Raymond Terrace, St Michael’s Nelson Bay, St Peter’s Stockton (St Peter’s is residential address dependant) and St Joseph’s Bulahdelah are encouraged to attend to their online applications as soon as possible. Pathway Primary school students in Year 6 2025, who have been enrolled there since at least the beginning of Year 4, are the number one priority for enrolment in Year 7 2026 at CMCC. This group only need to include a birth certificate with their application.
Siblings of students currently enrolled at CMCC other than those in the category above are the second priority for enrolment in the 2026 Year 7 cohort. This group need to complete a full online application including birth certificate, religious milestone documents such as a Baptismal certificate, Confirmation or Eucharist certificate, their two most recent semester reports, two proof of residence documents and NAPLAN results.
Enrolment priority (priorities 3 – 5) after the two groups above are as follows:
- (3) Catholic families from non-pathway schools living within the school’s catchment area.
- (4) Families of other Christian denominations living within the school’s catchment area and committed to supporting all aspects of Catholic education.
- (5) Other families living within the school’s catchment area and committed to supporting all aspects of Catholic education.
It is important that all applications regardless of enrolment priority, include a completed school history section from Kindergarten to Year 6 (2019-2025).
Date adjustments in the college’s Compass calendar
The College’s Compass calendar has been updated this week regarding two events set down for Wednesday 12th March.
- Year 7 2026 Parent Information Evening
- College Open Day
Both events will take place later in the year and have been updated in Compass to - “new date to be confirmed”. Families will be kept informed regarding these events and confirmed dates when finalised.
Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Forum
This week the first of the FACE forums for 2025 took place in the College Library. This forum will take place on the Wednesday evening of Week 6 each term and is an opportunity for families to join with the Senior Leadership Team, to submit questions with notice prior to the night and to discuss matters amongst the group and with the school’s leaders. This is a forum open to all families and includes an educative component which this week focussed on Wellbeing Walls, a tool used by our teachers and educators to support the learning of every student. All are welcome at FACE forums, and they will be held at 5.30pm on the designated date each term. Information and invitations will be sent out via Compass each term prior to the event.
With best wishes to all in the CMCC community.
United in Mercy