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.

In addition to these schools another seven Independent Congregational High Schools also exist. 

OUR CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Our school was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1891 and has been established for over 130 years.  Originally named St Joseph’s School, the name was changed in the mid 1970s to reflect the link with the local parish of St Michael’s. As such, we especially celebrate

• The Feast of St Joseph on 19th March
• The Feast of St Mary MacKillop (co-foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph) on 8th August
• The Feast of St Michael on 29 September

We are a caring community, built on the charism of the Josephite Sisters and St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, under the protection of St Michael, with staff, students and families supporting each other to create the best learning and pastoral outcomes for all. Our school is part of the Corpus Christi Parish of Mittagong / Bowral, as well as the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong. We are blessed to be a part of such a vibrant and rich network of schools where learning is shared and experiences celebrated.

OUR PARISH

Corpus Christi Parish Mittagong / Bowral was established in 2021, when the separate parishes of St Michael’s Mittagong and St Thomas Aquinas Bowral formed one united parish.

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

MESSAGE FROM OUR PARISH PRIEST 

Whether you presently have children in the school or are a new family beginning at St Michael's Mittagong, please know that you are most welcome and I pray that your time here will be enriching and happy.

The Catholic school is an extension of a wider community – the parish. This makes our school of St Michael's Mittagong a parish primary school. You have entrusted your child to the care of qualified and dedicated educators who will help you in your role as the “first teachers of your child in the ways of faith” (Rite of Baptism).

I hope you will become involved in the many activities connected with the school and parish, and that you will especially be with us as we gather for Sunday Mass each week, which is the heart of every Catholic community.

Sunday Mass times are:

During the school term, children’s liturgy is held during the 9:30 am Mass each Sunday, where the children go to the chapel and are presented with a simplified gospel and other activities they enjoy. They return to Mass at the offertory. This is a great way to meet other families and also gives you a chance to be a little less distracted in your prayer. In any case, we love to see (and hear) your whole family at Mass.

Children are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and First Communion in Year 3 and Confirmation in Year 6.

Here, we conduct these preparation programmes through the parish, and you as parents are very much involved. Enrolment into the respective programmes will be through your attendance at Sunday Mass.

If I can be of any assistance or you would like to know more about our parish, please feel free to contact me at any time. I hope that during the next few years we can get to know each other and continue to build the Church community in Mittagong and beyond.

Father Sean Cullen

Parish Priest