The Spirit of the Arts Concert kicked off on Monday, 13 September, with more than 1500 students from 52 WA Catholic schools taking to the stage in RAC Arena for a night of song, dance and drama.

The all new week-long festival brought together the traditional Performing Arts Festival concert and Carnevalé events and included lunchtime concerts in the CBD, a greater visual presence, and a new venue for the centrepiece concert.

As the Church in Australia prepares for Assembly 1 of Plenary 2020 (2-10 October, 2021), it has asked members to consider the question: “In what way does the Church in Australia recommit to the mission of Catholic education, including Catholic schools and universities in the decades to come?”

The role of Catholic schools has always been central to Australian Catholic identity, and the introduction of curricula and teaching practices, such as WA’s Religion and Life as an ATAR subject, plays an important role in the Church’s evangelisation and formation of young people.

Plenary asks for “candour and courage” as members examine the future of Catholic education.

Catholic Arts presented its’ winners from the primary and secondary category at their awards ceremony held on Tuesday, 17 August at the St Georges Terrace Forrest Centre. By Amanda Murthy.

Following the success of the 2020 Catholic Education Leaders’ Forum Roadshow held at Catholic schools across WA, the 2021 roadshow kicked off earlier this month.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Perth and Catholic Education Western Australia have last month gathered to jointly launch their respective Modern Slavery Statements.

Building well-rounded young leaders equipped with Gospel teaching, was at the forefront of the recent Young Justice Leaders Forum (YJLF), that gained participation from 140 Catholic secondary school students (14 schools) from Years’ 9 and 10 from across the Archdiocese of Perth. By Amanda Murthy.

Fourteen Catholic Education school choirs participated in the annual Sacred Choral Section of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival at St Mary’s Cathedral on 27 July.

The Catholic Arts committee is this year honoured to introduce “The Spirit of the Arts” to the annual Performing Arts Festival. Staff and students of Catholic Education schools were present for the festival’s opening ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral on 22 July, led by Fr Vincent Glynn EV.

The Perth Catholic community attended a two-hour seminar at Newman Siena Centre on 24 June, exploring a theme of the Plenary Council, “Discovering A Christ-centred Church that is Open to Conversion, Renewal and Reform.” The event led by Catholic Education Western Australia Director of Religious Education Dr Chris Cotter, was organised by the Archdiocese of Perth Centre for Faith Enrichment, as a space for the community to continue the process of prayer, discernment, and dialogue. By Amanda Murthy.