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The archbishop says ‘hello’ to Jane Donovan, principal of Aquinas College,
Menai
The massive increase in the number of people without religion – from one per cent to 17 per cent – is the most significant religious change in the past 50
years, says the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr George Pell.
“And it will most cert-ainly be higher in the census that comes later this year,” he told a gathering of Catholic primary school and secondary college
principals.
“Another significant factor is the rise of RCs – not Roman Catholics, but resting, relaxed and reluctant Catholics.
“Of the 18 per cent of Catholics who worship two or three times a month,
in my age group it is up to 24–25 per cent.
“For the under 16s, it’s between 11 and 15 per cent, depending on location.
“For 20-year-olds, it’s about six per cent!”
Dr Pell told the
principals: “This is certainly not one of the worst times for religion, but, just as certainly, we would be foolish to imagine that this is a time in which religion is really thriving and going well.”
He
called on them to encourage leaders among the young people themselves. “There is no substitute for very clear explicit leadership, not only for principals and teachers, but leadership among the youngsters
themselves, to commit them to Christ,” he said.
Archbishop Pell expr-essed his appreciation to the 56 principals that they had all turned up at such short notice.
He told them of his “long
involvement” with Catholic education. “I believe in it,” he said. “I believe deeply in Catholic schools.”
He told the principals they were “vitally important Church leaders”, as well as being educational
leaders.
“For most of your students, you and your teachers will be the primary face of the Church, because the great majority of them won’t be celebrating the Eucharist on most Sundays of the year,” he said.
“That represents, of course, a formidable resp-onsibility and a wonderful opportunity to the Church, because we have that method of outreach.
“It’s an enormous blessing for us, but it also means
we’ve got to grasp our opportunities.”
Archbishop Pell said he would work hard at listening to what the principals had to say.
“And it’s possible, every now and then, I will have a thing or two to say
myself,” he said.
“I do hope this is just the start of a long and productive period of interaction. We both have challenging jobs.
“Your job today is certainly very challenging.
“I know the
schools are popular, that we have a good sense of community and strong morale. I will regularly support you in your struggle to maintain and develop social standards.
“I have some understanding of your work,
some understanding of the pressures on you.
“I suppose it’s also true to say that there’s the odd pressure on me too, as the new Archbishop.”
Dr Pell said he looked forward to visiting all the schools.
“I will try to do it over the years regularly and systematically, whenever I visit a parish,” he said.
“On top of that, I am quite open –
and I speak for the other bishops as well, too – to come to your schools on special occasions, to show we believe in what you are doing.”
Dr Pell has been on a steep learning curve since his installation at
St Mary’s Cathedral eight weeks ago – familiarising himself with a new city, new clergy, new parishioners, as well as the teachers and students in Sydney’s Catholic schools.
Among the many roles he must fill
is that of “head teacher” of the 167 schools in the Archdiocese and the 80,000 students who attend them.
Getting to know the students will take some time.
However, in a series of visits to the
Catholic Educ-ation Office (CEO) in Leichhardt, he has been briefed on issues affecting the schools and has met all the primary and secondary school principals and the staff of the CEO.
Archbishop Pell
presented each of the Catholic primary and secondary school principals with a special memento – a copy of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, At the Beginning of the New Millennium, written to mark the beginning
of the third Christian millennium.
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