• Finding the heart of the nation through the Voice

    Staff from across CSPD’s 80 Western Sydney and Blue Mountains schools, office staff, the Jarara Cultural Centre team, Elders and Aunties came together in early August to hear Uluru Statement from the Heart signatory and Voice to Parliament ‘Yes’ campaign advocate Thomas Mayo explain the purpose and journey behind...
  • Fun, love and understanding: the fruits of intergenerational connection

    Fostering relationships between children and grandparents or other elderly people is crucially important for our society, says Pope Francis – a teaching that the youngsters attending the Ambrose School Age Care service at Our Lady of the Way (OLOW) in Emu Plains couldn’t agree with more....
  • WYD pilgrims commissioned to be ambassadors for Christ

    After 12 months of formation, fundraising and prayers, 170 young people from Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains are on the cusp of a journey of a lifetime. Ahead of their departure to the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, pilgrims from parishes and schools across the Diocese of...
  • Putting feelings into words

    Over the next few months, as part of the Synod process, Bishop Vincent is asking us to put our feelings about the Church into words. This includes children’s feelings, too. But even for adults, expressing our emotions effectively is sometimes easier said than done....
  • Chaplains hope for ‘touch of heaven’ for WYD pilgrims

    As 170 young people from Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains experience a trip of a lifetime to World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon, Portugal, they will remain grounded through the support of four spiritual chaplains....
  • Going out on a limb takes students to World Youth Day

    Llandilo local and Xavier College student, Stephanie Galea, and her best friend, fellow student and netball teammate, Lucy Keene, went out on a limb and put themselves forward to travel to the other side of the world with millions of other young Catholics. Now that ‘crazy idea’ is becoming...
  • Go make a difference

    The Church belongs in the public square, making a difference to the world around us. The upcoming Synod - the first of its kind in the Diocese of Parramatta - is our opportunity to state anew and with relevance, our contribution to Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, says...
  • Nagle College student set to join millions of others at World Youth Day

    In less than three weeks, Blacktown local Isabelle Grills will be embarking on an experience of a lifetime. Joining millions of other young people from around the globe, the Year 11 Nagle College Blacktown South student is one of 3000 Australian pilgrims travelling to Lisbon, Portugal, for World Youth...
  • Journey to Lisbon 2023: The Parramatta Way

    Our young pilgrims depart for World Youth Day in Lisbon in mid-July this year. Here’s how they are preparing for this life-changing experience....