Ceremony held at site of new Catholic primary school in Warragul

The Catholic Bishop of Sale, Most Reverend Patrick O’Regan, visited Warragul in May, 2019 to bless the site where a new primary school will soon be constructed.

Bishop O’Regan was joined by Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Sale, Ms Maria Kirkwood, local Parish Priest Very Rev. Peter Slater, and Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Mikaela Power on the corner of Copelands Road and Mills Road, for a brief ceremony.

St Angela of the Cross Catholic Primary School is the first new school to be established in Warragul in almost 20 years. The school will open in term one, 2021.

Ms Kirkwood said that Catholic schools play a vital role in nurturing children and young people to reach their full potential.

“I look forward to welcoming students to St Angela of the Cross Primary School, and partnering with their families to enable them to meet life’s challenges with faith and hope,” she said.

Construction of the first school building, a modern, two storey structure with six classrooms and an administration centre, will commence in July 2019. Once complete, the school will be able cater for up to 450 students from foundation to grade six.

Ms Kirkwood said that another Catholic primary school was needed in Warragul to cater for the rapid growth of families in the area seeking high quality and affordable Catholic education.

“Our vision for St Angela of the Cross is to provide a faith-filled environment that will enable students to achieve their personal best,” she said.

Father Slater said that the school is named in honour of St Angela of the Cross, who lived in Spain from 1846-1932.

“St Angela dedicated her life to prayer and service to others, and is a wonderful role model for future students and their families. Her life illustrates the teaching of Jesus: to love God and neighbour,” he said.

This is the first new school to be established through the Diocese of Sale’s education governance body, Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd (DOSCEL). DOSCEL was established in 2018 to manage and operate Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale.