The Dicastery for Evangelisation has commended the Parramatta Diocese’s new Religious Education curriculum for primary and secondary schools.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, wrote to Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv commending the efforts of all involved in creating the curriculum, titled Encountering Jesus.
“I am pleased to commend the efforts of the diocesan bodies in providing teachers with a valuable tool for their service in schools. I especially would like to note how the new volume, which is inspired by the Directory for Catechists, presents an integral understanding of the experience of faith,” Archbishop Fisichella said.
“By appropriately organising the formative content around the triptych “Head, heart, hands,” students are offered the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith in its various dimensions, thereby facilitating their personal believing response.
“Furthermore, the continuous referral to families and parish communities ensures continuity to the educational action that takes place in schools.”
Encountering Jesus was released by Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and Bishop Long in August 2024 and the rollout to schools commenced in Term 1 2025.
Schools have the opportunity to phase the rollout through 2025, and all schools will be using the new curriculum in all year groups from kindergarten to year 10 from the start of 2026.
Bishop Long said the dicastery’s endorsement “is very encouraging, especially as it was received during this Jubilee Year of Hope.”
“The development of the new RE Curriculum has been a challenging journey. But from the outset, I always had faith and confidence in the integrity and competency of those responded to the call of ‘going out into the deep’.
“I am proud of the many people involved in this process who have remained steadfast in producing a contemporary, theologically and pedagogically engaging document for our young people today, while constantly listening and taking on board feedback and refining the document. This truly is the Parramatta Way,” he said.
The curriculum was developed by Religious Education leaders in the diocese and endorsed by leading Catholic theologians, Catholic Scripture scholars, and experts in Catholic religious education.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese CEO Jack De Groot said Encountering Jesus invites all students to consider how the teachings of Jesus Christ can apply to their lives.
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Vatican endorsement for Parramatta’s new Religious Education Curriculum (Parramatta Diocese)
