Religious Education

"Our schools aim to educate and form students who are challenged to live the gospel of Jesus and who are literate in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition, so that they might participate critically and authentically in faith contexts and the wider society. The Religious Education curriculum is authoritative. This Religious Education curriculum is supported by our Bishop for use in all Catholic School in the Diocese of Townsville (Dr C Day, Shape Paper Religion, Diocese of Townsville, 2014-2018)

"At the root of Catholic education is our Christian spiritual heritage, which is part of a constant dialogue with the cultural heritage and the conquests of science; Catholic schools and universities are educational communities where learning thrives on the integration between research, thinking and life experience." (Educating Today and Tomorrow: A Renewing Passion,Vatican, 2014)

The Religion Curriculum and the Religious Life of the School

Religious Education in our schools comprise of two distinct but complementary dimensions, the classroom teaching and learning of Religion (Religion Curriculum P-12) and the religious life of the school (Religious Life of the School P-12). Teaching religion is an educational activity focused on the teaching and learning of religion.  2014 was a threshold moment for Religious Education in the Townsville Diocese with the launch of the Religion Curriculum P-12, which was granted the Imprimatur by Bishop Michael Putney for use in all Diocesan schools.  Content for the classroom teaching and learning of religion is organised around four strands with three sub-strands for each. The strands and sub-strands are:

• Sacred Texts (Old Testament; New Testament; Spiritual Writings and Wisdom)
• Beliefs (God, Jesus, Spirit; Human Existence; Religions of the World)
• Church (Liturgy and Sacraments; Communion and Community; Church History)
• Christian Life (Moral Formation; Mission and Service; Prayer and Spirituality)

Teaching people to be religious is identified with the religious life of the school and is a faith development activity focused on nurturing the religious, spiritual and faith growth of students. The structure of the Religious Life of the School source document includes four components and three elements for each. They are:

• Religious Identity and Culture (Ethos and Charism; Authentic Christian Community; Sense of the Sacred)
• Prayer and Worship (Christian Prayer; Celebrating Liturgy and Sacraments; Ritualising Everyday Life)
• Evangelisation and Faith Formation (Living the Gospel; Spiritual Formation; Witness to the Wider Community)
• Social Action and Justice (Justice in the School Community; Action for Justice; Reflection on Action for Justice)

The Religious Education portal can be found at www.rec.bne.catholic.edu.au

Click here for more information about the National School Chaplaincy Program

Prayer and Liturgy

All the major expressions of prayer are looked at across P-12 (Prayer scope and sequence) and opportunities are provided by the school for individual and communal prayer and reflection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2721)

Christian Meditation is an integral part of the prayer life of teachers and students in schools throughout the Diocese of Townsville. The accompanying website outlines the details of this prayer.  www.cominghome.org.au

The experiential aspect of religious education is a vital part of classroom religious education. Students are invited to participate in liturgy and to reflect on their faith responses to classroom learning activities.

Accreditation to Teach and to Teach Religion in a Catholic school in Queensland

Click here for the 'Accreditation to teach and teach religion in a Catholic school in Queensland' document. If you require more information, please refer to this site or contact our Religious Education department on 47730907.  

Professional Development

Staff formation is a significant initiative for the Townsville Catholic Education Office. Please click here for the Staff Formation Framework.

In a chaotic world spiritual development can help sustain our teachers.  Spiritual formation of our teachers is paramount to continuing the Catholic Ethos in our schools.  Jesus taught "I am the way, the truth and the life" and the spiritual path is for all.  "There are endless statistics on those who have lost their job or need a job.  There are no statistics on those who have lost their souls while doing the job they do."  (John Haughey)