3 July 2025
Dear Colleagues, Parents and Friends of Catholic Education WA,
It is difficult to believe that we are now at the halfway mark of 2025. I want to thank our Principals, teachers and staff in our schools and offices across the state for their dedication in providing a quality Catholic education to our more than 83,000 students.
As we know, this term saw the passing of Pope Francis and the election of a new Pope, Leo XIV. This historic moment for our church is a reminder of the enduring strength of our Catholic community and I was encouraged by the strong expressions of faith shown during this period. At the heart of our Catholic schools is an unequivocal commitment to being Christ centred. The Pope, as the head of the universal Catholic Church is not only the Bishop of Rome but the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.
Our schools continue to be places of innovation and excellence. In May, Irene McCormack Catholic College announced a new partnership with Liverpool FC International Academy, offering students from Years 7 to 12 the opportunity to participate in a high-performance, co-curricular soccer development program. This collaboration will bring world-class coaching and training methods to the College, supporting the development of students both on and off the field as part of a holistic education approach.
Meanwhile Primary and Secondary Schools in Perth once again took part in the annual LifeLink Day. This is an important tradition for Catholic schools, stretching back over a quarter of a century. It is heartening to see the dedication our students continue to show in finding creative and inspiring ways to raise funds for this important cause. Each student involved in fundraising has committed time and care to produce their project – and I am inspired by the spirit of service which is so central to our Catholic school communities.
Our newest Catholic school, St Marcellin Catholic College is now on its permanent site in Madora Bay, and I was pleased to attend the blessing and opening ceremony on 10 June. I commend the strong and inclusive culture inspired by our Catholic identity and Marist charism developing at the College under Principal, Anita O’Donohue and her staff. I know that the College will go from strength to strength and serve the growing community in Madora Bay and its surrounding area into the future. As a strong symbol of our Catholic schools’ link to the Church, the College was blessed by Bishop George Kolodziej SDS, Bishop of Bunbury.
Next term we will once again hold the Quality Catholic Education (QCE) Awards, celebrating the programmes and initiatives in Catholic schools across Western Australia that support the vision of providing Christ-centred, student-focused, engaged learning environments. You can vote for your favourite project by visiting https://awards.cewa.edu.au/.
As you may know, on 4 July I will conclude my tenure as Executive Director, bringing my 47 years of service in Catholic education in WA to a close. I have been humbled by the well wishes expressed by my colleagues, including at the farewell with Principals and Senior Leaders.
As you are aware, the Bishops of Western Australia have appointed Mrs Annette Morey, currently serving as Deputy Executive Director, as the new Executive Director. Annette is a highly respected and experienced Catholic education leader, and it has been a privilege to work closely with her over the last 18 months, I know that Annette will bring great passion, dedication and commitment to leading Catholic education across the State. Annette is a woman of great faith, and I wish her all the best in her leadership of CEWA.
May God continue to bless you and keep you safe. I will continue to keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers as I embark upon retirement. I wish you all a safe and restful break.
Yours sincerely,
Wayne Bull AM
Mr John Bormolini
Principal
