Mrs Anne McLean (Mudgee), Mr Paul Crennan (Bathurst) and Dr Beverley Moriarty (Dubbo) attended their first meeting on 24th November. Fr Paul Devitt (Parish Priest, Dubbo), who is replacing Fr Tim Cahill, will join the group for its next Meeting in February. Expressing his gratitude “for the magnificent work they are doing”, Bishop McKenna has asked the present Commission to continue for a further six months.
It was with regret that the Commission members acknowledge Fr Tim Cahill’s resignation. Fr Tim, who is Parish Priest of Wellington, leaves the group in order to be available for other responsibilities within the Diocese.
The Diocesan Schools Commission was set up by Bishop Dougherty in May 2007 as an interim body, pending the appointment of his successor. Initial members of the Commission were Fr Tim Cahill, Mr Michael Knight and Sister Jean Cain rsj. At a later stage Mr Hugh O’Reilly was asked by Bishop Dougherty to attend in an ex officio capacity as Diocesan Financial Administrator and Fr Pat O’Regan has also attended since his appointment as Diocesan Administrator.
Bishop McKenna hopes to have a permanent Diocesan Education body in place by mid 2010. Recognising the extent and weight of the Commission’s agenda, he has expanded the membership to carry the normal workload as well as the transition to the new structure.
At the Bishop’s request, the Commission has already undertaken significant research into the variety of models of Education structure operating in the other Australian Dioceses and handed its findings and recommendations to the Bishop for his consideration.
