Diocesan News
On Tuesday, January 27, staff from the Catholic Education Central Zone schools gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral for a beautiful Mass to mark the beginning of the 2026 school year.
The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Paul, with Fr Jim McKay and Fr Ed Moloney as concelebrants. In his homily, Bishop Paul reflected on this year’s Catholic Education theme, “Peace be with you all.” – Romans 15:33, reminding us of the hope, unity and mission that guide our work in Catholic education.
This year’s Mass was particularly special, as it will be the last time Bishop Paul leads this annual gathering, commencing his retirement. New staff across the zone were warmly blessed as they begin their journey of service this year.
This cherished annual gathering brings together all teaching and non‑teaching staff from Catholic schools across the Ballarat Central Zone, supported by our colleagues at DOBCEL. It provided a reflective and inspiring start to the year ahead, grounded in community, faith and the message of peace.
Catholic Schools Opening Mass Homily by Bishop Paul
Last May, tens of thousands of people were gathered in St Peter’s square in Rome. They were waiting for the election of the Pope. Then they saw white smoke coming from the chimney above the Sistine chapel – the traditional sign to say that the cardinals had completed the election. Soon after that, Pope Leo came out onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. He came to greet the people in St Peter’s Square and the millions watching on television. He stretched out his arms and said, “Peace be with you all.” He recalled that a greeting of peace was the first greeting of Jesus when he met his disciples after his resurrection. Pope Leo then said, “I would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace!”
Pope Leo began with a message of peace, and he has repeated that message many times since. Peace has been one of Pope Leo’s main themes. It’s also our theme for Catholic Education for 2026.
On the booklet for our Mass this morning we have the words of St Paul, “Peace be with you all.” In taking this as the theme for Catholic Education this year, we’re in tune with St Paul. We’re in tune with Pope Leo. We’re in tune with Jesus himself. After he’d risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples and he said to them, “Peace be with you.” The disciples had been thrown into confusion when Jesus had been arrested. They were devastated when he died on the cross. They were fearful of what might happen to them. But Jesus rose from the dead and he came to reassure his disciples with this greeting of peace. “Peace be with you.”
This greeting of Jesus can be reassuring to us as well. We might sometimes be anxious. As we start a new school year, we might be anxious about how the year will unfold. We might be unsure whether we’ll be able to meet the challenges that the year will bring. In our anxieties, in our uncertainties, the greeting of Jesus can be a source of calm. “Peace be with you.”
The peace that we’re referring to is the peace of Christ, the peace that Jesus came to bring. In the full text from the letter to the Romans, St Paul does not only say, “Peace be with you all.” He says, “May the God of peace be with you all.” The peace we’re referring to is the peace that comes from the God of peace, the peace that comes to us as a gift of God. This is the peace that Jesus offers us. This is the peace we pray for in the Mass.
Just before communion, we offer one another a sign of peace. And just before that, we have a prayer for peace. It’s a prayer addressed to Jesus. “Lord Jesus Christ who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He wishes to share that peace with us. May our hearts be open to receive that peace.
May we also share that peace with those around us. In our Mass, we’ll offer a sign of peace to those who are near us. As we move into the new school year, may we share the peace of Christ with our colleagues on our school staff and in the Catholic Education office. May we share the peace of Christ with our students and their families.
Peace be with you all. This is a theme that runs through the prayers of this Mass. May this be a theme that runs through our whole year.
Bishop Paul Bird CSsR