14 March 2025

More than 200 first-year graduate teachers were officially welcomed to Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) today at a Commissioning Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

The newly appointed teachers were joined by their principals and were thanked by the Archbishop ‘for stepping up to the cause of teaching.’

Representing many of the 290 primary and secondary schools across the MACS system, the annual event warmly embraces graduates into the teaching profession.

‘It’s a significant responsibility you’re taking on, to form and help shape the lives of children, our young people’, Archbishop Peter said, before offering prayer to teach with ‘passion, understanding and care, while supported with hope, faith and love’.

Following the Commissioning Mass, graduate teachers made their way to the Catholic Leadership Centre to take part in an induction program.

Greeting them there, Director of Education Excellence at MACS, Dr Mary Oski, told graduates this was the beginning of ‘a profound journey’ as she formally welcomed them into the ‘sacred work’ of teaching.

Dr Oski also assured graduates they would not walk alone. ‘You are in good company and will be given full support and career development with MACS,’ she said.