After school care service blessed

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, staff and students celebrate during the opening and blessing of the Catholic Out of School Hours Care (COSHC) centre at Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Lawson. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.

A new out of school hours care service for the Blue Mountains has been blessed after opening earlier this year, adding to the Diocese of Parramatta’s network of 32 early years education and children’s care centres.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, blessed the Catholic Out of School Hours Care centre at Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Lawson, on 20 October.

“The care of children is, of course, one of the most sacred duties of the Christian community and the Church,” Bishop Vincent said during the ceremony.

“We want to ensure that children who come to our services are valued, are loved, are provided with the means to grow in knowledge and social skills,” he said.

Anthony Goonan, Chief Executive, Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited (CDPSL), explained, “What the educators do here really does complement what happens at school and equips the children with some of the social skills needed to contribute in this changing world.”

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta (second from right), watches on as Anthony Goonan (centre), Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Ltd, addresses staff and students during the opening and blessing of the Catholic Out of School Hours Care (COSHC) centre at Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School, Lawson. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.

Members of the parish and school communities joined around 20 students at the ceremony, with students helping Bishop Vincent with prayers during the blessing.

The Lawson centre joins with services at Springwood and Glenbrook in serving the Catholic school communities in the Blue Mountains.

Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited (CDPSL) has responsibility for the Diocese of Parramatta’s extensive network of Catholic Out of School Hours Care Centres and Catholic Early Learning Centres.

Information about vacation care and enrolments for 2021