Principal’s Message

Welcome to the Mount St Joseph Catholic College Milperra website. We invite you to interact with our school through our social media pages and to explore the daily life of MSJ. When you walk in the doors of our school you can feel the energy of a committed Josephite community of Catholic social action and learning. Relationship! The purpose of social media is to create relationships and to spark a connection.

We believe strongly in developing resilient young women of the future. Because of this, we are all on an adventure of finding ways to connect with our local community and to realise our vision of “a thriving Catholic community of curious, active, informed and responsible global citizens journeying together in learning”.

In this time of rapid change we also look to learn from and with our students and our families. I invite you to join us and contribute to this adventure as we explore future learning spaces and approaches for the benefit of our students now and in the future. Together we can form young women who can strive for excellence in all they do and be their creative, passionate, happy and best selves.

Ms Narelle Archer
Principal

History

Mount St Joseph Catholic College was opened in 1960 in answer to a desperate need for a Catholic girls’ secondary school in south-western Sydney. The spirit in which this need was met for the people living in and around Milperra was the same spirit which animated Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint, whose life was lived in response to the needs of her day.

In her desire for Catholic education, Mary co-founded with Father Julian Tenison Woods the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Their first school was established in 1866 in Penola, South Australia in response to the need for Catholic education of poor children, particularly those in rural areas.

Soon the Order began to flourish, in both country towns and cities. Under Mary’s guidance, the work of the Sisters in schools, hospitals and orphanages reflected her motto of never seeing a need without trying to remedy it. Throughout both Australia and New Zealand, St Joseph’s schools became a feature of the Catholic education system.

Today, there are over 850 Sisters ministering throughout Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru, East Timor, Scotland and Brazil.
In 1959, Father Landers (Panania) and Father Carr (Revesby) accompanied Mother Leone Ryan, the Superior of the Sisters of St Joseph, in search of a suitable site for a new girls’ high school to be built in south-western Sydney. At this time the population of the area was increasing rapidly and the parishes were unable to meet the costs of building such a school. The search ended with the purchase of the land on which the school now stands.
A school was built and in 1960 girls from the surrounding parish schools began their secondary education at Milperra. In 2013, the Congregation handed over the administration of the school to Sydney Catholic Schools. It continues to grow and seek innovative directions under the guidance of its lay principals who are dedicated to preserving this rich charism.

At Mount St Joseph Catholic College the spirit of St Mary of the Cross finds expression in the education of girls of all abilities from families who live in our region and seek a Catholic education. Within the supportive environment of the school, they will be nurtured by the example guided in their growth and development by teachers who are committed to Jesus’ vision for living.

We are a community that embraces the values of acceptance, compassion, wisdom, hospitality, loyalty and action in all we do. Under the patronage of St Joseph, our school is proud to continue the charism, work and vision of the Sisters of St Joseph.

Mission

To know and love Christ in the spirit of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods through learning and action.

Vision

Mount St Joseph Catholic College as a thriving Catholic community of curious, active, informed and responsible global citizens journeying together in learning.

our historyMount St Joseph is connected with the local parish of St Luke’s Revesby. The Parish Priest is Rev Tadeusz Seremet. Students of our school are involved in the parish community through a number of ministries and regularly join in parish celebrations.

Parish Mass Times:

  • Saturday Vigil: 5pm
  • Sunday: 7.30am, 9am, 11.15am (Vietnamese), 6pm
  • Monday: 9.15 am
  • Tuesday: 7.00pm
  • Wednesday: 9.15am
  • Thursday: 9.15am
  • Friday: 9.15am

The Rosary and Reconciliation Times:

  • Friday (during Lent) 7.05pm

Parish website: St Luke’s Church Revesby

Proudly Part of the Community of Sydney Catholic Schools

Our school is part of a system of 147 low-fee Catholic schools in the Sydney Archdiocese.

Sydney Catholic Schools are thriving Catholic communities that ignite a love of Christ through excellent teaching and learning to empower students to reach their full potential.