Grace Colloquium 2025

Mission and Identity in Catholic Education in the 21st Century: theory and practice

G.R.A.C.E

Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education (G.R.A.C.E) is an international research-based partnership between scholars in Australian Catholic University; Boston College, United States; Edith Cowan University; University of Glasgow; Mary Immaculate College, Limerick; University of Notre Dame Fremantle, Australia; St Mary’s University in Twickenham, London, Edith Cowan University, Australia. As an emerging community of practice (Wenger, 2000), G.R.A.C.E. provides an original opportunity for scholars, researchers and practitioners of Catholic education, theology, philosophy, history and social sciences in our respective countries to affirm, study, collaborate and respond meaningfully to challenges we face in the field. The community of practice is for everyone interested in a new, integrated and revitalised approach to Catholic education: teachers, governors, chaplains, parents, researchers, established and emerging academics, and thought leaders. Toward this end, our initiative:

• Seeks a deeper study of ecclesiology and Christian anthropology and its significance for Catholic education
• Pursues new theories of Catholic education based on empirical research
• Strengthens a global argument for the importance of faith-based schools in a plural society
• Attunes educators’ abilities to notice, engage, and celebrate the presence of God’s grace in the world

This partnership promotes research and learning to develop the head, heart and hands of Catholic education.

In St Mary’s University’s special 175th anniversary year, the Steering Group is proud to host the second international Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education (GRACE) Colloquium, continuing St Mary’s tradition of being the leading university in the UK with a Catholic identity.