GOOD NEWS from Christ Our Holy Redeemer, Oakleigh East
March 8, 2021

Strength in Community

Meet Brendan Welsford (pictured), the Principal of Christ Our Holy Redeemer in Oakleigh East. Brendan proudly represents a primary school that has a strong history of outstanding community and deep connection. 


Whilst Brendan has been the Principal at Christ Our Holy Redeemer for four years, his personal history and love for the school goes back much further. Brendan himself was once a much-loved pupil at the primary school which he attended for the duration of his junior years.


Having a long and rich history with the school has provided Brendan with the knowledge of the importance of sustaining connection and growing community within his beloved ‘old’ primary school. 


Within this thriving and active school there was an urgent need for expanding the space to cater for more students. Every classroom was being utilised to full capacity including the library that needed to be turned into a classroom because of classroom shortages. The constraints on space and classrooms being stretched meant the space could not meet the demands of a growing school. 


CDF was able to step in and assist with a loan to refurnish the school giving the 254 students 9 new learning spaces. This included breakout areas, multi–purpose spaces, a performing arts room and a brand new “sensational library” as described by Brendan. In addition to this the children have gained a purpose–built Italian room, whilst the teachers have gained a professional teaching and meeting space that acts as a second staff room. 


This refurbishment has been described as a “purposeful place” with the highlight being the multi–purpose area that can be transformed into a pop-up play area for Lego groups, faith development classes and social justice activities. 


The new refurbishment and upgrade of Christ Our Holy Redeemer has not only created more space, but it is also Brendan’s hope is that it will continue to strengthen and connect the school’s community in new ways. He says, ‘This building project will serve the school by continuing to connect students, parents and friends fostering a stronger community through friendships and relationships.” 


Brendan’s emotional connection with the school has allowed him to bridge the old and new. During the refurbishment an antique desk was found and promptly restored so it could be showcased as historic memento, giving a nod to the past while being housed in the new hope for the school’s future. 


For Brendan it is an honour to be back at his old primary school in service as the Principal. Over the past four years he is thankful he’s been able to sustain a strong sense of community and a huge amount of parent involvement. He’s proud of the project that has come to fruition, offering many new opportunities for students and the broader community. 


Christ our Holy Redeemer is grateful to CDF for the loan and the support of Relationship Manager, Aaron Gupta, throughout the process. Brendan says, “CDF has always been willing to step into supporting school projects. They are not just another business partner, but instead are an extension of our community.”


Pictured right: Christ Our Holy Redeemer, Oakleigh East

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

  • Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button

Share this article:

Related articles

Staying Fraud Safe: A Recent Case Study

April 1, 2025
In a world where the threat of fraud is constantly evolving, staying safe online is not just good practice — it’s essential. CDF recently helped identify and stop a fraud attempt on a client account that could have led to the loss of a significant amount of money. Here’s how it unfolded and what you can learn to protect your own digital security at home and at work. The power of human firewalls This situation, involving a current CDF customer, showcases a recent prevented fraud attempt: CDF received a transfer request from a registered client’s email address The transfer request involved making a payment to a new account, which the client had not previously transacted to CDF staff followed internal processes, requesting additional verification from the client When the fraudster couldn't provide further information, the staff member called the client directly This phone call revealed the email account had been compromised In this attempt, it was the human element that added the extra layer of security to an already robust internal process – it demonstrates the importance of proper security procedures when handling transfer requests, especially to new bank accounts. " Technology like emails can be compromised and used for fraud. Staying proactive, adhering to processes, and maintaining regular training is critical ," says CDF Information Security Manager, David Huang.

New National Platform for Catholic Events Launches: Introducing CathEvents Australia

March 31, 2025
Media Release A new online hub for Catholic events, CathEvents, has officially launched, providing a central platform for Catholics across Australia to find, share, and promote events that foster connection, faith, and Catholic leadership. CathEvents has been developed through the foresight and leadership of the Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP), in partnership with and supported by the Catholic Development Fund (CDF). This innovative initiative is designed to serve as Australia’s pre-eminent site for Catholic events, creating new opportunities for individuals and organisations to engage with one another and grow in their fa ith. For some years, Catholic events have been promoted to members on the AMPJP website, but in response to the call of the Plenary Council and Synod on Synodality to increase formation, AMPJP has established CathEvents as a national service to all Catholics and Catholic organisations. "CathEvents represents an important step in connecting Catholic communities around Australia. It is a place where anyone—whether from a parish, school, ministry, or community group—can easily find and share events that bring many more people together in faith and fellowship," said Moira Najdecki, Chair of AMPJP. The platform features a wide variety of events, including retreats, workshops, conferences, faith formation sessions, leadership training and special celebrations. It is designed to be user-friendly, enabling organisations to submit events for free and allowing visitors to search by category, location, and date. "We are proud to support CathEvents as part of our commitment to strengthening Catholic communities," said Brendan Hoy, General Manger Client Services at CDF. " This platform will provide a valuable resource for all those across the sector seeking to learn, grow and engage more deeply with their faith or one another." Key Features of CathEvents: Comprehensive listing of Catholic events nationwide. Easy-to-use search and filter functions. Free event submission for Catholic organisations and groups. Focus on community connection, faith formation and leadership development. CathEvents is now live and can be accessed at: www.cathevents.org.au Catholic organisations, parishes, schools, and individuals are warmly invited to visit the site, explore upcoming events, and contribute their own events to share with the wider community. Please note - CathEvents is not associated with CathNews, and is a separate service to the Australian Catholic community. About AMPJP The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) is a national association of Catholic entities entrusted with the mission of governance and leadership within the Church. Its member organisations minister in health, aged care, community services and education. AMPJP promotes collaboration, formation, and shared mission among Catholic organisations. About Catholic Development Fund (CDF) CDF provides financial solutions to Catholic organisations that balance margin and mission for the common good. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching, CDF supports Catholic schools, parishes, healthcare, aged care, and social service facilities, primarily through funding capital development projects, that strengthen the Church’s mission and ensure its lasting impact on the community. For media enquiries, please contact: Martin Teulan Executive Director, AMPJP 0408 867 046 executive.director@ampjp.org.au For website enquiries and advertising, please contact: Tony Biviano Project Leader 0448 465 128 cathevents@ampjp.org.au

Congratulations to Bishop George Kolodziej, the new Bishop of Bunbury

March 24, 2025
Catholic Development Fund (CDF) congratulates Bishop George Kolodziej SDS on his ordination and installation as the fifth Bishop of Bunbury. The ceremony took place on March 19, 2025, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, at St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), presided over the ceremony as principal consecrator, and was joined by more than 19 bishops from across Australia, including CDF’s Board Member Most Rev. Anthony J. Ireland, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. Tim O’Leary, CDF Deputy Chair of the Board, and Matthew Cassin, CDF Chief Executive Officer, were also in attendance amongst distinguished guests. Apostolic Nuncio Charles Balvo presented the Papal Bull during the ceremony, which brought together the entire Bunbury Catholic community—clergy, seminarians, acolytes, altar servers, musicians, choir members, Salvatorian priests from across Australia, and representatives from Catholic Education Western Australia Ltd and Catholic Religious Australia. In his poignant homily, Archbishop Costelloe highlighted the significance of Bishop George's middle name being Joseph, noting, "Perhaps today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, we might look to him as a model of this tender and compassionate presence to others, a model especially, though not only, for our soon-to-be Bishop George." 
More

CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.