Faith in Our Stories | Telling your Stories

Symposium for Catholic Leaders & Educators

Join inspiring educators and leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia for Faith in Our Stories, a Catholic education symposium celebrating the rich history, charism and living stories of our Catholic school communities.

Hosted by the Telling Your Stories Project, this gathering invites Catholic educators, school leaders and community partners to reflect on the powerful role stories play in shaping identity, strengthening faith and bringing learning to life for tamariki. Together, we will explore how our foundation stories, cultural narratives, iwi partnerships and faith traditions can be woven meaningfully into everyday classroom practice.

Faith in Our Stories is a celebration of who we are, where we have come from, and the stories that continue to shape Catholic education today. Come and be part of a shared conversation about the impact our stories have in classrooms, communities and the lives of the young people we serve.

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Speakers

Across the symposium, you will hear from inspiring keynote speakers, engage in thought-provoking panels, connect with colleagues and industry leaders, and discover practical ways to embed faith, charism and community into curriculum and pedagogy. From storytelling as a cultural sustaining practice, to the importance of imagery, bicultural perspectives, leadership, research and student-centred authorship, the programme will offer rich opportunities for reflection, learning and connection.

While our full speaker line-up will be announced soon, the symposium will feature voices from across Aotearoa, each offering a unique perspective on how story can strengthen faith, deepen cultural connection, enrich curriculum and inspire meaningful learning for tamariki.

Through keynotes, panels and practical sessions, our speakers will explore the power of storytelling as a pedagogical, spiritual and community-building practice.

Mystery Researcher

This researcher will explore why storytelling matters in today’s cultural and educational landscape. Their session will consider how stories help communities understand who they are, where they come from and what values they carry forward. With a focus on Catholic education, this keynote will invite educators and leaders to reflect on the stories that shape school identity, faith formation, belonging and connection. Participants will be encouraged to consider how storytelling can honour heritage, strengthen culture and create deeper meaning in learning.

Mystery Principal

This principal will unpack the role of story as a powerful pedagogical tool that can strengthen curriculum design and classroom practice. Their session will explore how stories can support inquiry, deepen understanding and help students make personal connections to complex ideas. Educators will be invited to think about how storytelling can move beyond a one-off activity and become an intentional teaching approach that supports engagement, identity, faith, literacy and learning across the curriculum.

Del Costello

Del will share the wider vision, research and impact behind story-based approaches in Catholic education. Their session will explore how storytelling can influence school culture, support leadership, strengthen teams and create lasting impact across classrooms and communities. Drawing together themes from the symposium, this speaker will invite participants to consider how story can become more than a resource: becoming a shared language for faith, learning, leadership and community connection.

Mystery Principal

This principal will focus on the importance of authentic relationships with mana whenua and iwi partners, and how story can provide a meaningful pathway for connection, collaboration and shared understanding. Their session will explore how schools can approach local stories with respect, humility and care. Participants will consider how iwi partnerships can enrich learning, support cultural responsiveness and help Catholic schools honour the unique histories and identities of the communities they serve.

Mystery Researcher

This researcher will offer a bicultural perspective on storytelling and explore how stories can act as a cultural sustaining pedagogy. Their session will consider how schools can honour te ao Māori, Catholic tradition and local community narratives in ways that are thoughtful, authentic and educationally rich. Participants will be invited to reflect on how stories can help learners stand confidently in their own identity while also developing respect for the identities, histories and worldviews of others.

Kate Costello

Kate will explore the illustration process and the importance of imagery in bringing stories to life for young audiences. Their session will highlight how visual storytelling can deepen emotional connection, support comprehension and make complex ideas accessible for tamariki. Participants will gain insight into how illustrations, symbols, colour, character and setting can carry meaning and reflect culture, faith and identity. This session will be especially valuable for those interested in the creative process behind storytelling resources.

Mystery Writer

This speaker will explore the joy, challenge and responsibility of authoring complex messages for young learners. Their session will focus on how writers and educators can communicate big ideas — including faith, identity, history, culture, justice and belonging — in ways that are clear, engaging and developmentally appropriate. Participants will gain insight into the writing process, including how to balance truth, sensitivity, simplicity and depth when creating stories for students.

Mystery Educator

This educator will guide participants through the process of reconnecting with the foundation stories of Catholic schools and exploring how these stories continue to shape charism, mission and daily life. The session will invite leaders and educators to consider how founding values, religious traditions and community histories can be made visible in contemporary learning environments. It will explore how charism can be lived, taught and experienced by students in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.