From Small Beginnings - "From Little Things Big Things Grow"
(The history of Lumen Christi)
Lumen Christi was officially opened and blessed by Bishop Ronald Mulkearns on 29th April 1990, becoming the second Catholic school in St Aloysius Parish, Redan, when Delacombe was in its infancy as a suburb. The building of this new school was the realisation of the vision of Parish Priest, Father Barry Ryan, supported by St Aloysius parishioners, who saw the need to cater for the education of the Catholic children in every part of the parish. Delacombe was in its infancy as a suburb. Father Barry had a vision of this new school as one that would offer excellence in education within a strong faith environment.
Barry James, a Ballarat businessman, donated a 5-acre site on Whitelaw Avenue. A Federal grant enabled the building of the new school. When it opened with an enrolment of 73 students and a completely lay staff led by Principal Fiona Tonkin, it was the first Catholic school in the Ballarat diocese to be established without staff members from a congregation of Religious since the pioneering days of the 19th century.
From these small beginnings the school has grown steadily. In 2018, the student population has grown to nearly 300 children.
Barry James, a Ballarat businessman, donated a 5-acre site on Whitelaw Avenue. A Federal grant enabled the building of the new school. When it opened with an enrolment of 73 students and a completely lay staff led by Principal Fiona Tonkin, it was the first Catholic school in the Ballarat diocese to be established without staff members from a congregation of Religious since the pioneering days of the 19th century.
From these small beginnings the school has grown steadily. In 2018, the student population has grown to nearly 300 children.