The Year of Service – Becoming Comfortable in the Uncomfortable
MS MEG MORRISON, FAITH IN SERVICE COORDINATOR
At our annual Ignatian Service Assembly on Wednesday, we gathered to celebrate the remarkable commitment of Riverview students who have responded generously to the call to serve throughout 2026.
Reflecting on the year, I was struck by the willingness of so many students to embrace service that was challenging or uncomfortable. Drawing on the words of Jesuit educator Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, I encouraged students to allow the "gritty reality" of the world into their lives so that they might feel it, think about it, and respond with compassion.
Whether it was Year 8 and 9 students participating in the St Canice’s Kitchen Winter Sleepout, Year 10 students stepping into aged-care facilities and schools for children with disabilities, or Year 11 students serving on immersions across Cambodia, India, Nepal and Cape York, students consistently chose to place themselves at the service of others.
This spirit was also evident closer to home. Throughout the year, students prepared and served more than 2,400 meals, accompanied people living with disabilities, visited elderly residents, tutored Cambodian students online, and participated in numerous fundraising and advocacy initiatives, raising over $80,000 for communities in need. Regis students likewise made an outstanding contribution through more than ten service initiatives and by raising over $30,000 for Jesuit Mission.
A particular highlight of the assembly was a reflection from Year 12 student Mitch Hornby, who spoke about his experience on Country Placement in Moree and the impact of Patrick Rodgers Memorial Award recipient Alex Barker. Mitch shared how his understanding of service was transformed through Alex’s example and leadership with the Clontarf Foundation.
Alex captured the heart of Ignatian service beautifully when he reflected that, “service isn’t about arriving somewhere with all the answers. It’s about listening, learning and building relationships.” His words echoed a lesson experienced by so many students this year: authentic service begins not with solutions, but with humility, encounter, and a willingness to learn from others.
The assembly served as a powerful reminder that service is not about being the hero of someone else's story. Rather, it is about accompanying others, recognising their dignity, and allowing ourselves to be transformed through the relationships we build along the way.
I am deeply grateful to Mrs Jude Southon, the many staff who so generously accompany students in service, and to the students themselves for their courage and openness in stepping beyond their comfort zones. Together, they continue to bring to life Riverview's mission of forming young men for and with others.
