Dear Parents, Staff and Students,

We are your 2026 Christian Service Captains, Kevin and Angelique!

As we reach the halfway point of the year, we would like to reflect on the opportunities our school community has had to live out the values of service, compassion and faith.

We began the year by helping facilitate the Equipping Schools Youth Ministry Day at St Ignatius Geelong, where students from different schools came together to strengthen their faith and develop leadership skills for youth ministry. It was a rewarding experience to support younger students as they explored new ways to grow in their faith and serve their communities.

We also had our ACYF (Australian Catholic Youth Festival) reunion event for all the students that attended it late last year, where we got to reconnect with friends and develop in our faith. As part of Catholic Education Week, along with our school captains we attended the 2026 ‘Mass of St Patrick for Schools’, helping us connect with our wider catholic school community.

During Activities Week, many students took part in the Kairos Retreat, taking time away from the busyness of everyday life to reflect, build meaningful relationships and deepen their connection with God. It was fantastic to see so many students embrace the experience and return with a renewed sense of purpose and faith. One of the highlights of the semester was our Pay It Forward Evening at Iggy's Restaurant, where members of the Exodus Community joined the Social Justice Portfolio students for dinner, conversation and fellowship. It was wonderful to see students volunteering their time to create such a welcoming environment and build genuine connections within our wider community.

Our ongoing Christian Service programs have also continued throughout the year. Students have regularly volunteered at St Pius X Primary School, assisting younger students with reading and learning, while others have continued supporting the Exodus Community through a range of service opportunities. These programs continue to make a meaningful difference while allowing students to put faith into action!

As we look ahead to Semester Two, we encourage everyone to get involved in our upcoming Social Justice Portfolio Bake Sale. Every purchase will help support important social justice initiatives, and we look forward to seeing the Loyola community come together once again in support of those in need.

Thank you to all of the students, staff and families who have supported Christian Service throughout the year. Special thank you to Mr Calderone, Mr Tran, Mr Mcllroy as well as our vice captains Pat and Eva for their unconditional support and passion they’ve shown towards Christian Service. We are excited to continue creating opportunities for our community to serve others and live out the values that make Loyola such a special place!

2026 Christian Service Captains

                                            Kevin Xiao (12/MSBR)                                     Angelique Robles (12/ATMV)

For our Student of the Fortnight, we would like to give a shoutout to Jessica Di Pasquale from Year 11.

Jess has been an incredible contributor to the Social Justice portfolio this year, always volunteering her time and stepping up whenever help is needed. Whether it's supporting events behind the scenes or lending a hand wherever she can, Jess approaches every opportunity with enthusiasm, kindness and a genuine willingness to serve others.

As a leadership team, we would like to thank Jess for her ongoing commitment and the positive impact she has on our school community. We are incredibly grateful for everything she has done and look forward to seeing her continue to make a difference throughout the rest of the year.

Jessica Di Pasquale (11/CMBM)