Over the past couple of years, the OIU has attempted various programs to provide a framework for each Year of Leaving to “maintain the habit” of Ignatian Service when the leave school. In 2009 we attempted the Arrupe Program and in 2008 we tried the Year 14 Immersion Program. Neither were overly successful, for no other reason than the timing in the boys’ lives is so disrupted with gap years, working and beginning University. However, we firmly believe we need to reach out to our younger old boys in some form to provide some means to pursue Ignatian Service from the beginning of their post-school life and beyond.
The OIU is in the infancy of beginning the Ignatian Service Association, in conjunction with the College’s Ignatian Centre. However, it is mooted that the most productive and mutually beneficial approach is to coopt the approximately 20-odd young men from each year and form them into an Association that is jointly run by the OIU and the Ignatian Centre. This Association will be comprised of old boys from all Years of Leaving, although predominantly those in their first 10 years after leaving. Non-Old Boy participants, male and female, are more than welcome to join.
Key Principles of the Ignatian Service Association:
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Young men from each Year of Leaving are challenged to join the OIU Ignatian Service Association following completion of the HSC.
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Membership Criteria – old boys and their friends – focused on those under 30 years of age. However, older old boys will be more than welcome. (Wisdom is seen as an essential ingredient to success!)
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The Association would, therefore, have members from multiple Years of Leaving – thus allowing mentoring of the younger members by those older ones.
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Role of the OIU Ignatian Service Association with respect to The Ignatian Centre:
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To provide adult volunteers for Kairos Retreats, Year 11 Immersion Trips and on-going Ignatian Service activities for the younger boys. It is acknowledged that the burden of the Year 11 Immersion trips on the College Staff is only growing with the increased popularity of the Immersions. Tapping the support from the keen & committed younger old boys can only ease this burden and ensure greater flexibility.
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To provide energy and ideas for assisting the College with respect to the Ignatian Service Obligation for each student. It is acknowledged that it is a constant struggle for boys, parents and the Ignatian Centre to find meaningful and attractive options for the boys to fulfil their Ignatian community service obligation. The members of the Ignatian Service Association could provide organised activities to assist the boys to meet their commitment. For example, running Cana Cafe on a Sunday and driving some boys over and providing supervision.