Compassion  at Kilbreda College

Living with Compassion is one of three key principles that is core to our commitment as a Kildare Ministries school to justice and peace. The story of the good Samaritan as told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke shows us what Living with Compassion means, reaching out and embracing those who we see are suffering. We live with compassion when we not only see the suffering of others but do something to assist, whether it be reaching out to them, making a donation or volunteering our time, or perhaps advocating for their rights.

In giving expression to our core value of Compassion this year we have focussed on this core value at Kilbreda College. Each of our Eucharistic celebrations and liturgies have centred upon this theme, encouraging us to mirror in our lives the love and compassion practised by Jesus. We have celebrated diversity, promoted and committed ourselves to right relationships with all people. Examples of this have included celebrating International Women’s Day, Harmony Week, Reconciliation Week, Refugee Week and NAIDOC Week, together with staff, students and families participating in the Palm Sunday Rally for Refugees. Each of these focussed on raising awareness and making a commitment to bringing about change through our words and our actions.

In addition, our FIRE carriers and Living Justice Leaders recently participated in a three-day Indigenous Immersion on the Mornington Peninsula learning about the history and culture of the Bunurong People, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Kilbreda College stands.

Our student leaders decided to focus on two aspects of compassion this year in their leadership roles, being compassion for self and compassion for others. After the emotional and social challenges of the last two years due to COVID-19 and the ongoing impact that is being experienced, they resonated very strongly with this theme. 

Our student leaders have also promoted living with compassion through leading donation and fundraising efforts in support of some of the more vulnerable members of our wider community.  So far this year, these efforts have focussed on supporting  BASP, Caritas, Vinnies and Wellsprings for Women.