Companionsinformation2018

Tuesday brought us to Sydney's Taronga Zoo.  What a fantastic place.  We were able to see animals that are native not only to Australia, but from other parts of this wider region.  Animals are presented in humane and natural habitats, well care for, and the whole arrangement of the Zoo lends itself to education and exploration.  We will have much more to tell and show you when we get home.  Be sure to ask any of us about the Bird Show! It was a full day, for sure.  We have walked, a lot!  The rest of the evening the boys spent with their host families.  We are all so glad we came.

For all of us, the day began leisurely, with a variety of activities with host families, and some exploring of this beautiful city.  Visits to local beach areas, and relaxation with families filled the day.  The evening brought us all together, down at the waterfront.  The host families had arranged for us to meet for dinner at an Italian restaurant, noted for great pizza!  Following dinner, after sundown, we were treated to a harbor cruise that featured the chance to see the city's wonderful celebration of lights called Vivid.  Multi-colored light designs projected on the city's tall buildings, and especially projected on the iconic shapes of the Sydney Opera House.  Seeing it all by boat was very special. The boys really seem to be connecting well with their families and with each other.  We are so blessed to be part of such an extraordinary global network of Jesuit schools.  And the bonds that unite us are very clear.   ...

Our day dawned, overcast and showering, as the boys were with their host families and the adult trip leaders headed into Sydney, for Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary.  It was a special Mass with a visiting Cardinal from Burma, celebrated in a very high liturgy, with a magnificent resident boys and mens choir.  BC High was a special part of our prayers at this Mass, today. A leisurely day for all as we became acclimated to the hospitality of our host families, and the hospitality of St. Ignatius' College.  Australia feels very comfortable, and we continue to be impressed with the kindness of everyone, and the beauty of everything we see.  It is also very special for the boys to be making wonderful friendships with both the boys from here at Riverview, as well as the boys from Fordham Prep. Weather reports are for brightening skies as the week begins.  But everyone's enthusiasm is more than bright.  More to come! Cheers!

     Our day began after a good night's rest, with mostly cloudy skies, cool (50's), but with renewed energy for discovering this new city, country, and continent!  We met together with our host families at the world famous Sydney Opera House.  The story behind this building is so extraordinary!  More on that when we see you all.  And thanks to the kindness of our host families, we were treated to a private, guided tour of the Opera House! The view of the city and the Sydney Bridge, from the Opera House was pretty spectacular. The boys went off for lunch with their host brothers, and a variety of sight-seeing experiences around Sydney.  Pretty amazing to face the noon-day sun, while looking to the North!  Are really are on the other side of the world!  Make a comment on any of these posts, if you'd like. Cheers!

As we were trying to set up our Blog, Ryan Caron posted this entry while we were in LAX; Ryan Caron 6/6/18      Today we left from Boston international airport for our long awaited journey to Australia. Everyone is excited as we wait for the flight to Australia to board from LAX. The fifteen hour flight will be daunting but hopefully everyone gets a chance to sleep. While at LAX we ate at a 8oz burger which was quite tasty after a lob six hour flight. We stopped by Cafe Homeboy Bakery which is owned and operated by the author of the all school read Father Boyle. More blogs will be updated as the trip goes on but that’s all for today. 

Hello from 'Down Under"! After a long, but not uncomfortable flight, we arrived in Sydney, excited and eager about our adventure.  When we stopped at LAX, we were able to visit "Homeboy Cafe", right next to our arrival gate.  It was very special to connect with the extraordinary ministry of Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, author of the book our students will read this summer, "Barking to The Choir". After connecting with the boys from Fordham Prep, and their trip leaders, Dr. Patty Lee and Dr. David Gelpi, we cleared Australian customs, and were warmly greeted by members of their staff and host families from St. Ignatius College - Riverview.   Our students each went off with their host families, as we adults were taken to our quarters, on the campus of St. Ignatius. Some breakfast, freshening up, and some simple food shopping got us ready to head out to Balmoral Park, by the water on the north side of Sydney, to meed with the boys and their host families for a fe...