Issue 30 - 24 September 2026

From our Principal

‘Building Jerusalem’

Not only is 'Jerusalem' from the Anglican tradition, but it is originally a poem by the brilliant early-19th-century British poet, painter and printmaker, William Blake. Its original title is ‘And did those feet in ancient time’, and it was inspired by the apocryphal story that Jesus, in the unknown years before his public ministry, visited what is now England, accompanied by Joseph of Arimathea. The poem's theme is linked to the Book of Revelation. The poem was set to music as a hymn by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916, and the famous orchestration was written by Sir Edward Elgar. It was retitled Jerusalem.

The hymn was introduced at Riverview by Fr Tom O’Donovan SJ after he heard it in the film Chariots of Fire in 1981. Toddy (as he was known) was a much-loved Jesuit both here and at St Aloysius’ College where he served as Rector. It is the last verse that I want to explore with you today. William Blake writes:

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England’s green & pleasant Land.

“Till we have built Jerusalem”

Building Jerusalem is, indeed, what we’re about. We are builders of God’s kingdom. Every act of service; every demonstration of leadership; every pursuit of the Magis; every gesture of peace; every expression of love; every prayer is directed towards this singular task of building Jerusalem. All of us contribute to building Jerusalem at Riverview.

My challenge to each of you today is to continue building Jerusalem after you leave this school that you love. That you answer God’s call in your own unique way. That you build Jerusalem in your work and in your relationships. That you build Jerusalem with your spouse, and you build it with your children.

I suggested earlier in my speech that we need good teachers. We especially need good Catholics. Young men who claim the Church as their own, who embrace the ancient truth of its apostolic teachings, and who challenge the Church to be better than it is. I hope that you might remain faithful. That you might remain in communion with the Church. That the Eucharist might be an important part of your life. For me, this is the key to building Jerusalem. We build it through Jesus.

The Jesuits have given us their own way of building Jerusalem - and this is the gift of Ignatian spirituality. It is a way of proceeding with our faith. For the world, because we are of it. The values that we have formed in companionship with your parents will give you the moral, ethical and spiritual compass you can draw upon as you find your way beyond the gates. We have offered you a way of proceeding that lives inside your heart forever. You only need to draw on it. It’s the gift from Saint Ignatius and the Jesuits to all of us.

And as you build Jerusalem, you will be a witness for others. And they will want to build it with you. I hope that you will use your gifts in the service of others and, through them, to God. That you are known as a man for others. That’s how you build Jerusalem.

We will be praying for you over the coming weeks as you enter into the adult years of your life. We all hope that you find meaning in life and that you are successful in whatever venture you might pursue. My greatest prayer is that you have a life that is loving. That your relationships are deep and authentic and forgiving. And that God’s love for you shines through your love for others. This is Jerusalem.

As you depart this College that has accompanied your parents in forming you, we pray that you take with you those special gifts that a Catholic, Jesuit school offers its students:

From the P&F

P&F Update - Term 3, Week 10

Teaching and Learning

Co-Curriculum

Boarding

The Year 12s Final Battle | Boarding Recreation

Mr Begg had chosen his team and held his hit list close to his chest. Mr Benkenstein, unfortunately unable to attend, had sent me his own hit list with clear instructions to make sure those on it knew they were on it.

On the bus out to our battleground, I carefully opened the envelope entrusted to me by Mr Benkenstein; inside, on a single 400gsm crisp white page with proper Riverview branding guidelines followed, was a list of 10 names.

This list a carefully curated collection of boys who, throughout the year, had been responsible for tardiness, messy rooms, constant disappearing laundry, leaving lights on, ignoring instructions, excessive noise and, on occasion, smells that had caused him to gag.

I accepted responsibility for Mr Benkenstein’s list. I channelled my best John Wick, determined to do Sir proud and ensure that those responsible for the various crimes against boarding house standards were dealt with accordingly.

Then the first whistle went. Our battle had begun.

Within approximately 30 seconds, I realised that my bung knees and bad back were going to make this considerably more difficult than it had looked during the safety briefing.

Paint was flying everywhere. High-pitched squeals of pain echoed across the battlefield. Boys dove behind obstacles, charged across open ground, and generally behaved as though they were invincible.

The only problem was that nobody seemed willing to admit they had been hit.

Paintball etiquette dictated that once hit, a player should raise their hand and leave the field. Our Year 12s seemed to interpret this as a suggestion rather than a rule.

By the final two games, even the referee had reached breaking point. He came over to me and said, “It is impossible to get these boys to accept a hit and leave the field.”

At this point, there were two possible explanations. Either the boys had developed an extraordinary tolerance for pain, or their desire to inflict pain on their mates had simply become stronger than their desire to avoid receiving it themselves.

Faced with this dilemma, the referee adopted the only sensible course of action: he gave up.

The final games descended into glorious chaos. Boys continued firing until their guns ran dry, masks fogged over with sweat, and the concept of being “out” became increasingly philosophical rather than factual.

Eventually, even the most committed warriors began to realise that there was another battle worth fighting… the race to get back to the bus for one final Maccas run.

And so, the Year 12s finished their final recreation outing exactly as you might expect, covered in paint, welts that will turn into bruises, exhausted, sweaty, definitely smelling worse than when they arrived, and still passionately arguing about who had actually won.

Country may claim to be the winners.

There may have been several questionable hits.

There may even have been a few war crimes.

But there was certainly no shortage of enthusiasm.

A fitting final battle for a group of Year 12 boarders who have provided plenty of entertainment throughout their time as boarders and students here at Riverview.