Senior students from across Kildare Ministries’ schools, elected to leadership roles for 2026, gathered at Saltbush Balnarring Beach in December for the annual Kildare Ministries Student Leadership Retreat.
Grounded in Kildare Ministries’ call to “make the needs of the vulnerable paramount,” the Retreat invited students to reflect deeply on justice, belonging and their responsibility within their school communities. Through prayer on the beach, a Walking Liturgy, and learning about the Presentation Sisters’ long-standing commitment to regenerating the land, students connected with the story and spirit of Saltbush.
Inspired by Nano Nagle’s call to Facta non Verba — Deeds not Words — the group also spent time caring for the land and sharing the justice initiatives already underway in their schools.
As one student reflected:
“I loved being surrounded by leaders who want to make a change in their community, their schools. I felt like we grounded our hopes into plans for action.”
— Emily, Killester College
The Retreat concluded with rich conversations about personal values, the challenges of division and apathy in society, and how these young leaders might respond with courage, compassion and purposeful action in 2026.