Building Bridges of Faith and Friendship: Trinity College Lismore’s Marist Immersion in the Solomon Islands

A new series of immersion experiences in the Solomon Islands, coordinated by Br Chris Wills, Director of Bridge Builders, has been made possible through the participation of four Australian Marist schools: Trinity College Lismore, Parramatta Marist High School, Marist College Canberra, and Sacred Heart College Adelaide. The schools have joined forces to support the initiative, contributing to a shared fund for the development of the programme.

Each school will spend time at St Joseph’s College, Tenaru, fostering cultural understanding and strengthening connections with local students and the wider community.

Trinity College Lismore recently completed an eight-day immersion in the Solomon Islands during Holy Week, with eight students and three staff members engaging closely with their peers at St Joseph’s College. A key feature of the experience was a "buddy system", which allowed local students to host the visiting students.

This enabled visitors to share in the daily life of their hosts and gain a deeper understanding of local realities, well beyond a typical tourist experience.

One of the initial challenges was providing suitable accommodation for visiting groups. In response, the four schools established a joint fund to renovate the former Marist Brothers’ residence at Tenaru, near St Joseph’s College.

The renovation includes upgraded bathroom facilities for male and female students, an important consideration as several of the visiting schools are co-educational.

The upgrades also mean the facilities can be used by visiting parents, for board meetings, and for professional development programmes.

Additional improvements include refurbished bedrooms with new beds and mattresses, a restored kitchen, curtains in the dining area, and an assessment of the water supply to ensure safety and sustainability. These upgrades were essential not only for comfort, but also to meet child-protection and risk-management requirements for hosting international groups.

This initiative marks an important step in strengthening connections within the Marist family and offering young people a meaningful opportunity to experience solidarity, community, and shared mission in a deeply authentic way. It also opens the possibility of future reverse immersions.

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