We believe this is the first memorial of its kind in Australia, recognising survivors of sexual and other abuses by Jesuit clergy and lay staff from Xavier College and Burke Hall. A former student and survivor of abuses, Richard Jabara,is the catalyst for this memorial through his justice processes. It comes from a restorative commitment between Richard Jabara, Jesuit Provincial Brian McCoy SJ, Xavier Principal Dr Chris Hayes and Rector Chris Middleton SJ, with the Xavier Survivors Advisory Group to this project.

The memorial is a symbol of acknowledgement and sorrow that breaches of trust and spirit have been inflicted on the vulnerable children and their families entrusted to Xavier’s care. It calls us to understand the lifelong impacts of abuses and bring skilled assistance to aid the recovery of all affected.It commits Xavier and Jesuit communities to establish relationships of trust and support for the healing of survivors and their families. These memorials and pastoral actions that follow are also an historical contribution to Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Mercy.

View the Xavier College – Memorial to Survivors booklet here, including the inscription on the plaque.

Memorial to Survivors in Xavier Chapel

Xavier College achieved further historic recognition of survivors on 26 May 2016, at a student assembly which include the blessing of a second plaque. This palace on the wall of the Remembrance in the chapel, bears witness to survivors’ suffering for generations of students and staff.