College Rector Fr. Tom Renshaw SJ (OR90), currently on sabbatical, has recently been in Rome, where he caught up with Michael Rodgers (OR2014). 

Michael is currently a seminarian, studying for a Licentiate of Sacred Theology whilst resident at the Pontifical North American College (the PNAC), located at Janiculum Hill in Rome, just a short distance from St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican City. 

As a student at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview Michael worked with school-aged refugees, asylum seekers and other recently arrived non-native speakers.

He accompanied these young people on study days, sharing knowledge and skills with those for whom education is a promise of freedom. 

He also journeyed to Cambodia to teach English at schools catering for displaced persons on the Thai/Cambodia border. 

Whilst also at the College, Michael worked with Josephite Community Aid, with Life For Koori Kids, and participated in the Central Australia Country Placement.

When Michael graduated, he was awarded the Dr James L' Estrange Prize for Ignatian Service. 

Michael is the son of James Rodgers OAM (OR71) and Elizabeth, and younger brother of Patrick Rodgers (OR2012), after whom the Patrick Rodgers Memorial Award for Ignatian Service is named. It is awarded to an Old Ignatian at the annual College Service Assembly. Patrick had spent his early years out of school in Cambodia working with the poverty-stricken communities before dying suddenly of illness in 2017 in northern Cambodia. OIU News and Views sends Michael our very best wishes for the remainder of his studies.