With less than three weeks to go, excitement is building for our much-loved Jesuit Mission Bazaar, which will once again transform the grounds of Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview on Saturday 13 September 2025.
From 9am to 5pm, thousands of families, students, parishioners, and neighbours will gather for a day of entertainment, food and festivities — united by a shared mission to create hope and opportunity for those in need.
“The Bazaar embodies our Ignatian call to be men and women for others. When a community comes together with compassion, incredible change is possible. Every stall, every ride and every raffle ticket helps uplift the most marginalised communities across the world,” says Helen Forde, CEO of Jesuit Mission Australia.
“Last year, students from Redfern Jarjum College brought powerful energy and cultural pride to the Jesuit Mission bazaar, dancing with heart and sharing stories through movement,” she says. “Their presence was a call to community, understanding, and reconciliation.”
The Bazaar has been part of Sydney’s heart since 1952, when it was first held to support Jesuit missionaries working with disadvantaged communities in India. More than 70 years on, it continues to be powered by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers — parents, students, alumni and friends — whose collective effort turns a fun day out into a force for global good.
Among those who benefit from this generosity are refugees along the Thai-Myanmar border, where life remains fragile for thousands forced to flee conflict. Families live in bamboo shelters with little access to land, food, healthcare or employment. Kalya, a 20-year-old Karenni refugee who has lived in the camps since she was two.
Kalya is now a teacher, determined to give her students hope through education, even though many are coping with trauma after escaping civil war in Myanmar. “In the classroom I can see that some of them are missing their homeland and missing their parents,” she says. Despite these challenges, she remains hopeful: “Before, their parents had no education, no opportunity to study. Now my students can hope for a better future — to one day own their own land and house.”
With your generosity, our local Jesuit partners through the Sustaining Education for Burmese Refugees project, provide schooling for over 3,000 children, strengthen teacher training, and offer psychosocial programs to build resilience among young people facing immense pressure and disconnection.
“When a community comes together with compassion, incredible change is possible.”
“Last year, through the generosity of the Australian Catholic community, our programs reached more than half a million people worldwide. This year, the Bazaar will again help fund life-changing projects — from education and healthcare to supporting refugees and providing urgent relief during emergencies,” says Helen Forde.
With over 5,000 people expected, the Bazaar will help fund not only this vital education program, but also many other Jesuit Mission projects across South-East Asia and Africa — from providing emergency relief to families displaced by conflict, to delivering healthcare and livelihood training in vulnerable communities. Visitors on the day can enjoy live music, international food stalls, bargain treasures, thrilling rides, auctions and games for all ages, all while knowing their participation is directly contributing to stories like Kalya’s.
We warmly invite you all to come together at the Bazaar and help uplift those living on the margins.
Event details
- Saturday 13 September 2025, 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview, 115 Tambourine Bay Rd, Riverview NSW
- For information on rides passes, raffle tickets, donating wine for the popular wine auction and more, visit jesuitmission.org.au/bazaar.
For sponsorship opportunities to profile your business at the Bazaar, contact Katrina Tucker at Jesuit Mission: katrina.tucker@jesuitmission.org.au.
