The Collège Loyola has just opened its doors in Marseille, marking the arrival of a third Jesuit educational institution in the city. In its inaugural school year, 48 students in the equivalent of “sixth grade” have been welcomed, in what is envisioned as a future community of some 500 pupils. The new college is located in a developing quarter to the north of the city, still under construction, and its first cohort arrives in a space without inherited traditions—“a great white canvas,” as one educator put it.

The launch day, Tuesday 2 September, was described by staff and students alike as historic. After initial class time with homeroom teachers, the students participated in a theater workshop to foster awareness of their new role as secondary-school pupils. Teachers, many transferred from the established Jesuit école de Provence in Marseille, showed strong dedication, immersing themselves in the challenge of making the new college come alive.

The motto for the endeavor is “la grâce du commencement” (the grace of beginning). That phrase captures both the excitement and the fragility of starting fresh: the administration acknowledges the uncertainty ahead (“no one knows what the future holds”) but also approaches it with trust and readiness to commit deeper to the project.

In preparation for this first year, the Jesuits undertook careful groundwork. Plans had been laid for staffing, pedagogical orientation, and integration into the local context. The challenge is not only to offer quality education but to foster social, cultural, and academic diversity—reflecting Marseille’s own cosmopolitan character—and to turn that diversity into a strength rather than a division.

From day one, the school community sees itself as more than a new building. The educators envision a spirit of collaboration and mission, rooted in Jesuit identity, to guide students toward not only academic formation but moral, spiritual, and communal growth. The fact that many of the staff came from long-standing Jesuit institutions helps link this fresh beginning to a living legacy of education in Marseille.

Though still in its infancy, Collège Loyola is being built on hope. The school aims to become a lasting presence, a place where students can grow in knowledge, empathy, and service. This venture stands as a bold testimony: even in a changing urban and social environment, the Jesuit educational tradition seeks to sow seeds of excellence, inclusion, and faith for decades to come.