The Jesuit European Committee for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education (JECSE) brings together Jesuit schools across Europe to strengthen collaboration in mission, share best practices, and nurture a common Ignatian vision of education. In a rapidly shifting cultural, social, and ecclesial landscape, JECSE plays a vital role in helping schools developing a truly universal – a core trait of Ignatian spirituality – and common European approach to education through the links and bonds among people and institutions of different countries, remain rooted in their Catholic and Ignatian identity while responding creatively to contemporary challenges. One of the key spaces for this shared reflection is the Pastoral Conference, where those responsible for pastoral care and mission come together to discern how Jesuit education can continue forming young people as persons of depth, competence, conscience, and compassion. We invited JECSE team to write an article about this event

We live and serve within a complex and rapidly changing context. Schools today differ significantly from those of just a few years ago. We feel this shift when teaching math or history, and we experience it even more acutely in pastoral activities and ministry. The question before us is clear: how can we adapt and respond to new challenges in an evolving reality while maintaining courageous fidelity to our Catholic identity and Ignatian traditions?

From February 10 to 13, around 100 pastoral team members, chaplains, mission & identity officers and ethos directors from across the JECSE network gathered in Loyola, the birthplace of Saint Ignatius, to explore these questions together. 

We immersed ourselves in the sources of our spirituality, sharing not only doubts and fears but also practical solutions and different approaches to common concerns.

A global horizon: dreaming Pastoral Ministry in light of JESEDU – Jogja 24

The arrival of the JECSE bus brought sudden life to the expectant Loyola Spirituality Centre. Laughter and heartfelt reunions filled the space before giving way to attentive silence as the 2026 Pastoral Conference began.

Fr. Jimmy Bartolo SJ, Secretary for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education in the Society of Jesus, set the stage for our work with a powerful question: What pastoral work can we dream for Jesuit schools in Europe today in light of Jogja’s Vision Statement? This question framed our conference within a global mission, opening our horizons far beyond European borders. Ms. Gabriele Hüdepohl from Germany, Mr. Ovi Menendez from Spain, and Mr. Limarley Kingsale from the Netherlands led us into a fruitful discussion on how the global Jesuit mission is dialoguing with the concrete realities of our schools.

Returning to the sources: nourished by the Spiritual Exercises

The following morning brought us to the heart of our Ignatian spirituality. Fr. Juanjo Aguado SJ, offered profound insights into the Spiritual Exercises, revealing the timeless wisdom of Saint Ignatius that remains vital for us today. The morning sessions continued with inspiring examples from our schools of serving from the heart. Ms. Marion Bernard from France and Fr. Alexis Bueno SJ, from Spain shared about the importance of caring for our own spiritual nurturance, and how they have implemented the experience of the Spiritual Exercises within their school communities. That afternoon, Saint Ignatius himself became our retreat master: we visited and prayed at the sacred places central to his life and spiritual journey. It was a deeply meaningful time of personal prayer and reflection, small-group faith sharing, and communal celebration of the Eucharist together in the Loyola Basilica. Rooted once more in the sources of our spirituality, we were renewed in our desire to serve with greater depth, freedom, and fidelity.

Discerning the way forward together

On the third day, we deepened our understanding of Ignatian spirituality through both conceptual learning and lived experience. Mr. Francisco Machado led us through a workshop on Ignatian discernment, exploring the question of how we can help ourselves and our students seek God’s will when facing important decisions. In the afternoon, we gathered in small groups after a time of individual prayer to practice spiritual conversation, and prayerfully explore the question: “what steps might be God asking us to take in our pastoral ministry in schools?” As evening approached, we engaged in facilitated conversations where different delegations shared their best practices and innovative approaches to pastoral challenges and diverse school realities.
Inspired by the life of Saint Ignatius and eager to deepen our community bonds, we ventured out to experience the local culture and gastronomy. The tortilla, cider and meat provided us with a wonderful evening, offering us the opportunity to socialise in an informal setting. The next day, our conference came to an end with a final round of facilitated conversations, and an Eucharist in the Chapel of the Conversion of Saint Ignatius.

We spent these three days sharing the best we have: faith, community, and mission, trying to find common ground for the diverse challenges our schools face today. While we know that one universal solution would be neither possible nor desirable, we were profoundly encouraged to understand that we are not alone in seeking our way forward.