From 2–6 March, the Saint-Marc Educational Centre in Lyon hosted the largest “Jesuit Week” of the network, bringing together more than 50 Jesuits from across France and Europe. Across its seven campuses and 3,500 students—from kindergarten to higher education—the week offered a rich programme of gatherings, performances, conferences, workshops, and celebrations, alongside numerous classroom interventions and informal encounters.

While the scale of the initiative represented a significant organisational effort, its true impact lay in the quality of presence and encounter. Throughout the week, Jesuits engaged closely with students, teachers, and staff—whether through testimonies, co-teaching, or simple conversations in corridors and staff rooms. These moments helped make tangible what lies at the heart of Jesuit education: a spirituality and pedagogy that are lived more than explained, rooted in accompaniment and attentive listening.

The week opened with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Thierry Dobbelstein SJ, gathering the school community and visiting Jesuits. Over the following days, participants were invited to “taste” a variety of experiences—moments of joy, reflection, creativity, and dialogue—integrated into the rhythm of school life. The week concluded with times of reflection bringing together students from different levels, offering space to revisit and internalise the experiences lived.

Beyond its vibrant programme, the Jesuit Week also highlighted a deeper educational purpose: to help students discover that faith is not confined to specific times or places, but can be lived in everyday life. At the same time, it offered Jesuits a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the realities of contemporary education, strengthening the connection between Ignatian tradition and the lived experience of schools today.

As part of the broader mission of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials, initiatives such as this illustrate the enduring relevance of Jesuit education in Europe—forming young people not only intellectually, but also as persons attentive to meaning, justice, and the world around them.