Agnieszka Baran serves as Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education of Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP) and is also Director of Jesuit Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE). In this capacity, she represented JCEP at the board meeting of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools, held in Rome from 26 to 29 May.

The JGNS board brings together the coordinators of the regional JESEDU networks, alongside representatives of Fe y Alegría, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Educate Magis. As its first-ever meeting, the gathering marked an important step in strengthening collaboration and strategic coordination across the global Jesuit educational network.

One of the great gifts of belonging to Jesuit education is the opportunity, from time to time, to step beyond our own local realities and experience the wider horizon of the apostolic work we share. In our schools, we are often immersed in the daily responsibilities of teaching, leadership, accompaniment, and administration. Yet moments of international encounter remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves.

The Society of Jesus has always looked beyond borders. From its earliest days, Jesuits crossed cultures, languages, and continents in response to the needs of the world. That same spirit continues to shape our schools today. Every Jesuit and companion school is part of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools (JGNS), which brings together JESEDU schools worldwide, the educational initiatives of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), and the extensive Fe y Alegría network*.

Together, this global educational family reaches an extraordinary scale: more than 3,250 schools and educational projects, serving over 2.15 million students in 80 countries. Within this network, JECSE contributes 219 schools in 21 countries, accompanying almost 175,000 students and supported by more than 16,500 educators. Behind these figures are countless stories of learning, service, faith, and transformation.

And yet the true reach of Jesuit education extends far beyond what can be measured. The statistics do not include the families who journey alongside our students, the generations of alumni carrying Ignatian values into their professions and communities, or the many friends and collaborators who support our mission. They remind us that Jesuit education is not only a network of schools, but a living community of people committed to building a more just, reconciled, and hope-filled world.

Last week, this global dimension became particularly tangible during the annual meeting of ICAJE (the International Commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education) and the JGNS Board in Rome. Representatives from different regions of the world came together to listen, share experiences, and reflect on how Jesuit education can respond to the opportunities and challenges of our time. Although our contexts vary greatly, the conversations revealed how many of our hopes, concerns, and aspirations are shared.

Listening to the Global Reality, Discerning a Common Path

The meeting began with regional reports that offered a rich and diverse picture of the realities facing our schools around the world. While each region brings its own unique context, challenges, and opportunities, our conversations revealed a remarkable convergence around five key priorities emerging from our apostolic planning processes: (1) Ignatian Formation and Apostolic Identity; (2) Strengthening Networking and Collaboration; (3) Leadership Development and Governance; (4) Global Citizenship and the Universal Mission; and (5) Socio-Ecological Justice and Care for the Vulnerable.

 Building on this shared understanding, we dedicated an entire day to prayer, reflection, and discernment on how to strengthen collaboration across the Jesuit Global Network of Schools. Through a process of listening to one another and to the Spirit, three areas emerged as requiring particular attention in the coming years: mapping leadership formation rooted in Ignatian discernment; promoting student agency as a concrete expression of faith that does justice; and identifying, developing, and sharing effective practices that foster greater inclusion within our schools. These priorities will help guide our common efforts as we continue to strengthen our global network while responding to the needs of local contexts.

Preparing the Regions for II Congress JESEDU–Montreal 2027

A significant part of our time was also dedicated to preparations for the II Congress JESEDU–Montreal 2027. This event will bring together Education Delegates from around the world and forms part of a broader process of listening, prayer, dialogue, and discernment about the future of Jesuit education.

Participants also received updates on a number of international initiatives, including Educate Magis, the Global Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, preparations for the World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA) Congress in Yogyakarta, and a proposed research project on Ignatian Teachers of Excellence. We also learned more about Educating for Global Collaboration – A Student Model, whose pilot phase is nearing completion and which will soon be opened to schools across the network.

Rooted in Prayer, Sent for Mission

As always, our days together concluded with prayer and Eucharist, reminding us that our work is ultimately rooted in God's greater project for the world. These encounters are much more than meetings. They help us remember that Jesuit education is not a collection of individual schools but a worldwide apostolic body, united by a shared vision and a common desire to serve young people.

 By stepping beyond our own contexts, listening to one another, and discerning together, we strengthen our ability to respond creatively and faithfully to the needs of today's world. For JECSE, these moments are a powerful reminder that while our schools are deeply rooted in local communities, they are also part of a universal mission that invites us to walk together, learn from one another, and continue building a more just and hopeful future.

*Fe y Alegría is an international Jesuit-inspired educational movement founded in Venezuela in 1955 that provides quality education and social development programs for vulnerable and marginalized communities. It operates schools, vocational training centres, and community initiatives across Latin America, Africa, and other regions, promoting social justice and inclusion through education.