From June 3–5, 2026, the Development Directors of the Conferences of Provincials in the Society of Jesus gathered at the General Curia in Rome. The meeting was called by the General Treasurer, Sebastian Jeerakassery, SJ, and his team. While some were unable to attend for various reasons, the following directors were present: David Godlesky, SJ (JCCU); Joe Victor, SJ (JCSA); Effendi Sunur, SJ (JCAP); and Gonzalo Villagrán, SJ (JCEP).

The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate the path traveled since 2007, when Fr. Kolvenbach first requested the creation of Development Offices in every province, and to assess the role of Conference Development Directors in these efforts. Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, joined the group for a substantial portion of one morning to share his vision and engage in a dialogue with the participants.

In 2007, Fr. Kolvenbach established a development office in the Curia, initially run by Mr. Chuck Duffy and later continued by Jorge Serrano, SJ. Their work aimed to instill a culture of development and fundraising throughout the entire Society of Jesus. Nearly 20 years later, the vast majority of provinces have established their own development offices, marking the transition into a new stage focused on deepening this culture. While Conference Development Directors previously played a key role in promoting the concept and establishing these offices, their role in this new phase will shift toward training, coordinating, and harmonizing the various provincial efforts.

The meeting covered several key topics: An initial sharing of the situation within each conference, a discussion with Father General, a presentation on the spirituality of fundraising, the relationship between the Treasurer and the Development Director, the respective roles of Conference and Provincial Development Directors, the possibilities of sharing databases, and the planning for the future of the group

Three main ideas emerged from Father General’s talk and the subsequent discussions:

1. The need for a development methodology that aligns with the style and values of the Society of Jesus.
2. The importance of cultivating local donors rather than relying solely on foreign resources.
3. A call to help benefactors look beyond the specific local institutions they currently support and embrace the broader, universal mission of the Society.

Ultimately, clarifying the role of the Conference Development Director reaffirmed that work at the conference level is essential for coordinating local provincial initiatives into projects with a more universal and collective scope.