Educating for Faith in the 21st century  From 24 till 28 June 2024 more than 100 members of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools (JGNS), from 37 countries, gathered at the De Britto College, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to explore what Educating for Faith in the 21st Century means for contemporary Jesuit schools. They participated in the II Global Seminar JESEDU-Jogja2024, which is part of the nine-year cycle of international gatherings for the ongoing discernment of our schools: “Walking as a Global Network at the Service of the Mission”.  14 members of the Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE) represented our Conference at the seminar. They were joined by colleagues from Jesuit and companion schools from around the world via social media networks and live streaming hosted by Educate Magis. A virtual pre-seminar, which took place from 1 April to 6 May 2024, preceded the face-to-face seminar and contributed to its preparation and progress.  Fr Jimmy Bartolo SJ (Rector of St Aloysius College, Malta; JECSE Board and Steering Committee member), moderator of the first day of the Seminar, stated: “The seminar in Jogjakarta was a unique experience of the strong and rich global network of Jesuit schools in the Society of Jesus. I felt the Lord calling us to go deeper in strengthening our Catholic identity by a mature dialogue with other religions and with our secular and post-Christian contexts. The hospitality of our Indonesian colleagues was special”.  The dynamics of the experiences  Each day, participants had the opportunity to engage in a series of activities that encouraged conversation and provided time for reflection to explore how they could deepen their effectiveness in faith formation in the local context. Each day began with prayer led by scholastics and ended with the Eucharist. The morning sessions included a meeting with prominent keynote speakers and a presentation of two experiences combined with a plenary discussion. The afternoons were devoted mainly to individual prayer and reflection and spiritual conversation in international groups.  On the third day of JESED, the main event was a pilgrimage - a spiritual journey to three well-known religious shrines in the Yogyakarta region. The aim was to give participants an experience of 'education for inter-religious dialogue'. They were encouraged to spend time in prayer and reflection, guided by biblical texts. The day ended with a visit to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ganjuran Temple, built in the Javanese style, which houses a Hindu statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus depicting Jesus as a Javanese king. The pilgrimage concluded with Mass, during which Fr Damian Czerniak SJ (Director of the Jesuit School in Gdynia, Poland) gave an inspiring homily on “The Heart on an Open Palm”.  Our schools as apostolic bridges In his introductory video to the participants gathered in Yogyakarta, Fr. General Arturo Sosa SJ acknowledged that "our world, including our schools, is becoming more diverse than ever in terms of religions and cultures". In response, Fr Sosa recommended that Jesuit schools "become apostolic bridges between this beautiful and God-given diversity and our faith". Over five days of shared prayer, reflection and sharing, the seminar participants discerned how our schools today can faithfully and fully respond to this call.  Sharing God through Ignatian Spirituality On the first day, Dr Damian Zynda (Director of Mission and Pastoral Care at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY) gave a presentation entitled “Sharing God through Ignatian Spirituality”. She presented the transformative power of Ignatian spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises in education, advocating a holistic approach that fosters a life-changing encounter with God. Fr. Álvaro Lobo SJ (Educsi, Coordinador de Pastoral, Spain) then presented the development of the transmission of the faith in Spanish schools in a session of sharing experiences. Inspired by the presentations, the participants discussed the integration of Ignatian formation programmes and the importance of faith in educational settings. They stressed the need for faith to be an essential part of the school culture and not just an obligation or a secondary priority.  Educating for Inter-Religious Dialogue The keynote speaker on the second day was Dr Fatimah Husein (Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta). She spoke on "Education for Interreligious Dialogue: The Indonesian Experience". She stressed that engaging in interfaith dialogue does not weaken one's religious commitment, but provides an opportunity to reflect on it more deeply. Participants discussed the importance of a more hermeneutic approach to religious language and the importance of involving parents in the education of their children.  They also stressed the importance of Jesuit schools embracing, sharing and celebrating their Catholic identity, which is characterised by a kind of interreligious dialogue modelled on Jesus Christ, in which the divine identity embraces the human.  Forming a Resilient Faith The theme of the fourth day was "Forming a Resilient Faith: Teaching for In-Depth Faith Formation in our Secular Context Today", led by Dr Paul Sharkey (Catholic Theological College, University of Divinity, Melbourne, Australia). Also on this day, Mrs Minerva Porcel (Pedagogical Director, Fundació Jesuïtes Educació, Spain) presented a new educational project for Jesuit schools in Catalonia that integrates the latest legal requirements with Ignatian pedagogy and values. During the plenary sessions, participants addressed issues such as the importance of creative fidelity in deepening faith and the importance of preserving a sense of the sacred in the face of secularisation. It was noted that it is important that Ignatian practices such as Examen, discernment and prayer do not lose their transcendent dimension, but remain ways of engaging with God and Jesus. They also emphasised the importance of the formation of all members of the school community, including pastoral leaders and formators, in Ignatian spirituality, pedagogy and worldview.   Daniel Patrick Huang SJ (Faculty of Missiology, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome) introduced the participants to the reflections of the final day of the seminar. He spoke about evangelisation in multi-religious and secular settings, emphasising the importance of an Ignatian approach that focuses on building relationships and active listening. An open discussion between participants and the speaker focused on the need to develop models of evangelisation in education that can help to build clear and welcoming identities. As we celebrate current evangelistic efforts in our schools, we must continually seek new ways to provide relevant and meaningful faith formation opportunities for all, always keeping Jesus at the centre. Being part of a global network and being open to others can inspire us as we explore our 'Glocal' reality.  Continuing our journey of caring for Catholic identity and faith formation in our schools At the end of the meeting, the regional groups discussed the main invitations, reflections and questions that emerged from JESEDU-Jogja2024. Each conference shared the resonances of the days of the meeting, how to share their experiences and what the next steps should be for education for faith in the 21st century in each region.  Fr. José Mesa SJ, Secretary for Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education of the Society of Jesus, chaired the final plenary and presented a draft vision statement that will be published in the coming days. Fr. Mesa thanked all the participants and organisers of JESEDU-Jogja2024 and announced that the next meeting of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools, the II Congress JESEDU, will take place in Montreal, Canada, in 2027.  The representatives of the Jesuit and Companion Schools of our Conference would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the organisers of this exceptional meeting for the excellent preparation and the warm welcome in Indonesia. We would also like to thank all those who reflected with us throughout the week on the theme of the Catholic identity of our schools and the possibility of further faith formation in them, so that we may be even better able to respond to the challenges of our time, faithful to our mission.  JECSE representatives at JESEDU-Jogja in alphabetical order: Ms Agnieszka Baran (JECSE Director), Fr Jimmy Bartolo SJ (Malta, EUM), Fr Damian Czerniak SJ (Poland, PMA), Francisco Delgado SJ (Spain, ESP), Mr Mindaugas Grigatitis (Lithuania, ESP), Ms Gabriele Hüdepohl (Germany, ECE), Fr Alvaro Lobo (Spain, ESP), Ms Minerva Porcel (Spain, ESP), Mr Miguel Poza (Spain, ESP), Mr Juan Reuda (Spain, ESP), Mr Jonathan Tiernan (Ireland, HIB), Mr Bob Van De Putte (Belgium North, ELC), Ms Jospehine Vassalo (Malta, EUM), Fr Alessandro Viano SJ (Italy, EUM)

The International Commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education (ICAJE) convened in Rome from May 21st to 24th, 2024, to address significant topics for Jesuit secondary and pre-secondary education. Attendees included representatives from the six conference networks that form the Jesuit Global Network of Schools (JGNS), the General Coordinator of Fe y Alegria, the Secretary for Education, members of Educate Magis and the Assistant to the Secretariat. This year, the meeting included a special audience with Pope Francis. During this encounter, the Pope expressed his gratitude for the work done in our Jesuit schools and Companion Schools, as he highlighted the transformative potential of Ignatian education and emphasized the importance of keeping Jesus at the heart of our mission. In his message, he urged educators to lead by example, and our schools to put the formation of educators at the center, offering the necessary training to discover their vocations as educators. Pope Francis also recalled the Global Compact on Education, calling for a shift from a culture of the ‘I’ to the culture of the ‘we,’ and stressed the importance of patience and perseverance in the long-term task of education. Some of the key discussions and presentations held during the meeting:  Each ICAJE member delivered a presentation on the current state of Jesuit education in their region, focusing on the preparation for the II Seminar JESEDU-Jogja2024, engagement with Educate Magis, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The reports highlighted the enduring impact of the pandemic, including long-term changes in educational practices and strategies for fostering resilience among schools. The Secretary for education shared updates on various projects and initiatives, emphasizing their alignment with the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) and their ongoing support to global educational collaboration. ICAJE members shared their proposals on initiatives for enhancing inter-regional collaboration, sharing best practices, and establishing spaces for joint reflection. Participants engaged in a spiritual conversation to discern ways for Educating for Faith in the 21st Century. This dialogue builds on the topics that a group of Jesuit educators from around the world will be discussing in the Global II Seminar JESEDU-Jogja2024, that will take place in June 2024 in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. Fr. James Hanvey SJ, Secretary of the Service of Faith participated in this conversation. The representatives of Educate Magis presented updates on their projects, emphasizing their role in building an online apostolic community of Jesuit educators. The feedback from ICAJE was gathered to better meet the needs of the network and enhance their offerings. The Organizing Committee of JESEDU-Jogja2024 presented the updates on the organization for the upcoming seminar in Indonesia. ICAJE members provided valuable feedback to refine the event. John Guiney SJ and Dr. Sandra Racionero joined the meeting to share with ICAJE the details of the PCCP Project (Promoting a Consistent Culture of Protection in our Schools), that was introduced by Fr. General Arturo Sosa SJ in late 2023.  Special Highlight: Audience with Pope Francis On Friday the 24th, the meeting participants had an audience with Pope Francis. The purpose was to express the commitment of the Jesuit Schools to support and promote the New Global Compact of Education launched by Pope Francis. We also presented the Pope with a copy of the document Jesuit Schools: A Living Tradition in the 21st Century, and a special edition of the Educate Magis Global Map of the Schools. As part of this encounter, the Pope shared an inspiring speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Society of Jesus for her work in the schools, highlighting the immense evangelizing potential of education that St. Ignatius and his companions soon realized. He emphasized that Jesuit education must keep Jesus at its center, integrating the Gospel into the schools and “accompanying young people so that they discover in service to others and in academic rigor the construction of the common good”. Pope Francis reminded us that Fr. Arrupe’s call for “educating people for others” means to define education by “its humanizing results and not its economic results”. The Pope praised the effort to turn education from a personal success mindset to one that focuses on collective well-being, advocating for a shift from the culture of ‘I’ to ‘we’. He stressed that true education involves leading by example and urged educators to accompany and develop their students, especially those at the margins of our societies. Finally, he highlighted the importance of the upcoming JESEDU-Jogja2024 Seminar in deepening the meaning and connection of the first Universal Apostolic Preference and the others: “without a true relationship between educators and the Lord, none of the rest is possible”. Read full speech Closing remarks The meeting concluded with a Eucharist in the “rooms of Ignatius,” where St. Ignatius of Loyola spent his final days. Fr. José Mesa SJ remarked, “This meeting was pivotal in reinforcing our mission as a global network. The topics we addressed are crucial for the future of Jesuit education, and ICAJE remains a vital force in our journey toward becoming a universal body with a universal mission.” After the Eucharist, the participants went to St. Ignatius Church asking, before the tomb of St. John Berchman’s -patron of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools, for strength and perseverance in our service to the mission of the Society entrusted to us by the Church.    

A new edition of the Ignatian Leadership Programme (ILP) kicked off on Monday, 11 March. This is a training organized by JECSE for a group of 18 school headmasters and executives. We gathered in Rodizio near Lisbon at the 'Casa de Exercícios de Santo Inácio', a retreat house beautifully located near the Atlantic Ocean. Five days later, we concluded the programme and enthusiastically said to each other 'See you in Warsaw in October'. Looking back on this week of formation, for me the reflection text at the start also goes to the core of the programme for this first module: 'Called as a leader for and with others'. Participants come from Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Germany, Portugal, Albania, Spain, Italy and France. The context in which we work is often very different, but one element we all share is the challenge of leading in a school rooted in Ignatius' vision. Guidance of the ILP is in the expert hands of Paul Yperman, Bart Van Emmerik s.J., Brian Flannery, Anne-Sophie De Decker and Lourenço Eiro s.J. I see the very diverse composition of our group as a unique opportunity to exchange and find inspiration. In doing so, I experience great gratitude for the fine, enriching conversations, the international contacts and the opportunities in this group to gain a broader view and be challenged in vision and identity. The programme in Rodizio was well filled, following a predictable pattern. For the bravest (and the Belgian delegation lived up to Caesar's famous words there), the day started each time with an inspiring walk along the beautiful coast. This morning activity could perhaps not count on enthusiasm because of the less matinal companions; I gladly accepted Bart and Anne-Sophie's offer for this pleasant morning ritual. After breakfast, we started the programme with a moment of reflection followed by a number of plenary sessions. In these, we could also exchange among ourselves each time about the content we were offered. From different frames of mind about emotions, relationships, choices, behavior and communication, we were offered valuable input for a week in a very multi-faceted programme on leadership and Ignatian spirituality. The great added value lay in the connection between these two perspectives. We also held small-group reflection discussions each time. Using the ignatian spiritual conversation methodology, we tried to discover on a personal level the deeper movements we experienced with the insights we were offered each time. Each day we gathered in the evening in the house chapel where a very simple but deeply symbolic work of art gave the space sacredness. We ended our working day here each time with a celebration of mass: a moment of reflection and singing together, of retrospection and peace. At lunchtime and in the evening we shared a typical Portuguese meal: at the table we got to know each other better and, as usual, we always ended the day with a "social" for which each brought a speciality from their country. On Wednesday afternoon, a visit to Sintra was also planned: a relaxing trip during which we happened to meet a group from a Jesuit college from Dallas. By then the group atmosphere was already good, especially after the evening dinner on site with accompanying conviviality. When CEBECO invited me to participate in this programme, I gratefully and curiously accepted the invitation. On the one hand, the content of the programme is familiar because it takes up a number of familiar frameworks on leadership, but the depth lies in the bridge to the Ignatian perspective. This link was offered in very different ways each time: a presentation on Ignatius' choices in leadership, an interview with a Jesuit at the head of a youth centre in Lisbon on the challenges he had experienced in his leadership, a session on using the ignatian 'modo de proceder' in leading a school, the discussion of spirituality within an ignatian listening conversation, a presentation on the examination, discovering the space for the Spirit's working in your actions. With a suitcase full of inspiration, I returned from Portugal. The objective now is to hold on to the insights and inspiration of the ILP. En route to the second training week in October, our facilitators keep the spirit alive and we stay connected through the assignments we were given. In the hustle and bustle of running a school, it will be a challenge to still walk, not run, thus securing Rodizio's ideas in word and deed.

Building a culture of safeguarding is a paramount consideration for all Jesuit and companion schools within the JECSE (Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education) network. In 2019, the Secretariat for Education of the Society of Jesus underscored that "Jesuit schools are committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for all" (Jesuit Schools: a Living Tradition in the 21st Century – An Ongoing Exercise of Discernment), thus making safeguarding a key indicator among the ten identifiers guiding our schools. Although awareness of the need to take action in the area of safeguarding has significantly increased in recent years, many schools still face challenges due to a lack of resources, qualified staff, and experience to address these needs adequately. Consequently, JECSE, in collaboration with ZIP (Zentrum für Ignatianische Pädagogik - the Centre for Ignatian Pedagogy), aims to continue supporting schools in the field of safeguarding and to work collaboratively with them to strengthen the culture of protection. A survey conducted jointly by JECSE and ZIP in September 2023, along with interviews involving stakeholders engaged in safeguarding implementation across various levels within schools, has identified several key needs: - Enhanced access to model materials and tools - Sharing of best practice - Staff training on safeguarding - Guidance on staff training methodologies - Assistance in implementing activities, personalized advice, and expert support. In response to these identified needs, the new ZIP-JECSE project entitled "Safeguarding – From Awareness to Action" has been established to offer comprehensive support to our schools in these critical areas. Preparing a detailed school safeguarding roadmap In April 2024, a new Safeguarding project commenced in Ludwigshafen, Germany. An international Safeguarding Advisory Group, comprising representatives from various Provinces including Safeguarding and Education Delegates, School Safeguarding Coordinators, and Heads, convened for its initial meeting. During this session, they formulated a comprehensive school safeguarding roadmap and developed supplementary tools and materials aimed at enhancing schools' engagement in fostering a culture of protection. These resources will undergo consultation with schools to ensure their effectiveness. „We are developing a culture of protection in all the schools that belongs to the JECSE network. Schools will facilitate a proactive, ongoing process of reflection and discernment about the safe school environment more broadly, and encourage methods and activities that support a positive, safe `Ignatian school climate´“, said Ulrike Gentner, Director of the Center for Ignatian Pedagogy (ZIP) in Ludwigshafen. The members of the advisory group were very convinced of the project and its necessity: “I’m happy to collaborate in this project around safeguarding. Our pedagogical project calls us to create a safe environment for our students, inspired by authentic Cura Personalis. It gives joy to work with a group of committed colleagues who want to care, from a shared concern, for the children entrusted to our schools“, emphasized Frederik Van Rampelberg (Education Delegate - Belgium North). „Thank you for this moment of sharing, it is also formative for me, generative of new ideas. It makes me feel on a journey, beautiful and shared, and shows me a vocational ideal that it is beautiful to feel in myself and in others. Together we can do something!”, added Prof. Giuseppe Mannino (Psicologo Clinico, Psicoterapeuta, Analista esistenziale, Esperto in formazione umana e psicologia della pace). “It has become obvious during our recent conversations that different schools in the various jurisdictions covered by the JECSE network are at different stages of Development in relation to Child Protection. Many of our schools cannot rely on a legal framework as of yet. We believe that it is important that best practice is shared and effectively disseminated so that Children in all our schools enjoy the safest possible environment where they can flourish and thrive.” (Damon McCaul, Headmaster, Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin, Ireland). Making schools safe places For Cathrin Rieger, education officer at Heinrich Pesch Haus and ZIP, it is a pleasure to be involved in this international prevention project: “Learning from each other, exchanging ideas and continuing to work together to make schools and institutions safe places for children, young people and adults. We also have to face new challenges — prevention never stops! Cyber-bullying, dangers on the Internet, peer violence, parental work, etc. are new challenges that we have to face,” she said. “We will not be able to carry out this huge task only with wise documents but spreading and sharing all around a sense of enthusiasm, hope and commitment. We have the chance to foster safeguarding culture in our schools throughout Europe“, said Manuel Fariñas de Alba (Director Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid). Safeguarding is an ongoing process JECSE Director Agnieszka Baran expressed her confidence that the joint effort and cooperation of all involved in the project will yield positive outcomes for the schools within the network. "It is paramount that our network continues to collaborate to reinforce the culture of safeguarding in our schools. We are heartened by the significant progress we have achieved in this realm in recent years. However, safeguarding remains an ongoing endeavour, and there is still much to be accomplished," she remarked. Agnieszka Baran extended gratitude to the Centre for Ignatian Pedagogy for its support and coordination of this project with JECSE. "I am also deeply impressed by the dedication of all participants in this meeting to engage with us on the challenges confronting our schools in the realm of safeguarding and how we can best address them," stated the JECSE Director. She further expressed appreciation to the entire Heinrich Pesch House team for warmly hosting the group and for fostering a supportive environment conducive to addressing the challenging issue of protecting the most vulnerable from abuse.

“Safeguarding children and adults is about transforming human relationships, from violence to dialogue, from abuse to equity, so that social interactions become the best shield to prevent abuses.” (Jeyaraj, Guiney & Racionero-Plaza 2023). The Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE), together with the Zentrum für Ignatianische Pädagogik (Centre for Ignatian Pedagogy - ZIP), has been working in recent years to support schools in our region in this transformation. Through online trainings, conferences and consultancy, we support the development of a culture of protection in our institutions. In March 2022, we were pleased to invite representatives from our schools to come together to reflect on important safeguarding issues at a conference entitled “Protecting Minors in Our Schools: Preventing and Responding to (Sexualised) Violence”. Over 130 representatives from Jesuits schools in 23 countries gathered in Ludwigshafen, both in person and online, to discuss this crucial topic. Following the post-conference video, we are pleased to offer now the book: “Protecting Minors in our Schools. Preventing and Responding to Sexualised Violence”.  It is a collection of  contributions prepared by the keynote speakers of our Safeguarding Conference in Ludwigshafen (2022). The articles presented here start with  outlining the context of the problem and move on describing in detail specific safeguarding issues.  Proposed responses to the current challenges in this area cover model solutions and practical suggestions for their implementation. We hope that this book will be an impulse for further reflection on safeguarding, an inspiration for improving existing policies and protocols and designing new prevention schemes.  It is our objective to sustainably strengthen a culture of protection in our Jesuit and companion schools.  

Let's Build Schools That Care – Primary School Heads Conference in Soutelo. Walking together in challenging times, companionship in the fulfilment of our common mission - this unique experience of unity in diversity can be experienced by the participants of different JECSE meetings - a network of Jesuit and companion schools in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. This time, Heads and Leaders of the Primary schools enjoyed being together at the regional meeting of our educational network. During the 4-day conference in Soutelo, Portugal, we got to know each other, reflected on our shared mission, prayed and gained strength to better serve our school communities. We lead people, not just institutions Like our high school friends before us in October 2023, we were guided by the words "He sent them two by two... Accompaniment; walking with our colleagues from and into the heart of our Ignatian tradition". The first input during our meeting was offered by Mr Ivan Miron from Spain. Following his inspiration, we reflected together: What are called to do? What is our vocation? How do we reconcile being managers of an educational institution with the mission of leading others? Let's build a culture of care that nurtures hope Prof. Ana Berastegui from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (Spain), showed us the enormity of the mental health problems our students are facing in a post-pandemic world. Although the statistics she presented might make us lose hope, she also showed us the antidote to the modern crisis - the urgent need to build a culture of care and trust! The great continuation of this thought was the presentation by Dr John Stoer (Education Delegate, Great Britain) and Mrs Maria Neal (Great Britain). They shared their observations and practical experiences of how to build relationships with the students and how to accompany them. Their call to listen at different levels and to remember to "speak little and listen well" still resonates with us. You need to experience support yourself in order to accompany others An important moment of the meeting in Portugal was the time for listening to the testimonies of school leaders. Our colleagues Daniela Camilleri Sacco (Malta), Benjamin Rombaut (Belgium North) and Antonio González Crespo (Spain), interviewed by Jonathan Tiernan (Education Delegate from Ireland), showed us where they find support in their mission. In an honest way, they also shared moments of loneliness as school leaders and what they have learnt from them. Moved by their testimonies, we then talked in pairs about our own experiences in this area and considered how we could take better care of ourselves in the future. Dreaming about accompaniment for mission In the final group work, preceded by many moments of individual and group prayer, spiritual conversation, sharing and listening, we looked to the future together. We dreamed about the kind of accompaniment culture we want for our schools and we wondered what we would bring back to our schools from the conference. In the closing Eucharist, celebrated in three languages and led by Fr Jimmy Bartolo SJ from Malta and Fr Chris Cann from the UK, we entrusted our hopes and plans to God. It's time to return to the school communities In order to strengthen the bonds formed during this conference, before returning home we went for a walk around Braga, continuing the conversations we had started and regaining strength in the Portuguese sun. We would like to thank Mr Pedro Valente - Educational Delegate of the Portuguese Province, Fr Carlos Carneiro SJ and the team at Casa da Torre for their great hospitality in Portugal and their help in organising this meeting. We would like to express our gratitude to all who helped us to prepare this event, especially the volunteers who accompanied us throughout the conference and all the participants who made this event so special.