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 mathematics 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 10 to 13 February, around 100 pastoral team members, chaplains, mission and identity officers, and ethos directors from across the JECSE network (Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education) 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 of Pastoral Ministry in Light of JESEDU – Jogja 2024
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 of 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 engaging 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 spoke about the importance of caring for our own spiritual nourishment, and how they have incorporated 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 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 to 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 God be asking us to take in our pastoral ministry in schools?” As evening approached, we engaged in facilitated conversations in which 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. Tortilla, cider, and meat made for a wonderful evening, offering us the opportunity to socialise in an informal setting. The following day, our conference came to an end with a final round of facilitated conversations and a celebration of the Eucharist in the Chapel of the Conversion of Saint Ignatius.
