It is 50 years ago that Pedro Arrupe, the then Superior General of the Society of Jesus, gave his seminal address at the 10th International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe which took place in 1973, from July 29th to August 1st, in Valencia, Spain,
“Today our prime educational objective must be to form men-and-women-for-others; men and women who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ – for the God-man who lived and died for all the world; men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbours; men and women completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for others is a farce”.
Arrupe’s words initiated a process of reflection and self-evaluation which led to the worldwide renewal of Jesuit education. There are undoubtedly few teachers or students of Jesuit schools who are not familiar with the words “men (and women) for others” and on whom these words have not had a significant impact.
To commemorate the 50th year of this seminal address and of “Persons for Others” the Jesuit Global Network of Schools (JGNS) in collaboration with Educate Magis have decided to facilitate Global Discernment Circles as an opportunity to reflect in community on the impact of Arrupe’s address.
These Global Discernment Circles (GDC), will be held on November 9th, 2023, and will be for a limited number of educators from each of the global regions. However, the same discernment model with accompanying reflection guides will be made available for all educators to adapt to their own contexts as they wish.
More information on the Global Discernment Circles:
- Official invitations issued: from September 11th
- Registration: from September 11th – September 30th
- Individual preparation by participants: October – November
- Global Discernment Circles: November 9th at the following times
- Circle 1 (English) – 7.00 GMT / 8:00 London / 8:00 Lagos / 12:30 Dehli / 15:00 Manila / 17:00 Sydney
- Circle 2 (Spanish) – 7.00 GMT / 9:00 Madrid
- Circle 3 (French) 11:00 GMT / 12:00 Kinshasa / 13:00 Kigali / 13:00 Paris / 14:00 Antananarivo
- Circle 4 (English) 15:00 GMT / 8:00 California / 10:00 New York / 17:00 Harare / 17:00 Brussels
- Circle 5 (Spanish) 15:00 GMT / 9:00 Mexico City / 10:00 Bogotá / 11:00 Santiago de Chile / 12:00 Buenos Aires / 17:00 Madrid
Note: Please confirm the time in your own time-zone – this website may help
If you wish to be involved in either the Global Discernment Circles or to facilitate a Discernment Circle in your own school or context, please keep an eye on Educate Magis for further information and materials in September.
In the meantime, Educate Magis will continue sharing a series of touching reflections on Beloved Don Pedro: “Man for Others”, by well-known Jesuit writer, Hedwig Lewis SJ (GUJ). These reflections will help us to gain a deeper insight into Arrupe as a person, into the Society of Jesus of his time, and into his inspiring and challenging ideas for Jesuit Education to form Men and Women for others.
The series of reflections will continue to be made available on Educate Magis in Spanish, French and English and will include articles titled; 1. Rooted in Love and Faith, 2. Developing Mind and Heart, 3. Call and Commitment, 4. Formation for Magis, 5. St. Ignatius and “Ignatian”, 6. Vision and Mission, 7. Person Oriented Leadership, 8. Education for Justice, 9. Arrupean Panorama.
The reflections are very short, simple, yet very deep, and affective. Arrupe always had a person-centered approach. He believed that the Ignatian Magis is an uncompromising commitment to all. Pedro Arrupe continues to be an inspiration to teachers and students across the globe.
Readers are encouraged to share these articles with fellow educators as well as with students, and other stakeholders. You are of course very welcome to share your comments, short reflections, and affective experiences with the Global Community by commenting underneath the articles published on Educate Magis. These articles together with your reflections, and comments will help us to reflect during the Global Discernment Circles in November 2023 and will encourage others to pause and reflect on the true meaning and practical application of Fr. Arrupe’s words.
Let us make the commemoration of the 50th year of “Persons for Others” meaningful to Jesuit Schools!
