The Major Superiors of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia, in their bi-annual meeting held from 23rd to 30th October 2022 at Shembaganur, took several decisions on School Education, some of which are: paying special attention to the feeling of deprivation and neglect among rural and vernacular medium schools, organizing regular training programs on IPP to our teachers, in order to enhance their familiarity with various aspects of Jesuit education and Ignatian legacy, ensuring mentoring and counselling to our students, empowering province coordinators for education to make our schools function better, and providing in-depth training in Ignatian spirituality and pedagogy to lay collaborators, and entrusting them with specific responsibilities, including decision-making roles.
Task forces will be formed at the Conference, Province and Institution levels with specific guidelines to mitigate challenges of implementing the New Education Policy 2020 in our institutions.
Three days were spent on discussing, reflecting, engaging in spiritual conversation and discernment on Jesuit education ministry in South Asia.
Fr John Ravi (DEL), the Conference Secretary for School Education, along with Fr Lawrence Maniyar (NEP), Fr P. J. James (HAZ), Fr Anthonyraj P. (JAM), Fr Melwin Pinto (KAR) and Br Thomas Vaz (BOM) presented a study on Jesuit school education in South Asia. Fr Joe Arun (CEN), the Conference Secretary for Higher Education, Fr John Ravi, Fr Thomas Amirtham (CEN) and Br Thomas Vaz were resource persons for proposing strategies for implementation of the New Education Policy 2020 in Jesuit educational institutions.
One whole day was dedicated for recollection, prayer and discernment on the vow of poverty in the Society of Jesus. Fr General joined online for one session.
Besides the Major Superiors, the Regional Assistants Fr Vernon D’Cunha and Fr George Mutholil, were present throughout the proceedings.
The meeting included visits to Kodaikanal, Bodhi Zendo Meditation Center, and Perumalmalai Coffee estate of Madurai Province. The major superiors had an opportunity to explore the famed archives of Madurai Province and appreciated the painstaking work of preserving the history of Madurai Mission from its inception.
Prior to the JCSA meeting, nine of the newly appointed Major Superiors had two days of orientation, to familiarize themselves with past decisions of JCSA, Statutes of JCSA, sharing among themselves, and listening to the best practices in governance from senior Provincials.
All the participants were delighted to find a newly renovated and beautified Sacred Heart College, Shembaganur. Everyone appreciated the hospitality offered by Madurai Province and the attention and care given by the Sacred Heart Community in particular.
Shajumon Chakkalakkal, SJ
New Delhi
