CONGRESS CONTENT

Based on the purpose of the Congress, a programme has been defined which is supported by three fundamental pillars: inspiration, process and content structure.

1. Inspiration

We are currently facing major global challenges, accentuated by the paradigm shift that the pandemic we are experiencing today may entail. These include the gap between rich and poor, gender equality, the identity crisis, conflict between religions, demographic changes and migration, environmental damage and the political and governance crisis. All this challenges us and motivates us to action in a shared mission.

Reconciliation

In the face of these global challenges, we, Jesuit alumni, echo the powerful messages of GC 36, three calls to Reconciliation: Reconciliation with God, Reconciliation with Humanity and Reconciliation with Creation.

Three forms of reconciliation that, in reality, are a single action of God, interrelated and inseparable, and propose a starting point for us to develop our action.

The Apostolic Preferences

We propose that this call to our individual and collective responsibility to contribute to the transformation of our environment is channelled through the framework offered by the Society’s Apostolic Preferences 2019-2029.

  • Showing the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment
  • Walking together with the poor, the discarded of the world, those violated in their dignity in a mission of reconciliation and justice
  • Accompanying young people in creating a hopeful future
  • Collaborating in the maintenance of the Common Home
The messages of F. Arturo Sosa, sj

“The preferences are intended to trigger a process of vital revival and apostolic creativity that will make us better servants of reconciliation and justice. F. Arturo Sosa, sj. February 2019”.

During a speech in India, F. Arturo Sosa, sj asked what the mission of the Society of Jesus is today, the commitment of the Alumni and the role of the Alumni associations. Read the speech.

2. Work process

The formulation of the contents of the Congress responds to a participatory process carried out in the last two years. The Congress intends to take advantage of all the previous experience acquired in the reference themes, with the participants’ own experience during the Congress, with the idea of expressing, through a plan of action, their ideas for transforming the future.

1. THE VIEW
Awareness of the context

Born from pre-Congress work through committees composed of alumni, youth, Jesuits as well as members of the National Federations, European Confederation and World Union (WUJA).

2. THE JUDGEMENT
The diagnosis of each theme

During the Congress, different debates will take place around the challenges the world faces and the tools we have at our disposal in order to give them an Ignatian response. The starting point is the particular experience of the attendees who will be able to participate in each of the themes that may interest them most, through work sessions and dialogue.

3. THE ACTION
The community’s networked response

Our intention is to design a network action plan for each of the themes that will allow us to trace the next steps and strengthen our commitment to the future as a global community.

3. Structure of contents

The proposed content for the congress is born from a reference framework that proposes having three big dimensions to respond to: the Ignatian framework, the challenges and the tools.

So that our possible action to respond to the challenges we face can take place from individual freedom and from the roots that give meaning to our community.

The Ignatian framework

How do we, Jesuit Alumni, appear to God? And to the world? What are my distinguishing features as an alumna? What are the keys to developing my shared mission as an alumna? All these questions that we ask ourselves require a joint vision from the values that unite us.

The challenges we face

The problem of migration and the opportunities that it presents, what the ecological threat invites or obliges us to do, how to motivate technology to serve people, the role of women in society and in the Church, the potential of religions for reconciliation, social innovation as a tool for transformation, among others, are challenges that need to be addressed both personally and at the level of associations.

The tools we have at our disposal

Our entire shared mission is based on making our contribution and potential for transformation effective through the tools we have at our disposal: our professional activity, education, action from the Community as well as collaboration and networking as catalysts for the Jesuit mission.