Two important projects are underway for the education apostolate across the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific: the Ignatian Educator Volunteer Programme and the Connected Classrooms Project. These two undertakings were decided upon during the education secretaries meeting held from May 10 to 14 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Ignatian Educator Volunteer Programme will allow schools to send and receive teachers to share expertise and experience, while the Connected Classrooms Project in cooperation with Educate Magis will enable students to learn with students from other Jesuit schools via video conference. Both projects are in addition to the Ignite workshops for faculty and staff formation that are already well in place.

The meeting was held in Kolese Gonzaga with representatives from Australia, Cambodia, Chinese Province, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and Micronesia. JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ and Socius Fr Eric Velandria SJ joined the gathering.

The meeting began with updates.  Fr Moreno spoke about the activities of JCAP, and the delegates provided updates on developments in their schools.

A highlight of the meeting was the discernment on what could be the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus for the next ten years.  Fr Tom Renshaw, who is also the Australian Provincial Delegate for Planning and Renewal, guided the education delegates in reflecting and praying over the current five apostolic preferences of the Society – namely Africa, China, Migration, the Roman Houses, and the Intellectual Apostolate.

Then discerning the signs of the times and the needs of today’s world, the education secretaries shared their answer to the question: Where is the Society being called to focus its apostolic efforts? Drawing from St Ignatius’ criteria for the choice of mission, the group noted an early convergence of ideas and reached a consensus on what they would submit to Rome.

The delegates capped their meeting with a brief tour of the city of Jakarta, which included a visit to Canisius College, the cathedral and its museum, and the old part of the city, followed by a sumptuous Indonesian dinner.