Three institutions—the Loyola School of Theology (LST), the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Philippines (CIS), and the Ateneo de Manila Gokongwei Brothers School of Education & Learning Design (GBSEALD)—joined forces to host an International Conference on Ignatian Spirituality, Pedagogy, and Leadership (ICIS) that attracted nearly 800 participants from over 30 countries.
Over the course of three enriching days, attendees explored Ignatian Spirituality through engaging discussions and participated in 20 workshops focused on the evolving dimensions of Ignatian pedagogy and leadership. The carefully crafted programme highlighted the intrinsic interconnectedness of the three pillars of Ignatian spirituality, pedagogy, and leadership to inspire participants “to live out Ignatian spirituality in the context of their communities and organisations, promoting a spirit-inflamed approach to leadership and education”.
Fr Johnny Go SJ
The conference featured a distinguished lineup of keynote speakers, including Fr Ramon Bautista SJ, Fr Jose Quilongquilong SJ, and Fr Michael Rossmann SJ, whose presentations helped participants deepen their understanding and appreciation of Ignatian spirituality. Fr Johnny Go SJ and Dr Ma Rita Atienza from GBSEALD shared their insights on Ignatian pedagogy, while Fr Karel San Juan SJ offered his perspectives on Ignatian leadership, inspiring participants to reimagine their own views of and approaches to leadership.
The conference provided participants new insights into Ignatian spirituality and its application in leadership and education. CIS Associate Gigi Tobias expressed that the conference gave her a stronger sense of grounding. “Crucially, it reinforced my belief that Ignatian spirituality, with its emphasis on prayer, contemplation, and openness to God, offers a powerful framework for navigating the complexities we face and the uncertainties of the future. I feel more hopeful about what lies ahead, more confident that these principles will aid me in my personal life, relationships, ministry, and engagement with the wider world. Coming so soon after Pope Francis’ passing, the conference also highlighted for me his life as a compelling example of living with joy and hope through Ignatian spirituality and leadership.”
Rhea Gaddi from Magis Deo Community found certain keynote addresses “very insightful and provocative,” citing Fr Go’s urgency and agency matrix as “the push I needed to realise and remember that I am accountable for the change I want to see in the country, starting with small steps with my family and community”.
Ateneo De Zamboanga University’s Director for Formation, Honey Rod Alfaro, who has been with the institution for over 20 years, described the conference as a rejuvenating experience “akin to a refreshing dip in cool water during a scorching summer”. As a former novice, Alfaro shared that listening to Fr Bautista “evoked cherished memories from my time at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, where I began to explore my relationship with myself and with God”. He also felt affirmed by Fr Quilongquilong’s presentation, saying that it “resonated deeply with my current pursuits and heightened my sensitivity to God’s ongoing invitations in my life”. He added that Fr Go’s discussion encouraged him “to find comfort in exploring the depths beneath the VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) surface and the globalisation of superficiality”.
As a young priest currently involved in the formation of seminarians, Fr PJ Banaybay from the Diocese of Tagum in southern Philippines had the following words to share about conference: “Journeying through the roles of seminary formator, spiritual director, and professor, I have come to realise just how demanding—and yet deeply fulfilling—this vocation can be. Walking with seminarians as they discern their calling, and guiding students who hunger to learn has stretched me in many ways. That’s why the conference on Ignatian Spirituality, Pedagogy, and Leadership was such a gift. It offered not just new knowledge but meaningful insights that I can now carry into my ministry, helping me better accompany young men in prayer and discernment, create classroom spaces that nurture real learning, and ultimately, draw more hearts closer to God.”
Fittingly held during LST ‘s 25th anniversary as an Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology, this international gathering celebrated the enduring gift of Ignatian spirituality—embracing the global Church and the countless institutions and individuals whose lives have been profoundly inspired, enriched, and transformed by its timeless wisdom.
