Amid recent landmark amendments to Vietnam’s education laws to adopt digital transformation and technology transfer, many students are experiencing mounting pressures in both their academic and personal lives. This has led to troubling consequences, such as depression, suicide, and prolonged violence. In today’s Vietnamese society, there is a growing desire for a more holistic educational environment—one that equips students with both a solid academic foundation and robust mental health.
Recognising these needs and responding to the aspirations of parents, Vietnamese Jesuit scholastics have organised summer educational programmes for adolescents aged 11 to 16 over the past two years. The programme, named Magis Adventure, spans seven days per session. Participating students enhance their life skills through highly interactive and visual activities. Additionally, they learn liturgical skills and gain a deeper understanding of the catechism through an approach specifically tailored to Gen Z.
The programme’s standout feature is its strong emphasis on developing young people’s spiritual and inner lives. Students actively participate in daily Mass, taking on roles such as preparing the altar, singing and playing music in the choir, and reading Scripture. Each day, students spend about 15 minutes practising the daily Examen and 30 minutes in a spiritual sharing session known as the “Magis Circle”. These practices help them reflect on their daily experiences through a spiritual lens and journey with one another in faith in a spirit of synodality.
As part of the formation programme for volunteers who will serve in Magis Adventure this June, St Joseph Jesuit Scholasticate in Ho Chi Minh hosted a three-and-a-half-hour thematic series titled: “Introducing and Enhancing the Educational Spirit of Ignatius of Loyola” from 20 to 22 May. The initiative also provided an excellent opportunity for the Jesuit Education and Teachers Ministry to connect with organisations both within and beyond the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
Around 80 participants, including Catholic students and summer apostolate volunteers, as well as priests and sisters in charge of dormitories and education from various religious congregations, took part. Notably, lecturers from Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Open University, the HCMC Professional Social Work Club, and representatives from local shelters and open houses brought practical and diverse perspectives to the event.
Over three days, in a joyful, open, and fraternal atmosphere, the participants enthusiastically engaged in discussions on three main topics:
- Safeguarding. Led by Fr Vicente Nguyen Minh Phuc SJ, this session helped participants better understand the ongoing efforts of the Jesuits to cultivate a safe educational and apostolic environment for all individuals.
- The educational spirit within Ignatian spirituality. Fr Joseph Bui Quang Minh SJ offered fresh perspectives on education through the lens of Ignatius of Loyola. He introduced participants to the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, fostering a deeper understanding of the essential elements required to build a holistic, discerning, and collaborative educational foundation.
- The application of developmental psychology in educational work as well as vocation promotion. This segment, which I guided, explored the practical application of the principles of safeguarding and the Ignatian pedagogical method across specific age groups, with emphasis on adolescents as the primary demographic for the upcoming Magis Adventure.
During the evaluation session, participants agreed that the topics were highly practical and relevant to the needs of the times. They also expressed a strong desire to explore these subjects more deeply in future programmes.
To strengthen communion and collaboration, the Jesuit Education and Teachers Ministry has established a network of educators from various backgrounds to provide strong support and open new directions for the ministry’s activities in the near future.
