Since the outbreak of Covid-19, online classes have become an integral part of education. As Jesuits who are currently in philosophy and theology studies, we all have experience with online learning. But we quickly realised that there is still much more to learn about this new norm of education during our Scholastics and Brothers Circle (SBC) workshop from 26 to 30 December.
SBC was established by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific to motivate and strengthen the bond of all Jesuits in formation. Every year, SBC organises a workshop to engage us in discussion, reflection, and action on a relevant topic. Unfortunately, the SBC workshop in 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic. Since it was still quite impossible for us to meet face to face in 2021, the organisers decided to go the route of an online workshop. So 54 Scholastics across the Asia Pacific region gathered virtually to explore the theme of “Jesuit education in this time of the pandemic: How can the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) meet the challenges of online learning?”
It was an enriching experience listening to Jesuits and lay people in various fields of education. Fr Bert Boholst SJ, who spent many years as Director of the Jesuit secondary school, Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola, in Dili, explained the five elements of IPP: Context, Experience, Reflection, Action, and Evaluation. Meanwhile Fr Francis Alverez SJ, Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology and Religious Education at the Loyola School of Theology in Manila, shared on the biblical narrative of Christian education through the lens of IPP. His talk was one of my favourites. I understood his way of lecturing as already an obvious sign of IPP. I relished his way of connecting the biblical narrative to our Christian education.
Fr Karel San Juan SJ, President of Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), addressed leadership and vision in Jesuit institutions in this time of crisis. He highlighted the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) of our current situation and the various leadership approaches to address this challenge. Along the same lines, Galvin Ngo, Director of the Science and Art of Learning and Teaching (SALT) at the Ateneo de Manila University, introduced innovative uses of technology in online learning.
Another one of my favourites was the talk by Brother Jeff Pioquinto SJ, Senior High School Principal of AdZU, on spiritual formation and chaplaincy in an online set-up. He stressed cura personalis as an important part of campus ministry and how “the ultimate aim of Jesuit education is the full growth of the person which leads to action”.
Fr Jordy Orbe SJ of Emmaus Center for Psycho-Spiritual Formation and Accompaniment based at the Ateneo de Manila University, focussed on mental health in online learning. With some exercises, he taught us how to cope with the physical, emotional, and mental stress of online classes, as well as how we could assist students in having good mental health.
We were also graced with teachers from Australia, Japan, Cambodia, and Myanmar who shared their online teaching experience. It was inspiring to hear from teachers who work in our schools, and from Fr Jose Alberto Mesa SJ, Secretary for Education of the Society of Jesus, on online education from the perspective of the Universal Apostolic Preferences.
We were also blessed to have students from Australia, Japan, Cambodia, and Myanmar. We learned that their experiences and challenges were different from ours. The pandemic is just one challenge they have to confront; there are other difficulties, such as family finances and political crisis that affect their decision of whether to continue or stop going to school. Like us, they long to connect face to face with their peers. This emphasised to us how important it is especially for young people to establish social and physical connections.
Personally, I learned that the IPP cannot be separated from our spirituality. It is our way of life that manifests in our educational institutions. This workshop enabled me to go deeper and contextualise my experiences. I am most thankful for having engaged with my Jesuit brothers across Asia Pacific. The ultimate objective of SBC to strengthen the bond of our brotherhood was felt greatly by all.
Scholastic Jerome Aye Min SJ from Myanmar is a member of the Arrupe International Residence community. He is in his third year of theology studies at the Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines.