ECJA Autumn Meeting 2025 Highlights Jesuit Education in Today’s World
Santo Tirso, Portugal – October 18, 2025.
The European Confederation of Jesuit Alumni (ECJA) held its annual Autumn Meeting at the historic Colégio das Caldinhas, gathering educators, alumni, and Jesuit collaborators from across Europe to reflect on “Jesuit Education in the Actual World.”
The event featured a full day of work sessions where participants shared perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing Jesuit institutions today. The discussions centered on the mission of Ignatian education — forming individuals who are intellectually competent, spiritually grounded, and socially committed.
In the afternoon, the meeting opened to the public for a round table discussion titled “The Value of Ignatian Education in Today’s Europe.” Speakers reflected on how Jesuit schools can continue to inspire students to serve others and lead with conscience in a rapidly changing world.
Participants later visited the Colégio das Caldinhas Museums, where they explored the school’s long-standing heritage and its role in preserving the Jesuit educational legacy. The day continued with a Mass at the Colégio Chapel, featuring music by Luis Meireles and Leonor Paiva, before concluding with a formal dinner at Hotel Cidnay in Santo Tirso.
A key moment of the meeting came with our President Francisco Guarner’s presentation of the upcoming WUJA 2026 Congress, to be held in Yogyakarta (Jogjakarta), Indonesia. His address emphasized the global collaboration among Jesuit alumni and the importance of strengthening ties between regions to promote justice, education, and faith.
The ECJA board, led by President Mrs. Marina Drago, actively participated throughout the sessions, reinforcing the organization’s mission to uphold Ignatian values and to foster unity among Jesuit alumni associations across Europe.
The ECJA Autumn Meeting 2025 reaffirmed that Jesuit education remains deeply relevant in the modern world — a tradition that continues to form “men and women for others” with a sense of service, discernment, and hope for the future.
