What if Yogyakarta became more than a destination?
Interview with Rajiv Talwar.
For Rajiv Talwar, General Secretary of the Jesuit Alumni Association of India (JAAI), the XI WUJA World Congress is far more than another international gathering. It is an invitation to broaden our perspective: from our school to our country, and from our country to the worldwide Jesuit alumni family.
Drawing on the experience of one of the world’s largest and most structured Jesuit alumni networks, Rajiv believes that alumni life cannot remain confined to local memories or occasional reunions. It flourishes when it is rooted in collaboration, continuity, and a shared sense of mission.
Beyond Our Own Institution
Most alumni begin their journey through a deep attachment to their own school. Yet, according to Rajiv, WUJA invites us to discover something much greater: a global community formed by the same Ignatian values, regardless of culture, language or geography.
Across India, Indonesia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, North America and beyond, Jesuit alumni share a common heritage-leadership, service, justice, compassion and the vocation to be men and women for and with others.
But this identity must become more than a shared memory. It must evolve into a common language, a shared vision and a collective commitment.
A Congress Built on Discernment
What makes Yogyakarta different is that the Congress begins long before participants arrive.
Through the pre-Congress consultations and the Jesuit Alumni Identity initiative, alumni from around the world have been invited to reflect together on essential questions:
Who are we?
What is our mission?
What are we called to become?
For Rajiv, this process transforms the Congress from a scheduled event into a living journey of discernment. Participants are not simply invited to attend; they are invited to help shape the future of the global Jesuit alumni movement.
From Fellowship to Mission
Friendship and international camaraderie have always been among WUJA’s greatest strengths. Yet Rajiv believes that a World Congress should go further.
It should inspire practical collaboration, generate ideas that can be replicated across countries, strengthen partnerships with Jesuit institutions, and encourage projects that serve society in tangible ways.
His own experience in India illustrates what this means: nationwide blood donation campaigns, free medical clinics, vocational guidance, alumni mentoring, and networks supporting young graduates as they begin their professional lives.
These initiatives demonstrate that Jesuit alumni identity is expressed not only through words, but through service.
Investing in the Next Generation
More than one hundred participants from India, including many young alumni, are expected in Yogyakarta.
For Rajiv, involving younger generations is essential. They are not simply the future of WUJA, they are already an indispensable part of its present mission. They need opportunities to encounter the global Ignatian family, assume responsibility, and discover how Jesuit values can be lived across cultures and continents.
A Call to Every Alumni Leader
In a world increasingly marked by division, uncertainty and fragmentation, Rajiv sees WUJA XI as an opportunity to build something lasting.
He hopes alumni leaders will return home not only with new friendships, but with renewed purpose: stronger associations, deeper collaboration, greater engagement with young alumni, closer partnerships with Jesuit institutions, and a clearer vision for serving the common good.
His invitation is both simple and compelling:
Come to Yogyakarta not simply to attend a Congress, but to help shape the future of the global Jesuit alumni movement.
As Rajiv himself says, you may think you are coming to a Congress, but you may return realizing that you have joined a global movement.
Perhaps that is the true purpose of WUJA XI World Congress.
