The 40^th assembly of the Conference of Jesuit Provincials of Latin America and the Caribbean (CPAL) was held from 3 to 7 November. It was attended by the 12 Provincials, 2 Assistants to Father General, 1 General Counsellor, 4 Regional Superiors, 5 Delegates for Mission, the Administrator, the Secretary, and the President of CPAL. During some parts of the meeting, Father General Arturo Sosa and the members of the teams of formators of the International Centres for Theological Training (CIF) also took part in the conversations.

Among the main topics discussed were the evaluation of the Common Apostolic Project (PAC) 2010-2020 and the planning of the new PAC.02, 2021-2028, which should be ready by mid 2021. More than 3,000 collaborators from all the Provinces participated in this process in a work of recognised quality, professionalism and usefulness. The meeting also devoted time to the preparation of the Ignatian Year.

Another major theme was the result of the evaluation of the Conference’s International Theological Training Centres (CIF,) 10 years after their creation. The aim was to establish elements of discernment on models of formation for the stage of theological studies and immediate preparation for ordination. Two formators from each of the CIFs participated in this part of the meeting, as well as Father Mark Ravizza, General Counsellor for Formation. It was an opportunity to reflect on the challenges of theological and priestly formation in view of the mission of CPAL and, more broadly, of the Society.

On the morning of Thursday 5 November, Father General Arturo Sosa accompanied the Assembly and led a discussion on vocations and the culture of vocational discernment. This topic is very important to him and he has chosen to discuss it with the Major Superiors of all the Conferences during the months of October and November. On the same day, as part of the celebration of the Feast of All Saints of the Society of Jesus and the day dedicated to Jesuit vocations, a prayer meeting was held, live, at 8:00 am. (Lima and Bogotá) which was broadcast by the YouTube channel: Somos Jesuitas.

As part of our mission to accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future, Father Sosa stressed the importance of the universal right to quality education. Pope Francis, aware that this topic will be discussed during the CPAL Assembly, sent a note of greeting and an invitation to take up the Global Compact on Education launched by him on 15 October. In a brief ceremony, Father General signed the declaration of his own adhesion to the Global Compact on Education and invited everyone to do the same (another article on our website will present this initiative in more detail).

This assembly was also the occasion to welcome CPAL’s new delegates: Ms. Carmen de los Ríos, as Mission Delegate for the Social Apostolate; Fr. Alejandro Vera, as Mission Delegate for Youth and Vocations; Fr. Luis Valdez Castellanos, as Mission Delegate for Formation and Spirituality; Fr. Juan José Berli, as Mission Delegate for Parish Ministry; and Fr. Segundo Rafael Pérez, as Administrator of CPAL.