Who do you want to be?

There is comfort in numbers. There is power in numbers. When your number is two million students in 2,500 educational projects across the globe, there is potential, great potential to affect great change!

The Jesuit Global Networkof Schools reaches about two million students. Our students are found in places as far apart as Manhattan and Malawi, South Sudan and Spain, Delhi and Dublin. Jesuit schools are where a student begins to ask the question “What is the most important reality in my life upon which the value of everything else is determined, derived and depends?”

The schools challenge students to devote their talents and time to the pursuit of justice. It is where the student begins to understand that his or her understanding of self includes the other. It is where they begin to experience the authenticity of their own humanity in the context of service. It is where they realize their unique talents and gifts, and the call to reach out to others. Our schools seek to place in the heart of the student the abiding question, “How and where, in this time and place, can I provide the greatest service?” Schools are where vocations are discovered.

In other words, our schools help students to discover the person God intends them to be.

To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the canonizations of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier and embrace their example of authentic faith and selfless service, the General Curia in partnership with Christian Life Communities (CLC), the Global Secretariat of Education and Educate Magis designed a worldwide campaign called “Who Do You Want to Be?” In this four-part video series, we are asking students to look deeper into their lives and to ask “What is my dream? Who lights my path? Who do I want to be?”

The videos incorporate moments from the life of Ignatius; characteristics of Ignatian spirituality and Ignatian mission; the influence that each of these components had on different individuals; and how the dynamics of each are present in our engagement in the Universal Apostolic Preferences.

We don’t want this event to be an additional burden to already overburdened teachers and staff - especially those with pandemic fatigue - so we offer a curriculum developed by teachers with prelection material and post reflection material that can be adapted by schools to meet their circumstances.

Here is a brief synopsis:

A detailed lesson plan and short video that highlights the spiritual pilgrimage of Ignatius Loyola; introduces students to the guidelines Ignatian Spiritual Conversation; and invites students to practice Ignatian Spiritual Conversation following a meditation on “The First Principle and Foundation” in Showing the Way to God.”

A detailed lesson plan and short video that highlights the ministry of Saint Peter Claver with the enslaved Africans in Cartagena; invites us to recognize the marginalized in our world; and to consider seven pragmatic steps we can take in Walking with the Excluded.”

A detailed lesson plan and short video that highlights student stories of adult accompaniment; invites students to reflect on their own experience; and share what they believe it means to be accompanied well with the adults in their community as a means for adult reflection and conversation on Ignatian formation in Journeying with Youth.”

A detailed lesson plan and short video that highlights the ministry of Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy, SJ to the Adivasi people, invites us to reflect on our relationship to God, to others and to Creation; and consider the hopes and challenges in pursuing a viable and enduring earth and a more just world in Caring for our Common Home.”

Access the resources

whotobe.org
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From 1 March, the videos and pedagogical materials - in English, French and Spanish - will be available to the Jesuit Global Network of Schools which includes Fe y Alegria and the JRS network. They will be available as well to schools of the Ignatian tradition.

These resources will be on the General Curia, CLC and Educate Magis websites and accessible through whotobe.org. Translations and dubbing of the videos into other languages is possible by contacting the General Curia communications office. The page on Educate Magis is public and will be available indefinitely... as the call to dream, the call to vocation is timeless!

“Jesuits work in schools and in education because we believe in young people; through them a new future will be created” said Fr. John Dardis, the Director of Communications at the Jesuit General Curia. “Our third Apostolic Preference asks us to walk with them and accompany them in the creation of a hope-filled future.”

Our hope is that Who Do You Want to Be? will help them take a step in that direction!

Help us spread the news about this four-part video series to all those whose ministry is accompanying youth!

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Posted by Communications Office - Editor in Curia Generalizia
Communications Office
The Communications Office of the General Curia publishes news of international scope on the central government of the Society of Jesus and on the commitments of the Jesuits and their partners. It also handles media relations.

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