Father Arturo Sosa continues his visit to the Hungarian Province, meeting with students and teachers at the Jesuit high school in Miskolc. Students belonging to the Ember spirituality group led him through the school buildings, presenting the institution from their own perspective.

The Jesuit high school in Miskolc opened in autumn 1994. Today, it proudly serves almost a thousand students and also includes both boys’ and girls’ dormitories as well as a kindergarten. The Miskolc-Avas parish, which is located right next to the school, is also run by the Jesuits. Miskolc is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Jesuit communities in Hungary, making it a place where faith, community, and education all come together.

The mission of the school is to educate individuals dedicated to serving others. Drawing from the Gospel and the spiritual heritage of St Ignatius, it prepares young people for adult life by leading them to Jesus, challenging them, and standing by them to offer support and encouragement.

At the Mass held in the schoolyard, Archbishop Csaba Ternyák of Eger emphasized that the school has an influence that extends not only over Miskolc, but across the entire diocese – and even beyond.

Fr Arturo Sosa, in his homily, reflected on the transformations of St Paul and St Ignatius of Loyola. Both sought meaning and discovered it through a personal encounter with the Risen Christ, rather than through theory or doctrine. “This is the secret of Jesuit education”, Father General emphasized, “that human excellence requires a spiritual foundation that offers meaning and strength.”

He congratulated the students and teachers on the school’s excellent academic performance, which requires dedication and hard work. However, he added, “excellence in academics must be obtained in the context of human excellence, that is, an excellence that helps us to become persons for and with others; an education that not only forms the mind but also the heart and the soul.”

In his speech, Ferenc Holczinger, SJ, the principal of the school, thanked the teachers and staff for their dedication in shaping both the minds and hearts of the students. Speaking about the students, he said they are the heart of the school – their talent, curiosity, and commitment are a daily source of inspiration.

After the Mass, Father General met with students from the school’s Ember spiritual group. The young people shared how they participate in spiritual work, how they guide other youth, and how much the programs and retreats – organized in a house in the nearby Bükk Mountains – mean to them. They spoke with Father General about prayer, peace, and their connections with other Jesuit schools. Afterward, the students gave the guests a tour of the school.

In the afternoon, Father General met with the teachers of the school. He quoted the late Pope Francis, who called leading by example the best educational method: “Calling our students to become persons for others means to become ourselves persons for and with others.” This means being able to transform the idea of personal success into a sense of communal responsibility.

Fr Sosa also emphasized that Jesuit education requires constant discernment and renewal. “Our tradition does not compel us to just repeat the past; on the contrary, it compels us always to maintain our eyes wide open to see how God is working in the world and what adjustments and changes we need to continue offering good education in the changing contexts.” In response to a question, he identified personal care and attention as one of the strongest elements of the Jesuit tradition, and stressed the importance of young people experiencing that cooperating with one another is essential.

He expressed gratitude to the teachers for their work and commitment in accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future. He also highlighted the crucial role of lay teachers – particularly women – without whom Jesuit schools today are unable to continue their mission.