The Xth World Congress of World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA) was held from 13-17 July 2022 at Barcelona, Spain and hosted by the Sarrià-Sant Ignasi Alumni Association. It was a meeting addressed to all Jesuit Alumni around the world and to the Ignatian Community, to raise awareness of the potential Jesuit Alumni/ae have, as a global network, to promote a shared mission and build a more just and sustainable society with the motto “Values unite us, the future moves us”. The major objective and main attraction of the event was to debate under the guidance of experts, academics and the Society of Jesus in an open, multicultural, and diverse way, the great problems of our time: migrants and their forced migration in many regions of the world, religions as meeting points between peoples, technology and social innovation as elements of social transformation, the role and value of women in different countries in today’s society and the promotion of ecology and environment in our common future.

Despite the global uncertainties in which the world is immersed currently, around 500 delegates participated in the congress from all part of the globe with 30 % of international attendees, 20 % European and 50 % Spanish and young people accounted for 40 % of them which was very encouraging. Indian delegation comprising of 27 people (11 Jesuit Priests, 13 Jesuit Alumni/ae and 3 accompanying person) was perhaps the second largest delegation after Indonesian delegation which comprised of 39 people. The complete list of Indian delegation is available on the last page are former students, we know Ignatian values well, since this is not always the case.

Our values should direct us to be people for others, as Fr. Pedro Arrupe pointed out years ago, and conscientious, competent, compassionate and committed people, in the words of Fr. Kolvenbach “We are invited in this universal community to rethink our contribution based on Ignatian values for the future”, said the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Spain, and “it is important to be able to do it together, knowing that we are not alone”. The president of the Congress, Francisco Guarner, expressed at the end of the celebration the desire to work these days of meeting in this direction, listening and sharing, being united from diversity and taking a step forward towards this future.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022; the opening Eucharist was celebrated in the Basilica of Santa María del Mar. The celebration was attended by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa SJ, as well as the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Spain, Fr. Antonio España SJ. Along with them, various concelebrants, such as Fr. José Alberto Mesa SJ, Secretary of Education of the Society of Jesus; William Muller SJ, chaplain of WUJA; Fr. Enric Puiggròs SJ, delegate of the Apostolic Platform of Catalonia; as well as the rector of the Basilica of Santa María del Mar, Mn. Salvador Pie i Ninot. In his homily, Fr. Antonio España SJ wanted to point out three fundamental aspects that should guide the Congress: the community, Ignatian values and looking to the future. In our world today, he has said, in which we face such complex challenges, we can be overwhelmed by silence, fear or loneliness.

Given this, we must ask ourselves what we can offer others to build a new community. He has also warned that we cannot assume that because we are former students, we know Ignatian values well, since this is not always the case. Our values should direct us to be people for others, as Fr. Pedro Arrupe pointed out years ago, and conscientious, competent, compassionate and committed people, in the words of Fr. Kolvenbach “We are invited in this universal community to rethink our contribution based on Ignatian values for the future”, said the Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Spain, and “it is important to be able to do it together, knowing that we are not alone”. The president of the Congress, Francisco Guarner, expressed at the end of the celebration the desire to work these days of meeting in this direction, listening and sharing, being united from diversity and taking a step forward towards this future.

Before the opening Eucharist, the general assembly of WUJA was convened in which new WUJA Executive Committee and Council members were nominated and elected. Shri Fransicco Guarner was elected as the new President of WUJA. Shri Naresh Kumar Gupta from India was elected as the Vice-President of WUJA. Shri Andres Ballerino Moeller from Ecuador was elected as the Secretary and Shri Dave Clifford was elected as the Treasurer of WUJA. Other WUJA Council members elected were Shri Jean-Baptiste Ndundu Nsituvila (Africa), Shri Elman Sunarlio (East Asia), Shri Eve Bonello Borg & Shri Sebastian Schindler (Europe), Luis Gabriel Calderon Sanchez & Silvio Piza (Latin America), Frank Brady (North America), Andrew Horsley (Australia) and Dr. Devendra Singh & Shri Pradeep Kumar Madhavan (South Asia).

Various constitution amendment proposals were also discussed. Some constitution amendment proposal passed includes the proposal sent by JAAI regarding allowing a person to be elected to the same office of WUJA Council for a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.
In the evening, official opening reception with cocktails and tapas was organized at Palau Requesens.

The second day i.e. Thursday, the July 14, 2022 was started with an ordinary eucharist. During the opening session of WUJA Congress, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa SJ encouraged all former students of Jesuit schools around the world to be partners in the mission of reconciliation and justice in today’s world. Fr. Sosa, who introduced himself as a former student of the San Ignacio de Caracas school, recalled the words of the historic speech delivered in 1973 by the then Fr. General Pedro Arrupe, when he summed up the purpose of Jesuit education as to become people for others.

In this line, he has claimed the impulse that Arrupe’s legacy has given to the path of educating for justice and for the construction of more fraternal societies, and has encouraged the educational institutions of the Society of Jesus “to innovate without fear and re-imagine the methods that allow the new generations to recognize and face the new challenges with an eye on the future”. In his speech, the father Superior General made reference to the current context, pointing out that we find ourselves with a humanity that is wounded, exhausted,often without hope, and affected by the ecological crisis. That is why he has insisted that the commitment to justice must necessarily also be a commitment to Creation, in line with the ecological conversion that Pope Francis asks of us. And this, he said, goes beyond individual effort, since it is also a community conversion that requires constituting ourselves and recognizing ourselves in a “we” as humanity. There is no better way to thank the quality of the education received than to share it with others and work so that all people can access quality education”, he stated, recalling the need to work especially in favor of the most vulnerable people.

Throughout his speech, Fr. Arturo Sosa also spoken of the shared mission between Jesuits and all the people who are part of the institutions of the Society of Jesus. “The opportunity to work with many other people has enriched our works, has promoted them and made them better,” he assured. “This collaboration is already a key dimension of our identity.” That is why he has encouraged former students to join this collaboration, welcoming the universal apostolic preferences of the Society of Jesus. And he has especially asked for a greater effort to promote networking and to incorporate the youngest and especially former students, to enrich local and international associations.

Fr. General wanted to have a meeting with about sixty young participants in the Congress. In dialogue with them, and in response to their questions, he has asked them to be active and creative, not to be afraid and to put forward proposals to find meeting and collaboration spaces.

Next, the Congress has had the participation of Mary Evelyn Tucker, professor at Yale University. The teacher spoke about spirituality, ecology and ecological justice for our time. She spoke of the intimate relationship between spirituality and ecology and how they interrelate. Professor Tucker spoke of Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit mystic very devoted to spirituality and the relationship between human beings and nature.; by Thomas Berry, a priest who also specializes in these matters, and by other authors. In her presentation, the professor recalled that we are interconnected with our environment and encouraged those present to take care of this aspect of our spirituality.

For the second presentation of the morning, on migration, the congress featured Cristina Manzanedo, lawyer and expert in migration and asylum. She spoke about the importance of working for the full and effective inclusion of migrants. “We should rethink the issue of integration very well”, reflected Cristina, and warned that it is not easy to manage. She also added that a diverse society is a richer society.

The last presentation of the day was given by Nuria Calduch, an expert in Sacred Scripture and Professor of Old Testament at the Gregorian University of Rome, who spoke about the relationship between Woman-Church-World. “Talking about women is a challenge today,” she began. Through a historical journey, Professor Calduch reflected on the different initiatives that have been given to study the role of women in the Bible. “There is a long way to go,” explained the speaker.

To end the day, the participants were able to divide into thematic groups to reflect on the different topics covered in the presentations. In addition, they were able to visit some social projects of the Society of Jesus in Barcelona.

In the evening, a memorable get-together of Indian Delegates to X WUJA Congress held at Indian Curry House (a restaurant run by Indians) with cocktails & dinner to celebrate the victory of Shri Naresh Kumar Gupta as the Vice-President of WUJA and election of Dr. Devendra Singh and Er. Pradeep Kumar Madhavan to the governing council of WUJA. It was an evening filled with melodious voice and lively performance by the delegates and sumptuous Indian food also made the evening wonderful. The event was sponsored by Shri Naresh Gupta, Dr Devendra Singh, Er. Pradeep Kumar Madhavan, CA S. Chenthil Kumar and Er. Neel Mani Rangesh.

The third day i.e. Friday, the July 15, 2022 was a day full of conferences and moments that have served the participants to reflect on the role of an alumni of the Society of Jesus in the world. All the members of Indian delegation were in regional attire with tri-colour Stoll and sang together the National Anthem on the Main Stage.

The morning began, after the Eucharist, with a speech by Albert Florensa, emeritus professor at the Ramón Llull University of Barcelona, philosopher and technical engineer. Florensa reflected on the role of technology in our lives and that it is very difficult for us to separate ourselves from technology. “Technical progress often poses more difficult problems than it solves,” he warned. It was also an invitation to think of technology as a problem solver with the least possible impact.

Fr. Laurent Basanese, SJ, Holy See Officer for Islam and Professor of Theology of Religions at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome encouraged us to see the transforming and reconciling potential of religions in the 21st century. As Christians, the Jesuit considered, we are called not only to respect others in their traditions and beliefs, but also to meet them as equals, promoting a culture of dialogue.

Lisa Hederberger, a professor at the ESADE Business School, placed her talk within the framework of the need to make investments that have an impact on people’s lives. The social economy today needs new leadership to help create a fairer society.

The Secretary of Education of the Society of Jesus, José Alberto Mesa, SJ, spoke to the participants about the great educational network around the world that the Jesuits maintain. More than 2000 schools between their own and educational networks such as Fe y Alegría or the Jesuit Refugee Service. “Jesuit schools do not have to be a museum of education, but a place where we respond in new ways,” he said. And encouraged to launch the full potential of the educational network.

Chris Loweney, the last of the day’s speakers, spoke precisely in this line of exploiting the potential of the global educational network of the Society of Jesus. He helped the congressmen to reflect on the different situations that exist in schools around the world, where some have a more privileged position, while others have greater difficulties: “If some were more aware of the difficulties of others, it would not cost them nothing to help solve their problems,” he said. And he added: Will the sleeping giant wake up? Imagine the capacity that the WUJA would have if we could mobilize a small percentage of the 10 million alumni around the world.”

With these ideas in their hearts and minds, the attendees were able to divide again for the reflection and sharing workshops. They were also able to enjoy an afternoon walking around the city and learning about the different projects of the Society of Jesus in Barcelona. Later in the evening, a guided tour of Ignatian Route in Barcelona was also organized for the attendees through Casp Jesuits church, Plaza de Sant Agustí Vell, Marcus chapel, Plaza de la Llana, Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, Plaza del Angel, Plaza de los Santos Just i Pastor, Royal Chapel of Palau and the Cathedral.

In the evening, official congress dinner (cocktails & tapas) was held in the gardens of San Ignacio school, Sarria, Barcelona.

The fourth day i.e. Saturday, the July 16, 2022 and last full day at the X Congress of WUJA, like every day, began with a Eucharist at the San Ignacio school in Barcelona, the venue for the event. The day and its talks have as a common thread the need for community and networking. In a way, they were the continuation of yesterday’s session, in which the importance of exploiting the potential of the WUJA Network was discussed. The first of the talks was given by Sabrina Burgos, Director of New Frontiers and Public Action at Fe y Alegría Colombia, speaking about building community. “We have to learn to function as a collective body to transform reality and give a voice to those who are in silence,” he said. And also sent a message to young people “they have the right to complain, but they also have the right to make proposals for change”, in reference to the fact that the complaint by itself does not contribute much, if one does not get to work.

Daniel Villanueva SJ, Vice President of Entreculturas, continued in the wake of Sabrina by sharing his vision of the International Jesuit Global Network. Dozens of networks that build and work with each other. Paraphrasing Father Adolfo Nicolás, 30th General of the Society of Jesus, Villanueva has recalled that it is not about creating more structures, but about whether the structures serve to serve more. It has encouraged us to continue building a network that responds to the mission we want to carry out.

The morning ended with a space for reflection, animated by Antonio Allende, SJ, Delegate for Education of the Province of Spain. Through a chronological review, the Jesuit helped the assembly to see what moments of strength have been experienced these days. After a moment of reflection and silence, the participants were able to make their proposals and ideas for a better functioning of the WUJA.

In the afternoon, Fr. Jean-Paul Hernández, SJ, an expert in art and theology, gave a brief historical and artistic introduction to the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, which congress attendees visited at the end of the afternoon. An exhaustive presentation on the architecture brilliance of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia was given inside the building during private visit of the monument was arranged for the participants.

The fifth and the last day i.e. Sunday, the July 17, 2022 started with the closing eucharist at the Chapel, Sant Ignasi School. During the last session of the X WUJA Congress – Barcelona 2022, the assembled assembly reached the following resolutions. They urge the new WUJA teams to work to carry them out or start working on them until the next congress, to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, in 2025.

Following resolutions were adopted in the last session

Resolution #1
Recognizes the richness of the contribution of the large group of young participants who wish to join this international network, which they make their own. Also recognizes that there is still much work to be done to integrate so many young people who leave Jesuit educational institutions.

Resolution #2
Urges the World Union Council to find ways of organizing the time between Congresses to allow local associations and the World Union itself to reach their networking potential, so that “the giant awakens”. Recommends in this regard that some sort of follow-up model be used, which leads to a process rather than a new structure. Recommends to use the working method of the international network of Jesuit schools (Educate Magis) and the communication platform it has set up.

Resolution #3
Recognizes that the great possibilities for collaboration and work among alumni derive from the strength of the local associations of each educational institution and, at the same time, from the sense of belonging to a wider identity. Also encourages all local associations and national federations to welcome in groups of various kinds alumni from other Jesuit institutions around the world who, for personal or professional reasons, are in their geographical area.

Resolution #4
Believes that the dynamic of work in the creation of an effective international network comes more from the initiatives of associations or groups of alumni at the local level that federate at the grassroots level around common projects than from instructions that come from the top (“Grass root movement”).

Resolution #5
Confirms, in line with the first Universal Apostolic Preference, that the best tool for personal and community transformation remains the Spiritual Exercises and encourages all former students to experience them in all their forms.

Resolution #6
Encourages the continuation of the Barcelona 2022 spirit of contemplation of reality, rigorous reflection in prayer and discernment leading to commitment.

Resolution #7
Thanks Father General Arturo Sosa SJ for his presence at the Congress and for his enthusiastic, demanding and inspiring message, and assures him of his support in carrying out his mission and of his availability for any task he would like to entrust to the former students.

Resolution #8
Assures Francis, Bishop of Rome, of his affection and support for his efforts to reform the Church to make it more faithful to the Gospel, in particular by refocusing it on the love and mercy of God, with concern for the poor and marginalized by going beyond and accomplishing the work of God (la iglesia en salida), meeting people where they are, by giving the laity, especially women and young people, a place worthy of what they can contribute to evangelisation.

Resolution #9
Thanks, the organisers of the Congress and all their teams for their rigorous preparation and flawless execution, which contributed to its success, both in terms of content and the atmosphere of fraternity that prevailed.
In addition, Resolution #10 was passed: Special thanks from the WUJA Council to outgoing President Alain Deneef for his tireless work over the last nine years leading the World Union of Jesuit Alumni

Indian Delegation to X WUJA Congress:
1. Er. Neel Mani Rangesh
2. Dr. Devendra Singh
3. Er. Pradeep Kumar Madhavan
4. Mr. Ronald D’Costa
5. Mr. Krishna Kumar Vijh
6. Mr. Himalaya Indraprasth
7. Dr. Pooja
8. Dr. Sharda Singh
9. Mrs. Ayurshi Sahay
10. Dr. Sant Kumar Prasad
11. Mr. Antony Stephen
12. Dr. N. Maria Das
13. Dr. Kailash P Dubey
14. Mrs. Nutan Vijh
15. Mrs. Dalbir Kaur
16. Ms. Bibiyana Ekka
17. Fr. Alex Ekka SJ
18. Fr. Ignatius Lakra SJ
19. Fr. Florence Kujur SJ
20. Fr. Manohar Khoya SJ
21. Fr. J M Kujur SJ
22. Fr. Stanley Varghese SJ
23. Fr. Santy SJ
24. Fr. Evarist Newnes SJ
25. Fr. Victor Misquith SJ
26. Fr. Pius Fernandes SJ
27. Fr. Bujji Babu SJ

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 Report on X Congress of World Union of Jesuit Alumnae - Neel Mani Rangesh, Secretary, JAAI