THE TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF JESUIT EDUCATORS OF SOUTH ASIA

The Jesuit Council of South Asia (JCSA) invited me as the President of Federation of Jesuit Alumni/ae Associations of India (JAAI) to Chair the Inaugural Session of the four day event held at Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 6th to 9th October 2017; and to share my experience and views on Collaboration and Networking in an exclusive session on the 3rd day of the Conference.

Amongst the luminaries were Jesuit Provincial for South Asia Fr. George Pattery SJ, the Global Jesuut Secretary for Senior Secondary Education Fr. Jose Alberto Messa SJ, the South Asia Education Secretary Fr. Sunny Jacob SJ, the Vice Chancellor of Xavier University Bhubaneswar Fr. Paul Fernandes SJ, and around 260 Principals, Directors, HeadMasters, Headmistresses and Sisters of Jesuit Schools of South Asia.

On 8th October, I as the JAAI President and Mr. Ronald D'Costa (former JAAI President) made presentations before the Triennial Conference of Jesuit Educators of South Asia Assistancy.

My presentation covered the aspects of possibilities, methodologies and impact of Collaboration between Alumni Bodies and Jesuit Institutions. Mr. Ronald D'Costa made an impressive presentation on the need, uses and furtherence of Networking between various stakeholders to fortify the Ignatian Value System and deliver its benefits to the Institutions, current students, Jesuits and the communities at large.

Both speakers shared a variety of rich experiences and several success stories.

At the end of the session, many Jesuit Fathers asked questions, sought clarifications and spelt out their expectations and concerns. All interventions were suitably addressed and responded to by me and Mr. Ronald.

The two hour session was chaired by Rev. Fr. PJ James SJ.

POSA Rev. Fr. George Pattery SJ summed-up the session with his rich and vast experiences and based on the proceedings of the session.

The highlight of the session was that at the end, all institutions which do not have alumni associations were invoked to initiate one, ASAP.

I trust we should be having positive results percolating in due course of time.

JAAI Ho !!!

Dr. Devendra Singh

National President, JAAI