From the 18th to the 27th of December 2017, 33 scholastics and brothers in formation from the Asia Pacific region gathered on the campus of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu for the annual SBC (Scholastics and Brothers’ Circle) workshop. The workshop was graciously hosted by Fr. Manny Uy SJ, the SHS-AdC School President, who was present every single day to ensure that the event proceeded smoothly and that the participants were well taken care of.
Also present were Fr. Tony Moreno SJ, Jesuit Asia Pacific Conference President, and Fr. Riyo Mursanto SJ, Rector of Arrupe International Residence.
This year, the selected theme was Jesuit education, and Fr. Johnny Go SJ, the Asia Pacific Conference Secretary for Basic Education, was invited to be the facilitator. The workshop, called “Re-Imagining Jesuit Education,” was designed as a response to Fr. General Arturo Sosa’s call at the recently held JESEDU-Rio2017, where he invited Ignatian educators everywhere to a renewal of Jesuit education.
Session with Fr. Johnny
The scholastics and brothers, some of who have not had any experience studying or working in a Jesuit school, were given the chance to appreciate the history and tradition of Jesuit education, as well as to understand the 4 Cs and even to try using Ignatian Pedagogy as a design process. Technology was also embedded in the entire workshop to offer them a chance to experience learning in a technology-integrated environment.
After the simple graduation rites
The workshop was an opportunity to step back and appreciate the bigger picture of the Society of Jesus in Asia Pacific. An evening of dialogue with the Asia Pacific Conference President, Fr. Tony Moreno SJ, certainly shed a lot of light and enabled the young Jesuits to see beyond their own regions and provinces. But just as importantly, the opportunity to make friends with brother Jesuits from the region made the gathering a most unforgettable one and will prove to be valuable when these young Jesuits strive to collaborate and strengthen regional networks in the future.
A bonus offered at this workshop was the panel discussion and sharing from Jesuit educational leaders featuring Frs. Manny, Riyo, and Tony–all of whom have served in various leadership capacities in the Society, as well as a sharing via Skype from Fr. Joseph Haw SJ from Ateneo de Iloilo-Sta. Maria Catholic School. The wisdom accumulated from their collective years of experience both enlightened and inspired the participants.
Frs. Riyo, Tony, and Manny share about their leadership experiences in schools, among others.
But it wasn’t all work for the workshop participants. No one celebrates Christmas like the Filipinos–and our Cebuano hosts and benefactors must have outdone everyone else, treating us to their world-famous hospitality, their one-of-a-kind lechon (roasted pig), and of course, the unforgettable experience of swimming with butandings (whale sharks!).
Thanks once again to Fr. Manny Uy SJ and the SHS-AdC community for an unforgettable SBC experience. Congratulations especially to Chinh Tran SJ, SBC President, and the core team that worked very hard for the SBC workshop! AMDG.
Let the participants and pictures speak for themselves!
Images courtesy of Yoon Hoo SJ.
Video from IMC (Ignatius Media Communications)
