JESUIT
HOME PAGE


HISTORY AND
SPIRITUALITY


WORKS


PUBLICATIONS


VOCATIONS


JESUIT
WEB PAGES


RELIGION LINKS


JUSTICE LINKS


E-MAIL US !

The Australian Jesuits

The Jesuits (Society of Jesus) are a Christian religious order within the Catholic Church with ministries and communities throughout the world. The Australian Jesuits are involved in social justice and welfare, in education, in media and publishing, in spirituality and pastoral work.

The Loyola Institute
(A Centre for Ignatian Formation
and Educational Leadership)

1. Statement of Purpose
   
2. Aim
   
3. Board
   
4. Leadership and Management
   
5. Funding
   
6. Location
   
7. Evaluation
   

A. Statement of Purpose

The Australian Province of the Society of Jesus considers an urgent work of the Society to be the sharing of Ignatian formation and way of proceeding with all those who participate in and collaborate with the works of the Society. With a view to creating the means and climate for such ongoing formation in the Ignatian tradition, the Loyola Institute is to be established.

Ignatius' reflections on his own life gave rise to his particular spirituality - a spirituality which was, in fact, a lay spirituality where he sought to discern the connectedness of things: how humankind, the creation and God are in relationship. This particular spirituality shaped Ignatius' own way of finding and serving God. For Jesuits, this spirituality informs the way that individual apostolates, especially the education ministry, is approached. In the schools it gives rise to a certain "pedagogy" which is much more than simply a practical manual or repertoire of techniques. It is an educational approach which embraces a philosophy, a view of the human person and a relationship of means to ends that distinguishes an Ignatian "style".

For schools to remain true to the Ignatian charism, these two strands - spirituality and pedagogy - should underpin all aspects of the education ministry. Together they constitute what Ignatius himself referred to as "our way of proceeding".

The Institute will develop, foster and research the means, processes, programmes and procedures for transmitting and embedding the Ignatian charism and way of proceeding among the Society's lay partners in the work and mission of the Society.

B. Aim

The Institute will promote Ignatian Spirituality and Pedagogy for

1. Members of Council of Jesuit Schools.
2. Administrators and Teachers in Jesuit and Ignatian Schools. (Ignatian Schools are those which, though not owned or administered by the Society, have appropriated the Ignatian charism and style.)
3. Members of Councils or Boards of other Jesuit works, as appropriate.

• at the Inter-Provincial Level
  • liaising with similar bodies in other Provinces;
  • acting as a clearinghouse for materials and resources on ignatian pedagogy and spirituality (as it applies to the educational apostolate);
  • coordinating interprovincial teacher exchanges;
  • working with neighbouring Provinces on Assistancy programmes and projects;
    
    
• at the Provincial Level
  • liaising in partnership with local "ignatianisers" appointed in each school who extend the Institute into the schools;
  • organising inservice programmes and conferences, including the Colloquium;
  • encouraging reflection and writing on issues to do with ignatian pedagogy and spirituality;
  • developing an induction programme for new members of staff and Councils, which schools (or combinations of schools) would be able to adapt/use;
  • coordinating national school events (sporting or cultural, leadership training);
  • coordinating teacher exchanges within the Province;
  • engaging in matters to do with religious education (inservicing, sharing programmes and units, reflection on curriculum);
  • assisting in maintaining a Province education homepage;
    
    
• at the School/Council Level
  • assisting to assess the needs of the individual schools in spirituality and pedagogy;
  • transmitting Jesuit culture, sharing the story ("our way of proceeding");
  • promoting parental education and formation in the Ignatian tradition and spirituality.

To the top.

C. Board

A governing Board will be appointed by the Provincial for a term of three years in the first instance and will be responsible to him. The Board's relationship to individual School Councils is through the Provincial Assistant for Schools and the Provincial.

The Board will consist of at least five members, including the Provincial Assistant for Schools (Chair), the Director of the Institute (CEO) and at least three other Members.

The Board will meet three times each year.

D. Leadership and Management

1 Interim Board

An Interim Board will be established by the Provincial consisting of Fr Ross Jones (Chair), Mrs Josephine Lonergan, Sr Margaret Beirne RSC, Frs Christopher Gleeson and A V Smith.

The Interim Board will be responsible for elaborating upon the initial establishment Guidelines, determining a business plan and budget, arranging the advertising of the Director's position, conducting interviews of the applicants, and forwarding all these recommendations to the Provincial.

2 Institute Staffing

Leadership and management of the Institute will be undertaken by a full-time Director and three part-time Jesuits (Frs Gerald Coleman, Michael Stoney and Br Ian Cribb).

It is expected that the Director will have a strong spirituality, with a substantial grasp of ignatian spirituality in particular. An understanding of the Society's history and ignatian pedagogy are likewise important. He or she will have had experience in schools within the ignatian tradition. The Director must be a good presenter, manager and team player. Skills in research and writing to develop programmes are essential. Qualifications which included theology and/or educational leadership would be an advantage.

The Director will have the assistance of a Secretary, who will also be a personal assistant, with some research skills.

3 Appointment

The Director's position will be advertised. Copies of the advertisement will be sent to equivalent "Jesuit Education Offices" in other English-speaking Provinces.

The Director will be appointed initially for a period between three and five years. Depending upon appraisal, that term may be renewed.

To the top.

E. Funding

Funding of the Institute will be undertaken jointly and equally by the Province and the four Jesuit Schools.

Initially, there will be no contribution or affiliation fee from the Ignatian Schools or other Province Councils or Boards who wish to avail themselves of the services of the Institute. However, there will be a "user pays" approach to these bodies who wish to utilise or participate in the Insitute's productions or programmes. After the Institute becomes established with a proven record of quality initiatives, the possibility of an affiliation fee may be considered.

F. Location

The Institute will be located in Sydney and based at Canisius College (the Province's novitiate, tertianhip and retreat house) at Pymble. Three rooms have been designated for this purpose. The national CLC office will also be located on this floor. Canisius College has facilities for retreats and conferences, but it is also anticipated that the Institute would take programmes to other venues.

G. Evaluation

There will be annual reviews of the Institute and its Director carried out by the Board. Before the end of the third year there will be a full external review. This final review will determine the future direction of the Institute.

To the top.

For more information about the position of Director, email Fr Ross Jones ross.jones@jesuit.org.au

To the Jesuits Home Page ...