Course on Identity and Mission of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions
The Canisius Formation
The Kircher Network’s Formation course on Identity and Mission of Jesuit higher education institutions – The Canisius Formation – is an introductory immersion experience for faculty and staff of the Kircher Network member institutions who want to gain a foundation in Ignatian identity and spirituality and Jesuit higher education mission.
Through the course, participants obtain a foundation in Ignatian identity, spirituality and mission; gain a foundation in the core characteristics of Jesuit higher education; and develop a sense of belonging to a European and global Ignatian community with a mission beyond the university/centre.
Speakers
José García de Castro, SJ.; John Dardis, SJ.; Gonzalo Villagrán SJ.; Joseph F. Mària, SJ.; Patrick Goujon, SJ.; Joseph Christie, SJ.; David McCallum, SJ.; Carlos Losada; Philip Geister, SJ.; and Susana Di Trolio.
Methodology
The course seeks to be an integral experience comprising intellectual, interiority and relational approaches. Through the course, the participants will be invited to rediscover their jobs as a chance to contribute to the mission of Jesuit higher education.
This experiential approach follows the best tradition of Ignatian Pedagogy. The course combines three-day in-person sessions in Vienna with three online meetings. Distinguished experts will give lectures and lead discussions with participants in Ignatian spirituality, Jesuit mission, Jesuit networks and Ignatian Leadership.
The course will include readings and materials, all of which will be available on the webpage. Participants will have time for reading and in-group discussion during the course.
Location of the in-person sessions
Kardinal König Haus. Kardinal-König-Platz 3, 1130 Vienna, Austria.
Location of the on-line sessions
Pre-session – Introductory webinar
Date: Sept 5th 2024, 9:30 am – 11:00 am (CET) | Link to the session
Follow-up webinars on Ignatian Leadership
“From professorship to leading a higher education organization.” Dr. Carlos Losada | Date: Nov 11th 2024, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CET | Link to the session
“Discernment leadership in Jesuit higher education” David McCallum, SJ. | Date: Nov 18th 2024, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CET | Link to the session
| An invitation to a networking formation experience in Jesuit Higher Education
Author: Bruno Klomfar
Course Elements
Pilot experience and nominating process
The Kircher Network seeks to offer the course every year to the faculty and staff of Jesuit institutions in Europe and Lebanon. The first edition of the course will be a pilot experience with a small cohort of participants nominated by the institutions. The deadline for nominating participants is the 29th of February, 2024. Institutions should send their candidates’ names and email addresses to kirchernetwork@jesuits.eu
Who was Peter Canisius?
Peter Canisius (Nijmegen 1521-Friburg 1597) studied at the University of Cologne, where he met Peter Faber, one of St. Ignatius’ first companions. While in Cologne, he did the spiritual exercises with Peter Faber. As a result, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1543, being the first Dutchman to become a Jesuit. He was the first Provincial of the Province of Germany of the Society of Jesus. He was sent to Vienna as superior of the Jesuit community in 1553 following the death of Claud Jay. As the main line of his pastoral strategy, following the demand of King Ferdinand I, Peter Canisius wanted to invigorate the University of Vienna and make it attractive by appointing professors who could apply Jesuit teaching methods and through the good example of successful Jesuit scholars. He was also named a member of the university reform commission. In 1562, he founded an institution that would later become the University of Innsbruck.
COURSE ELEMENTS
Course Components
Key moments in the life of Ignatius of Loyola as a reference
The Jesuit understanding of the mission and core characteristics of higher education institutions
The Jesuit higher education network ecosystem
Key elements of the Ignatian Leadership approach
COURSE ELEMENTS
Program
Donwload the program of the course here.
Course Elements
Materials
We are working on the materials.
- General informatoin
- Pre-session Webinar (Introductory)
- Session 1
- Session 2
- Session 3
- Session 4
- Session 5
- Post-session Webinar
Find a short description of each session, a mind map and the materials.
Presentation of the participants, the facilitators, the President and the Executive Secretary of the Kircher Network. A brief introduction to the formation session and the Kircher Network.
Date: pending confirmation
Title and speaker
Ignatius until he arrives in Rome. Reflecting on one’s vocation/purpose | José García de Castro, SJ.
Short description
The speaker will help draw experiences from Ignatius of Loyola’s life that can enrich the participants’ lives and professional vocation.
Mind map
Suggested readings
Guidelines for the readings
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Title and speaker
Ignatius as a General in Rome. Developing our vocation/purpose in institutions | Patrick Goujon SJ
Short description
The speaker will point out lessons from Ignatius of Loyola´s experiences as General of the Society of Jesus in Rome that could help the participants to understand their work in their institutions.
Mind map
Suggested readings
Guidelines for the readings
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Title and speaker
The mission of the Society of Jesus and the contribution of Jesuit Higher Education | Gonzalo Villagrán SJ., and Pep Mària SJ.
Short description
To further understand how the mission of the Society and the mission of the University are connected.
Mind map
Suggested readings
Guidelines for the redings
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Title:
Teaching Research and Management in a University: Ignatian Keys
Short description
To offer the participants some key elements about the Society’s way of proceeding in teaching, researching (knowledge transfer) and management.
Mind map
Suggested readings
Guidelines for the readings
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Title:
Jesuit Higher Education Networking: The International Association of Jesuit Universities and the Kircher Network | Joseph Christie, SJ., Philip Geister, SJ., and Susana Di Trolio
Short description
To get to know the Jesuit university networks and their present initiatives as opportunities for developing their professional vocation and work within the universities and centres.
Mind map
Suggested readings
Guidelines for the readings
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Title:
What is Ignatian leadership? What are the elements of Ignatian leadership?
Speakers: Carlos Losada and David McCallum SJ.
Two sessions: (Dates pending confirmation)
November 11th, 2:00 pm – Carlos Losada
November 18th, 2:00 pm – David McCallum
Practical information
three-day in-person sessions
October 28, 29 and 30
Arrival Oct 27 | Departure Oct 31
ACCOMMODATION AND COURSE LOCATION
Kardinal König Haus. Kardinal-König-Platz 3, 1130 Vienna, Austria.
online sessions
Pre-session – Introductory webinar | Date: Sept 5th 2024, 9:30 am – 11:00 am (CET)
Follow-up webinars on Ignatian Leadership
“From professorship to leading a higher education organization.”Dr. Carlos Losada | Date: Nov 11th 2024, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CET
“Discernment leadership in Jesuit higher education” David McCallum, SJ. | Date: Nov 18th 2024, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm CET
Contact
Don’t be shy. Let us know if you have any questions!
Our Newsletter
Don’t miss all the updates from the Kircher Network.
Participants
Coordinating team
The course has been organized by a team of people working in Jesuit institutions (Gonzalo Villagrán, SJ., Lidia Fioravanti, and Pep Mària, SJ.) with the support of the Kircher Network’s Executive Secretary, Susana Di Trolio. The organizers will always accompany participants and moderate the sessions.
