CHALLENGES AND ISSUES IN JESUIT EDUCATION
(Keynote Address of ARPN Adolfo Nicolas, SJ,
Superior General, Society of Jesus)
On the Occasion of the 150th Anniversary
Of Jesuit Education in the Philippines
Irwin Theater, Ateneo de Manila University
13 July 2009
(Text Courtesy of Fr. Danny Huang SJ and Fr. Jojo Magadia, SJ)
INTRODUCTION
(1) I am delighted to be with you this morning, as we celebrate together the gift of a hundred and fifty years of Jesuit education in the Philippines. There is so much to be grateful for. There has been amazing growth, from the tiny Ateneo Municipal of 33 students in 1859, to the nine institutions which now comprise the Jesuit Educational Association and which have educated hundreds of thousands of students over these years. We have been blessed with outstanding students who have truly made a difference, among whom I need only mention the most famous, your national hero, José Rizal; through him and so many others, Jesuit education has been such a force for good in this country. And of course, we cannot but be grateful for the many gifted and generous Jesuits and co-workers and companions who have served together over this century and a half, of whom you are the present-day representatives. We thank the Lord together; but today, allow me to begin by congratulating and thanking you all, in the name of the entire Society of Jesus.