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There was a packed timetable with a mixture of educational, fun and contemplative activities. The pupils received special input from Lynn McWilliams of Jesuit Missions, including an assembly about the Jesuit Missions campaign for justice for Fr Stan Swarmy SJ who died while wrongfully imprisoned as a result of his work advocating for Adivasi and Dalit people in India. There was also a workshop where pupils became ‘Justice Detectives’ researching about minerals, water, energy and waste justice.
Other sessions explored what a Jubilee year meant, looking at the symbol for the Jubilee Year and the Jubilee year Mascot (Luce), and the participants discovered what Holy Doors are for. There were presentations from each school about how the Jubilee Year is being celebrated in their school. This includes everything from special prayer services to sponsored walks.
There were plenty of fun activities for the young conference participants too. They enjoyed sport, various games and even themed baking of cookies in the shape of anchors and crosses! Maria Neal led a session of Godly Play (this is a method of facilitating prayer with groups which incorporates playful and creative elements such as objects and storytelling, ideal for children to help bring prayer and Gospel stories alive).
In the evening, the Year 6 pupils joined a video call to connect virtually with older students at St Ignatius College (Enfield) who are taking part in a sponsored sleep out for the homeless. They also celebrated night prayer, which included a reflection from the passage from St Luke relating to jubilee (Luke 4: 16-22).
After enjoying a good night’s sleep in the boarding house, the group went on a Pilgrimage walk, and the event finished with a special Mass bringing together all the learning and experiences from Ignite.
In their feedback, pupils spoke about how much they had enjoyed the conference. Besides the excitement of being away from home and enjoying the games and other activities, they highlighted the importance of the experience of feeling independent, making friends with pupils from other schools and finding a closer connection to God. One pupil commented on having a new understanding of ‘not just saying something but doing it’, or as St Ignatius of Loyola said, ‘Love is shown more in deeds than in words.’
Maria Neal, Schols Officer
The Jesuit Institute works with the ten Jesuit schools in Britain to help them to better understand, promote and live out the vision and spirit of St Ignatius Loyola in education.
