Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 7: JESCOL 2020 organized by St Aloysius PU College, Harihar stretching over three days from November 30 to December 2 was held at the Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology, Beeri, here.
The seminar sought to help faculties of St Aloysius PU College, Harihar and Loyola College, Manvi to adapt to the new normal created by the corona pandemic and also to instill in them the values of St Ignatius. The dignitaries were Fr Melwin J Pinto, the rector of St Aloysius Institutions; Fr Melwin Sunny Pinto, the director of AIMIT; Fr Melwin D'Cunha, the principal of Loyola College, Manvi; Fr Eric Mathias, the superior of St Aloysius PU College, Harihar and Baptist Sunny Gudinho, the principal of St Aloysius PU College, Harihar. The resource persons included Fr Jossie D Mello, Fr Jerome D Souza, Fr Pradeep Sequeira, Fr Felix Victor, Fr Rohan Almeida, Dr Shalini Aiyappa, Joseph Crasta and Dinesh Holla.
The dignitaries inaugurated the seminar and Fr Rector made the opening speech encouraging the staff to make the best of the seminar as they went through different sessions handled by eminent resource persons.
Fr Jerome, a professor of Scripture at St Joseph's Seminary, Mangaluru elaborated on the life of St Ignatius, the experiences that led to his conversion and the glorious legacy of the Society of Jesus. Fr Jossie, a reputed teacher on Ignatian Spirituality expounded on the topics of Profile of an Ignatian Educator, Decision making- Process of discernment and How to find God in all things. Fr Pradeep, the former finance officer of St Aloysius PU College, Harihar too took an elaborate session on Jesuit leadership, governance and Jesuit legacy. He also threw light on the significance of interreligious dialogue to promote peace initiatives in the country and later led the faculty members into a discussion on how to form young men and women into a humane, reflective, all-round, person for others, magis person, team person and an inter-religious person wherein, faculty members brought forth practical suggestions relevant to their institutions.
Fr Felix Victor, the campus minister of St Aloysius College, Mangaluru held an interactive session to explain the characteristics of Jesuit education painting a clear picture of how a Jesuit educator contributes to creating a good society.
A panel discussion on the four Universal Apostolic Preferences was taken up each by Dr Shalini Aiyappa, Dinesh Holla and Joseph Crasta. The trio ignited the hearts of the faculties by their talks as they revealed the cataclysm the world would end up in if intellectuals did not act towards its improvement. Fr Rohan Almeida took a session on NEP-2020 and spoke on the benefits the policy held for its stakeholders. Dr Shalini took a thought-provoking session on how to form students even in the face of utter hopelessness. She emphasised the role of teachers in stepping into the world of students to bring meaning and purpose into their lives.
The three-day seminar also saw practical applications of the Universal Apostolic Preferences as the faculties visited Snehalaya Rehabilitation Centre and also to different places of worship. Faculties even excursioned to Thannirbhavi Beach where they spent time enjoying nature. To enhance the coherence between the faculties, a cultural evening was organized which saw active participation by all.
The seminar proved to be fruitful as the faculty members got their doubts clarified, fears settled, skills updated and hopes renewed through various sessions of JESCOL 2020.