ETR Education Cluster Meeting 2026
Convened by the Regional Superior of the Independent Region of Timor-Leste (ETR-Jesuit), Fr Erik John J. Gerilla SJ (Fr EJ), the Region’s second Education Cluster Meeting took place on 23-25 April. Following from the inaugural meeting last year (2025),this gathering sought to discuss the mission goals of the educational institutions in the Region and to foster collaboration and greater synergy among our schools: Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB) and Colégio de Sto. Inácio de Loiola (CSIL)-Kasait, and Nossa Senhora de Fátima (NOSSEF), a Catholic school run by the Jesuits in Railaco.
During the 3-day meeting Jesuits, teachers and staff shared their programmes and the challenges they face as they strive to support their students in their academic growth and formation as mature citizens. The meeting also gave each institution an opportunity to name its current resources with a view to identify possible areas of greater collaboration and resource-sharing among our schools. For instance, in the past CSIL has made its Multipurpose Hall available for ISJB’s use for their graduations and large events. And ISJB can support CSIL with training for their teachers and staff in the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) methodology.
Photo: Fr Erik John J. Gerilla, SJ is explaining to the participants of the Education Cluster regarding the Task Force Team.
Representatives from each of the three institutions were then given time to express what support they might need from others and, based on this information, how they might be able to respond to each other’s needs.
Fr Hyoe, one of our Jesuit missionaries from Japan and director of NOSSEF, mentioned that “most of our teachers are still lacking in practical experiences, so it is quite hard for them to help students practise the theory they teach, especially in the natural and technological sciences”. So this is an area in which they would be looking for some support.
There was also time given for the institutions to share some of their challenges. Fr Isaías Abilio Caldas SJ, Rector of ISJB, shared that “while at ISJB we do have an IPP tradition and our teachers and students are familiar with this methodology, at times their comprehension only reaches the surface and it is not sufficient. Sometimes they mistake IPP simply as a tool for reflection, but of course, it is much more than that. So we need to deepen their understanding and emphasise that IPP is not only a practice to be used in the classroom but a paradigm for life”.
Photo: Fr Erik John J. Gerilla, SJ.
The meeting also gave an opportunity for ISJB to share their 10-year Strategic Plan. Fr Plínio Martins SJ, Vice-Director of their Office of Mission and Identity, presented ISJB’s document “A Journey of Institutional Discernment”, which focuses on four priorities: expanding their academic portfolio; cultivating a culture of enquiry; a campus Infrastructure blueprint, and promoting financial resilience and revenue diversification.
Photo: Fr Isaías Abilio Caldas, SJ (The Rector of ISJB).
To foster ongoing collaboration, Fr Gerilla asked each school to appoint representatives to form a Task Force to develop an IPP Practical Guide for Jesuit Schools in Timor-Leste. This team will consist of 5 staff members from ISJB, 2 from NOSSEF and another 2 from CSIL.
The meeting concluded with an Ignatian Examen led by Sch. Bonifacio Pereira SJ, who also teaches at Colégio Santo Inácio de Loiola. The prayer gave participants a final opportunity to recall the discussions of the past three days; express gratitude for the gifts and graces received, including the gift of spending time together and learning from one another, and be reminded that everything we do seeks to glorify God’s name by accompanying and supporting the people entrusted to our care in our Region.
Photo: Last Day; Participant in a quiet moment for the Ignatian Examen session before the end of the meeting.
Written by:
Iriana Soares, ETR Communications Officer