Prospectus - Jesuits in Malta

ABOUT US
we do things
differently
The Jesuits
The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish saint from the
Basque region. A religious organisation of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, its members,
known as Jesuits, number just under 19,000. They live and work in around 130
countries. There are approximately 70 Jesuits in Malta involved in education, spirituality
centres, intellectual work, presence and service among marginalised persons, and other
works such as Jesuit Refugee Service, youth formation and in support to parishes. Some
45 other Maltese Jesuits serve in places as varied as Sudan, Chile and India. About 4,600
Jesuits and 125,000 of their colleagues provide education to nearly 2.5 million students in
56 countries in an astonishing variety of types and different levels, from popular education
to Universities. A distinguishing feature of the Jesuits today is their collaboration
with lay persons throughout the entire range of works in which they are involved, from
giving the Spiritual Exercises to accompanying refugees.
Jesuit Education in the 21st Century
Leadership in Service
“Our purpose in education is to form
men and women ‘for others.’ The Society
of Jesus has always sought to
imbue students with values that transcend
the goals of money, fame, and
success. We want graduates who will
be leaders concerned about society and
the world in which they live. We want
graduates who desire to eliminate hunger
and conflict in the world. We want
graduates who seek to end sexual and
social discrimination and who are
eager to share their faith with others.
In short, we want our graduates to be
leaders-in-service. That has been the
goal of Jesuit education since the sixteenth
century. It remains so today.”
(Peter-Hans Kolvenbach S.J., Superior
General of the Society of Jesus 1983 -
2008)
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