{"id":280,"date":"2018-10-01T18:32:05","date_gmt":"2018-10-01T16:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.congresofeyalegria2018.org\/english\/?p=280"},"modified":"2018-10-04T10:36:25","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T08:36:25","slug":"spain-hosts-the-xlvii-international-fe-y-alegria-federation-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.congresofeyalegria2018.org\/english\/blog\/spain-hosts-the-xlvii-international-fe-y-alegria-federation-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain hosts the XLVII International Fe y Alegr\u00eda Federation Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between 28th September and 1st October, the XLVII International Fe y Alegr\u00eda Federation Congress was held in Madrid. It was called \u201cFe y Alegr\u00eda, A global movement. We educate on the frontiers\u201d. The meeting, organized by Entreculturas, Fe y Alegr\u00eda in Spain, addressed topics such as Fe y Alegr\u00eda\u2019s current and future frontiers, strategies such as the global movement, and the increasingly important approach being done on global citizenship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Arturo Sosa, sj, Father General of the Society of Jesus, inaugurated the congress and highlighted the importance of this movement during these times of global transformation. Begun in the fertile environment of Abraham and Patricia Reyes\u2019 humble home, and guided by the vision of Father Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda V\u00e9laz, this movement is today a magnificent international network that connects over a million and a half students in 22 countries around the world, and has no intention of slowing down. <\/span><\/p>\n

The congress was evidence of this plurality thanks to the presence of the national directors from the 22 Fe y Alegr\u00eda in Latin America, Europe and Africa, together with guests from 11 other countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

The format of the congress was proof that this movement \u2013 far from coming to a standstill \u2013 continues to dream and experiment with new ideas for community involvement, and that it feels it is an expression of change that is based on diversity and the commitment to an educational project for people that are most vulnerable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first part of the congress began with a meeting of young people from Fe y Alegr\u00eda that make up the Generation 21 initiative, part of which is the Entreculturas Youth Solidarity Network. Attendees at the congress were treated to a special moment of youthful expression with a street performance in the neighbourhood of La Ventilla in Madrid, and a meeting with the directors of Fe y Alegr\u00eda that gave them the chance to dialogue. <\/span><\/p>\n

The second part, and the core of the congress, took place on 29th and 30th September in El Escorial. The opening discussion was led by the Father General of the Society of Jesus, accompanied during the inauguration by Antonio Espa\u00f1a, sj, the Provincial of Spain; Carlos Fritzen, sj; Coordinator of the International Fe y Alegr\u00eda Federation and Dani Villanueva, sj, Vice President of Entreculturas. Here are some of their statements:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Fe y Alegr\u00eda has become an educational network on the frontiers that gives a new face to the apostolate of education of the Society of Jesus.\u201d Arturo Sosa, sj.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have to develop a new style of leadership, be more inspirational when it comes to processes, and less concerned with executing tasks. We must be more dynamic in generating actions to influence public policies that ensure the right to quality education for everyone, everywhere.\u201d Carlos Fritzen, sj.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur challenge today is how to adjust our actions to the size of the challenge we face: How to be a truly global network at the service of education for the most vulnerable populations and on the frontiers that are the direst, without losing an iota of depth and impact.\u201d Dani Villanueva, sj.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would like to reiterate our commitment as the Society of Jesus in Spain that we continue supporting and fostering the work carried out by networks such as Fe y Alegr\u00eda which have so greatly influenced \u2013 and continue to influence \u2013 our understanding of solidarity, commitment and citizenship.\u201d \u00a0Antonio Espa\u00f1a, sj.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the weekend the key aspects of the congress were compiled and summarized in its closing document: this included the main conclusions of an active Fe y Alegr\u00eda, open to innovation and permanent learning on the new frontiers of gender, interculturalism, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n