A Journey Begins

The programme commenced on the evening of 10 July with the arrival and welcome of participants from across the country. Following registration and orientation, the youth were addressed by Fr. Sujeewa Pathirana SJ, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Sri Lanka, who spoke about Jesuit life, mission, and the importance of accompanying young people in today’s world. The evening concluded with a screening of the film Ignacio de Loyola, followed by informal interactions that helped participants begin building friendships and a sense of belonging within the wider Jesuit family.

Formation for Reconciliation and Leadership

The second day began with a guided meditation and mindfulness session that introduced participants to practices of silence, gratitude, breathing awareness and reflective presence. These moments of prayer and self-awareness provided a strong spiritual foundation for the day’s activities.

The morning sessions focused on community building and communication as a bridge to reconciliation. Through interactive games, role plays, team-building exercises, listening circles, and group discussions, participants explored themes such as identity, diversity, trust, active listening, conflict resolution and respectful communication. They discovered that reconciliation begins with the simple yet challenging task of listening deeply and accepting one another despite differences.

The afternoon shifted attention to leadership and social responsibility. Through collaborative activities and practical reflections, participants examined the qualities of servant leadership, teamwork, accountability, courage and commitment to the common good. The sessions encouraged them to become bridge-builders and agents of positive change within their schools, parishes, and local communities.

Celebrating Diversity Around the Bonfire

One of the most memorable moments of the programme was the cultural evening. Participants gathered for a vibrant talent show combined with a bonfire, creating a joyful atmosphere of celebration and friendship.

Young people shared songs, dances, games and creative performances that reflected the richness of their cultural backgrounds. Gathered around the bonfire, barriers of language, ethnicity and geography gradually disappeared as participants laughed, sang and shared their stories. The evening became a living experience of the programme’s central theme: reconciliation through encounter, friendship and mutual appreciation.

Rooted in Jesuit Spirituality

The final day began with another meditation session, inviting participants to reflect on their experiences and consider how they could bring the spirit of reconciliation into their daily lives.

The morning continued with a session on Jesuit Spirituality led by Fr. Lasantha SJ. Participants were introduced to the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, discernment, finding God in all things, the Universal Apostolic Preferences and the Jesuit commitment to faith and justice. The session highlighted how spirituality can inspire leadership, service and social transformation.

The programme concluded with an evaluation session and discussions on future formation opportunities. Participants expressed enthusiasm about remaining connected and continuing their journey together as members of an emerging national Jesuit youth network.

Reconciliation Through Inclusion

A significant feature of the programme was its commitment to inclusion. Given the linguistic diversity of the participants, translation support was provided throughout the programme by a member of the Satyodaya Educational Training Centre.

This enabled Sinhala and Tamil-speaking participants to engage fully in every session and activity. More importantly, the translation service became a practical expression of reconciliation, helping participants overcome language barriers, share their experiences and build meaningful friendships across ethnic and cultural divides.

Gratitude and Appreciation

The Jesuit Youth Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, Sweden, whose generous support made this programme possible. Their contribution enabled the provision of accommodation, meals, travel assistance, programme materials and formation opportunities for all participants.

We are also deeply grateful to the management and staff of the Satyodaya Educational Training Centre, Kandy, for their warm hospitality, excellent facilities and invaluable translation support, which ensured that every participant could fully engage in the programme.

The success of this gathering was truly a collective effort. Special thanks are extended to Fr. Sujeewa Pathirana SJ for his leadership and encouragement,  Fr. Lasantha SJ for facilitating financial support through the PDO, Fr. Tyrone SJ, Fr. Sachintha SJ, Sch. Randil SJ, Sch. Delaxan SJ, and Sch. Jude SJ for their generous service and accompaniment throughout the programme.

A particular word of appreciation is due to Fr James Jenistan OMI, the resource person, whose dedication, availability and joyful collaboration greatly enriched the experience of the participants. His commitment helped create a welcoming and transformative environment that made the programme both meaningful and memorable.

As the first session of the National Jesuit Youth Formation Programme comes to a close, the journey has only just begun. The friendships formed, lessons learned and experiences shared over these three days have laid the foundation for a growing network of young leaders committed to reconciliation, service, and hope in Sri Lanka.