A new academic year to nurture and encourage our students’ vocations

September marks the start of a new academic year across the works and institutions of the Society of Jesus in Spain. Schools, universities, pastoral centres, social organisations, communities and spirituality centres are resuming their activities in these days with a shared purpose: to accompany people, proclaim the Gospel and respond to the challenges of our time from a diverse range of contexts.

The University of Deusto is part of this network of Jesuit institutions and initiatives that, every day, supports thousands of people through education, research, social action, spirituality and a commitment to transforming society. Together with other Jesuit institutions, the University shares a common mission: to contribute to the common good through excellence, care for people and the promotion of justice.

As the Society of Jesus reminds us, each of these institutions and initiatives has its own identity and purpose, but all respond to the same call: to serve where the needs of the world are most pressing. Educating, researching, accompanying people, celebrating the faith, caring for those experiencing vulnerability and promoting a more just society are all expressions of the same commitment.

Almost five centuries ago, Jerónimo Nadal, one of St Ignatius of Loyola’s first companions, summed up this vocation in an expression that has guided the Society of Jesus ever since: «Our home is the world». This statement continues to inspire the work of Jesuit institutions today, encouraging us to remain attentive to the needs of our local communities and of global society.

In the words of Enric Puiggròs, SJ, Provincial of Spain, «each new academic year invites us to ask ourselves once again where the Lord is calling us today and how we can respond generously to the challenges of our time». As he adds, this mission «always begins with an encounter with real people and with the conviction that the Gospel remains good news for our world».

Throughout the academic year, the various works of the Society of Jesus in Spain will continue to share experiences and initiatives showing how a common mission takes shape across diverse fields, including education, research, spirituality, social action and community life. These stories reflect the commitment of thousands of people to building a more humane, just and hopeful world.

At Deusto, the new academic year begins with a commitment to continuing to contribute to this shared mission by educating people capable of leading social transformation through knowledge, values and service to others.