About 900 students and accompanying staff from eight Jesuit educational institutions across Indonesia gathered at Loyola College High School in Semarang, Central Java, from October 12 to 16 for a national meeting challenging young people to take action on social issues and build friendships across cultural and regional boundaries.
The Jesuit Schools Gathering 2026, themed Fate Chiasso! or “Make Some Noise!”, encourages students to speak up for truth, stand for justice and contribute to society rather than remain passive observers, said Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J., provincial superior of the Jesuits in Indonesia.
“You are not called simply to live a quiet and comfortable life,” Fr. Albertus told students during the opening ceremony at Bellarminus Hall on October 12. “You are called to be here together with your mentors, priests, and fathers to take action.”
He clarified that Fate Chiasso! is not a call to create destructive disruption but an invitation to engage with humanitarian concerns and work for positive change. Prayer, reflection and spiritual formation, he said, should help young people develop the conscience and courage needed to respond to society’s challenges.
The gathering brought together students from Canisius College and Gonzaga College in Jakarta; Loyola College and PIKA College in Semarang; De Britto College in Yogyakarta; Mikael College in Solo; Mertoyudan Seminary in Magelang; and Le Cocq d’Armandville College in Nabire, Central Papua.
The event provides opportunities for students from different regions and educational backgrounds to exchange experiences, develop friendships and strengthen cooperation within the Jesuit educational network.
Fr. Hendricus Satya Wening Pambudi, S.J., chair of the organizing committee and vice principal for student affairs at Loyola College High School, said preparations had begun about 18 months earlier, with participating schools reflecting on the challenges facing young people.
He said the gathering aims to help students recognize that meaningful social change can begin with their own initiatives, daily choices and contributions to their communities.
One of the event’s main activities, Inspiration Classes, features alumni from the participating schools sharing their life experiences and work in society. Organizers hope the sessions will help students identify ways to use their abilities to serve others.
The program also includes sports, arts and creative competitions, such as football, basketball, volleyball, photography, short films, storytelling, music, poetry and English-language debates.
Several sporting events use mixed teams of students from different schools, moving beyond competition between institutions to encourage teamwork and friendships across school boundaries.
The theme draws inspiration from Pope Francis’ 2019 apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit, particularly paragraph 143, which urges young people to become actively involved in life rather than observe from a distance. It also reflects the Jesuits’ commitment to helping people discover God and contribute to a more just world.
Organizers said the gathering seeks to build networks that continue beyond the five-day event, encouraging students to bring their experiences, new friendships and commitment to social responsibility back to their respective schools and communities.
For the participating Catholic institutions, the gathering places Jesuit education’s emphasis on faith, reflection and service into practice by challenging young people to turn their convictions into concrete action.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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