The temperature below 20 degrees Celsius with windy weather at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Sydney, Australia, did not reduce the warmth we felt through the training organized by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific Education on 8-11 October 2024. The training aims not only to help each participant from various Asia Pacific countries learn Ignatian leadership but also to help each participant share their experiences in their respective schools so that brotherhood can be established. This training invited participants who were teachers and employees of Jesuit schools from various Asia Pacific countries, such as Australia as the host, Timor Leste, China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, Micronesia, and Cambodia. This meeting discussed Three topics in depth: Authentic and Trust with facilitator Jennie Hickey from Australia, Communal Discernment with Father Non and team (Japan), and Collaboration with Father Jboy from the Philippines.

Authentic Personality Ready to be part of a Trusting Community

As a leader in a community, sometimes the community sees us only as a leader, not more than ourselves. However, we are reaffirmed that it starts from within ourselves, which also knows us well because how can we expect others to know us if we do not know who we are? Examen conscientiae is one way that can be done individually to get to know ourselves: what is experienced and felt, what is thought, said, and done. Of course, examen conscientiae begins with giving thanks to God as a real manifestation of our belief in God’s presence in every experience and feeling.

As humans, we have various limitations. In fact, sometimes, we tend to withdraw from God when things do not go according to our wishes. However, we are reminded again that we must always see everything through God’s eyes to be free from our ego as humans. Sometimes, humans use the mantra ‘it is okay to be a human. ‘ However, often, this is used as justification when thinking or doing something that is not in accordance with the Image of God. However, as humans who are like the Image of God, we must be fully aware that God always pushes us toward progress and improvement by giving us challenges in the form of conditions and situations that are sometimes uncomfortable.

Being an authentic leader also means being ready when someone hates and judges. It is a natural thing to happen in a community. However, the most important thing is that you already know and accept all your shortcomings and weaknesses. Furthermore, what you think, do, or decide as a leader is correct as long as it is not solely to glorify yourself but the Lord. When we have become authentic people, we will be ready to join a community to celebrate each other’s authentic people and grow and develop together with a sense of trust in a community. So, we are also ready to continuously shift from ‘me’ as an individual to ‘we’ as someone who is part of a community.

The Listening Person: An Effort to Create Collaboration

In the topic of Communal Discernment, we were given two opportunities to practice it with different topics and groups. From the two dynamics, we realized that the primary key to Communal Discernment is healthy two-way communication. When doing it, we must focus not on personal goals to glorify ourselves but on glorifying God. Our focus is on God, who is always present both physically and emotionally, spiritually and socially, so that we can become the Kingdom of God in human form. Leadership is not done based on position from top to bottom because, basically, we are in the same place to achieve the same goal. Therefore, whatever part we take from a community, we must have a humble attitude and always be willing to listen wholeheartedly to establish harmonious collaboration to achieve common goals.

I feel very grateful. As a young teacher, I realize my life’s pilgrimage in this role is still long. There are many things that I still need to learn. I learned a lot from great people during this training. Although they have important roles in their respective schools, not only as teachers but also as directors of particular fields and even principals, they remain humble enough to continue learning. This reminds me of one of Jesus’ attitudes who humbly also always has the willingness to learn from His disciples.

Contributor: Theresia Rianika Septianingtyas – Gonzaga College High School