Echoes of Brotherhood and Hope at WUJA 2026
YOGYAKARTA – After five inspiring days of spiritual reflection, cultural exchange, and international networking, the 11th World Union of Jesuit Alumni (WUJA) Congress in Yogyakarta concluded with remarkable success. Under the theme “United in Spirit, Leading with Purpose,” the congress brought together delegates from 57 countries to shape the future direction of the global Jesuit alumni community amid an increasingly complex world.
A Five-Day Journey: From Ganjuran to Prambanan
The congress began with a warm welcome at Sanata Dharma University (USD), where delegates from around the world experienced the inclusive spirit and rich cultural heritage of Yogyakarta. The opening day was marked by the Opening Mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Ganjuran, a place that symbolizes the harmonious encounter between the Catholic faith and local Javanese culture. In his homily, Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, SJ, emphasized that this gathering was not merely a physical meeting but a profound spiritual renewal that touches the heart.
The second day unfolded with the official opening ceremony at the Driyarkara Auditorium. The presence of the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, added a philosophical dimension through the concept of Sastra Gendhing, inviting alumni to discover harmony amid diversity, much like the interwoven melodies of a gamelan orchestra. On the same day, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, delivered a keynote address challenging Jesuit alumni to embrace the “New Frontiers,” including the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), while remaining firmly committed to reconciliation and justice.
The third day coincided with the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, celebrated with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Driyarkara Auditorium. The day’s central theme focused on Ignatian leadership in a fractured world. Alongside thought-provoking panel discussions on integrating faith and justice, young delegates participated in Lego Serious Play sessions to reflect on the meaning of leadership through creative collaboration. The day concluded with a spiritual visit to Borobudur Temple and a fellowship dinner at De Britto Jesuit High School, showcasing the richness of contemporary Indonesian culture.
The emotional highlight came on the fourth evening during the Gala Dinner at the Prambanan Temple Complex. Beneath the grandeur of Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple, alumni celebrated WUJA’s 70th anniversary. The evening also marked the ceremonial handover of the host nation, with Loyola College, India, officially announced as the host of the 2030 WUJA Congress.
The Yogyakarta Manifesto 2026
On the final day, the Congress reached its culmination with the adoption of ten resolutions and the Yogyakarta Manifesto. More than a formal document, the Manifesto stands as a declaration of identity and commitment by Jesuit alumni worldwide to respond to today’s global challenges.
Among its key commitments is the conviction that the world needs not merely organizations but authentic communities that genuinely live out the values they proclaim. The Manifesto also affirms diversity as a gift, with Yogyakarta serving as a living reminder that harmony flourishes when differences are embraced, and that dialogue is always stronger than conflict.
Leadership is reaffirmed as an act of service, emphasizing that genuine leadership is rooted in humility and guided by conscience. Through the WUJA 2026 Congress, alumni pledged to listen before speaking, to stand alongside the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten, and to become faithful companions in building a more just and compassionate world.
Care for our common home also forms a central commitment, encouraging alumni to integrate ecological responsibility into every initiative as part of their shared mission to safeguard creation.
The Manifesto concludes with a powerful commissioning spirit: delegates leave Yogyakarta not simply as congress participants, but as companions sent forth to their families, workplaces, and communities to become signs of hope in a wounded world.
A Lasting Message from WUJA 2026
The WUJA 2026 Congress in Yogyakarta has demonstrated that when faith encounters culture and leadership is grounded in humility, a truly transformative force emerges. Sanata Dharma University has become the heart that sends forth the spirit of service to every corner of the world.
This gathering serves as a beautiful reminder that although we come from different backgrounds, we are united by the same flame of Ignatian spirituality. Like the small candles lit in Yogyakarta, may every alumnus and alumna carry that light home to illuminate the darkness, mend a fractured world, and continue finding God in all things.
Farewell, bearers of hope. Go forth and serve until we meet again in India in 2030. United in Spirit. Leading with Purpose. Sent Forth to Transform the World!
