First Day
On August 31, 2026, the sessions of the second Meeting of Dehonian Educators of South America opened. The morning was marked by sharing the reality of some of the institutions present: ESIC Colégio e Faculdade (Curitiba), Instituto Sagrado Corazón de Jesús and Colégio San Juan Evangelista (Chile), and Escola Paroquial Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Paulista, PE). These times of exchange demonstrated the vitality of the Dehonian educational apostolate, in harmony with the legacy left by Father Dehon.
In the afternoon, the reflection led by Fr. Emerson Marcelo Ruiz presented several aspects of the Dehonian educator and school. According to Fr. Emerson, “a Dehonian school is a school capable of entering into dialogue with the world.” During his presentation, the speaker outlined Father Dehon’s identity from three perspectives: 1) a man who allowed himself to be educated (referring to Father Dehon’s family, school, and religious formation, as well as the travels, readings, and friendships he cultivated, revealing a man open to the world); 2) Dehon the educator; and 3) Dehon the socio-educator. The day’s work concluded with Holy Mass, presided over by the president of ADBM, Fr. João Carlos Almeida, followed by a cultural evening hosted by schools from Chile, Paraguay, and Paulista.
Second Day
The second day of the II Meeting of Dehonian Educators of South America, held at Casa Padre Dehon in Brusque (SC), was marked by reflection, sharing, and communion among educators from different realities across the continent. On Tuesday morning, Fr. Emerson Marcelo Ruiz, SCJ, deepened the theme “Dehonian Management and Pedagogy: Sint Unum, Ecce Venio, and Adveniat Regnum Tuum,” reflecting on these fundamental expressions of Dehonian charismatic identity as guiding principles for our action in the field of education. The conference highlighted the shared responsibility of the educational community, the vocational discernment of young people, and the school’s commitment to social transformation.
The afternoon was dedicated to sharing experiences, featuring presentations from Escola Técnica Industrial Padre Dehon (San Carlos, Venezuela), Instituto Meninos de São Judas Tadeu (São Paulo), Faculdade Dehoniana (Taubaté), Colégio São Luiz (Brusque), Colégio Dehon (Tubarão), and Escola Básica nº 8212 (Paraguay). This day of listening, exchange, and identity strengthening, which ended with a cultural evening organized by Escola Paroquial N. Sra de Fátima, Menino S. Judas Tadeu, and Faculdade Dehoniana, made it possible to recognize education as a privileged path to forming individuals, communities, and a more just and fraternal society.
Third Day
On Wednesday morning, participants of the II Meeting of Educators of South America visited the facilities of Colégio and Faculdade S. Luiz in Brusque (SC). They celebrated Holy Mass in the institution’s chapel. On this occasion, participants visited the faculty classrooms where Philosophy courses are taught and interacted with the students.
In the afternoon, participants traveled to Nova Trento (SC), where they made a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Saint Paulina, followed by visits to the Parish Church and the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Bom Socorro. It was a moment of spirituality, interaction, and fellowship.
Fourth Day
On Thursday, the meeting sessions resumed, this time featuring Fr. Victor Oliveira Barbosa, SCJ, as the speaker of the day. In his two lectures, Fr. Victor emphasized the importance of education in Fr. Dehon’s life and analyzed one of his speeches on teaching. Building on this presentation, the speaker addressed the current challenges facing us in the field of education and how we can respond based on our charismatic heritage. Fr. Victor notably cited Pope Francis’s Global Compact on Education as well as the pontificate of Leo XIII. The group work was a particular highlight, during which concrete proposals were presented in the areas of school management, pedagogy, pastoral care, and exchanges, aimed at advancing communion among Latin American institutions.
On the final day, the closing Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Willyans Prado Rapozo, SCJ, who then addressed the participants. He summarized the contributions of the groups and shared reflections at the congregation level regarding the steps taken in the field of Education, along with the challenges and hopes.
Afterward, the final text of the Meeting was read and approved, and during the subsequent adoration, it was placed at the feet of Jesus on the altar of the Eucharist.
