JESUITS – The Society of Jesus
St. Paul’s High School in Belgaum, managed by the Poona Jesuit Society, is deeply rooted in the Jesuit values of education. The Jesuit mission, founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola in 1540, is a mission of reconciliation, aiming to help individuals find God in their lives and reconcile with themselves, others, and God’s creation.
The Society of Jesus has a rich history of missionary work, serving the Church in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Jesuits like Francis Xavier, Peter Claver, and Eusebio Kino brought the Gospel to the farthest corners of the earth, while others like Robert Bellarmine and Peter Canisius spearheaded the Catholic Reformation in Europe.
Education has always been central to the Jesuit mission. Ignatius Loyola recognized the importance of schools in serving the Church, and many schools were founded soon after the Society’s inception. Jesuits have also been deeply involved in scholarship, science, and exploration, with Jesuit astronomers running 30 of the world’s 130 astronomical observatories by 1750.
However, the Society faced a period of suppression in the late 18th century, when Pope Clement XIV issued a brief suppressing the Society of Jesus in 1773. The Society was restored by Pope Pius VII in 1814, and since then, it has experienced growth and surpassed the apostolic breadth of the early Society in its educational, intellectual, pastoral, and missionary endeavors.
Today, the Society of Jesus has over 16,000 members worldwide, coming from 112 countries and belonging to approximately 80 provinces and regions. Despite its diverse membership, the Society has a universal character that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
At St. Paul’s High School, the Jesuit values of education are evident in the curriculum, which emphasizes moral and religious instruction, devotional life, and service to others. The school aims to instill in its students the Jesuit values of reconciliation, service, and intellectual curiosity, preparing them to be men for others in the spirit of Saint Ignatius Loyola and the Society of Jesus.