Jubilee of Education: A Global Celebration of Faith and Learning
This October, the Vatican hosted the Jubilee of Education, gathering Catholic educators, students, and leaders from around the world in a profound celebration of faith, learning, and service. The event marked a historic moment of reflection on the sacred vocation of teaching and the shared mission to form minds and hearts in truth, love, and hope.
Representing our CISVA community, Mme Reine Sader Mykyte, Principal of Blessed Sacrament School, attended the Jubilee alongside her daughter, a student and pilgrim. Their presence embodied the spirit of Catholic education, a living partnership of faith, family, and formation that unites generations in the pursuit of truth.
For our CISVA community, this event reaffirms several important themes:
Education as a sacred calling. The Jubilee highlighted the teacher’s role as both guide and witness, shaping not only intellect but character and faith.
Students as seekers of peace and truth. Pope Francis’ address to youth invited them to live as active builders of peace, grounded in love and discernment rather than digital influence or algorithmic identity.
Community as the foundation of learning. Families, educators, and faith leaders together sustain the Catholic mission to nurture hope and integrity in every student.
In a world of shifting values and rapid change, the Jubilee served as a reminder that Catholic education is not simply about academic excellence. It is an act of trust in God’s promise and a witness to enduring hope.
Below, Mme Reine Sader Mykyte reflects on her experience in Rome:
“Beyond eating tasty Italian pasta and gelato, attending the Jubilee of Education in Rome has been an extraordinary blessing.
For me, it was a leap of faith, a time of reflection and retreat where I brought with me the prayers of my school community, friends, and family. Also a time of growth, development, and deep gratitude for the sacred vocation of education. To be surrounded by educators and leaders from around the world, united in our shared mission to form hearts and minds in truth and in the Catholic faith, was profoundly moving.
My key takeaway from our Holy Father’s message is that ‘education is an act of hope.’ I especially love his use of the word esperanza, which, like the French espérance, speaks not only to optimism but to a deep trust in God’s promise.
I return home filled with gratitude and awe of our global as well as local Catholic education community.
I am grateful for our students, whose curiosity and engagement continually renew and fuel our sense of purpose. In his audience to students, Pope Leo encouraged them to be ‘peacemakers and truth seekers.’ He reminded them not to rely on ‘logarithms’ to define their purpose, but to seek meaning in true beauty and love in real life.
I am deeply thankful for the dedication of our teachers, who live out their mission as Catholic educators each day with passion and love. The Holy Father described teachers as the pillars of our schools, urging them to lead with compassion and to always honour the humanity of each child. After more than twenty-three years in education, I know that compassion lies at the very heart of teaching. When joy and compassion guide our work, wisdom and knowledge naturally flourish. Teaching is far more than instruction, it is an act of connection. As educators, we share in God’s work, helping students grow not only in what they know but in who they are becoming: citizens of the world and disciples of Christ.
I am equally in appreciation for our families, whose partnership sustains our shared journey of faith and learning. They chose Catholic education because they believe in its mission, to guide children toward Christ and help them discover their God-given gifts. Together, we are witnesses to our faith in action as we partake in the task of forming our children and passing on our values and traditions.
Education, at its heart, is about more than the pursuit of knowledge, it is about building community, recognizing the dignity of every person, celebrating each one’s gifts, and serving others with love.
As we continue this school year, may we remain faithful to our call to live, celebrate, and proclaim our faith in all that we do. Every lesson taught, every word of encouragement, and every act of care draws our students closer to Christ, the true Teacher.
May our community continue to radiate hope, build an atrium where learning and faith meet, and where joy and compassion lead us closer to God.
Saint John Henry Newman, now declared Doctor of the Church and Patron of Education on the Feast of All Saints, pray for us.
En remerciement à Dieu notre Père pour cette expérience exceptionnelle.
With deep gratitude and a heart full of hope in Catholic education.”**
— Mme Reine Sader Mykyte
Directrice / Principal, Blessed Sacrament School