Scholasticat Jésuite Saint Pierre Canisius, is blessed with a vibrant community of young Jesuit scholastics—critical thinkers who are bold, alert, and always ready to question and engage deeply with the world around them. It was with great joy and anticipation that we welcomed the Director of AJAN, Father Ismaël Matambura, SJ, and his assistant, Father Charles Kubanabantu, to lead a special session aligned with AJAN’s mission and the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, particularly the call to “accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.”

Despite our limited financial resources and initial doubts about hosting such a significant initiative, we were able to reach a compromise with AJAN that allowed the session on “Integral Youth Development and the Fight Against HIV” to take place on the Kimwenza plateau. This site, entrusted to Jesuit missionary work since 1891, is home to about a hundred students from the Loyola University of Congo, including around eighty Jesuit scholastics, as well as nearly thirty religious communities—both male and female—composed mainly of young people in formation.

With the support of AJAN, we extended invitations to a few other religious formation houses and students from Loyola University. Given the high proportion of lay students—about 90% of the student population—we limited participation to five lay students and three novitiates of religious sisters, who were the first to respond to our invitation.

What unfolded exceeded all expectations. Even our scholastics—who are often skeptical due to the numerous formation sessions they regularly undergo—were deeply impressed and moved by the experience. The same was true for the young novices and their formators, who were grateful to participate in a session that stood out from all others typically held on the Kimwenza plateau.

The feedback we received confirmed what we sensed: the theme and the approach used during the session resonated deeply with participants and addressed critical gaps in the formation of our young people. Particularly impactful were the reflections on how to engage compassionately with individuals living with HIV or STIs—learning to meet them without judgment, avoiding stigma, and respecting their dignity. Participants were also inspired by practical guidance on launching small, sustainable income-generating projects—valuable skills for ensuring self-reliance.

Our young people came away with renewed awareness of their physical and spiritual well-being. They are now better prepared to connect with their peers and to inspire other youth to live fulfilling and purpose-driven lives, regardless of where they find themselves on life’s journey.

To the organizers of this powerful and transformative session, we offer our heartfelt thanks. You have given our youth hope and rekindled their faith in the possibility of a better world. We sincerely hope you will return—there are many more young hearts waiting to be reached.

By, Father Modeste Modekamba, SJ.,

Rector of Scholasticat Jésuite Saint Pierre Canisius in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)