On 9 March, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Itaka-Escolapios Foundation, an international network jointly promoted by the Order and the Fraternity, whose main aim is to carry out the Piarist educational and social mission, centred on the formation and education of children and young people, especially the poorest, the most disadvantaged and the most vulnerable.
These are 25 years of a committed gaze upon the world through education, following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph Calasanz, and making it possible for the Piarist family to broaden its capacity for action and presence in the world, thus ensuring the continuity and expansion of the mission of the Pious Schools.
Today, the Itaka-Escolapios Network is present in more than 20 countries, carrying out more than 400 projects, among which the following stand out: educational works, pastoral processes, cultural centres, residential care homes, shelters, boarding facilities, training schools for educators, and programmes of support for the most impoverished sectors…
In addition, we receive with deep gratitude the blessing of Pope Leo XIV upon the work we carry out each day. This gesture is a source of joy and hope for all those who are part of our mission, and an encouragement to continue educating, accompanying and building a more just world from the charism of Calasanz. We continue renewing our commitment to children, young people and the most vulnerable, faithful to our vocation of service and social transformation.
In order to celebrate this 25th anniversary all together, next Saturday, 14 March, at 3.00 p.m. (Spanish time), an online International Meeting will take place, in which we shall journey through the past, present and future of the Network through the people at its heart. We are invited to take part through the link found on the anniversary website:
https://www.itakaescolapios.org/es/25-aniversario/
Let us give thanks to God for this shared journey and for so much life given; let us give thanks for all those who form part of Itaka-Escolapios and who continue to make the dream of Calasanz possible. And let us ask the Lord to continue blessing them and to grant them the strength they need to remain committed and convinced that educating and evangelising is the best way to change the world.
https://www.itakaescolapios.org/es/
