Ocer Celebrates St. Ignatius of Loyola
- Aug 1
- 3 min read
Every year on 31st July, the Church celebrates St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Ocer Campion Jesuit College, an institution founded by the Jesuits, could not let this important day pass unnoticed.
Being a Friday, a balance had to be struck between the day's academic programme and the feast. Students attended their usual classes until 10:30 a.m., after which they proceeded to Blessed Seelos Chapel for the celebration of the Holy Mass. The festive Mass was celebrated by Fr. Kimatu and concelebrated by Fr. Arasu, a Salesian priest and friend of the Jesuits. Also in attendance were members of the OCJC staff, as well as religious and lay friends of both the Jesuits and the school.
The homily was delivered by Scholastic Thony Manihilo, SJ, who reminded the congregation of who St. Ignatius was and why the Jesuits—and, by extension, Ocer herself—owe their very existence to him. He reflected on Ignatius's vision, commitment and sacrifices, emphasizing that they laid the foundation upon which communities such as Ocer continue to flourish today. Students were challenged to imitate St. Ignatius by becoming men and women committed to serving others without counting the cost.
Indeed, the importance of St. Ignatius to Ocer as an institution cannot be overstated. At the heart of Ignatius's conversion was the conviction that education was essential to the renewal of both the Church and society. He felt called to dedicate his life entirely to the service of God, but he also asked how that service could best be rendered. Looking around him, he recognized that many of the challenges facing the Church stemmed from poor formation and inadequate education among the clergy. He became convinced that the solution lay in offering deep spiritual formation alongside sound intellectual education to those preparing to dedicate their lives to God's service. For this reason, the Spiritual Exercises were never intended as an end in themselves. Rather, they formed part of a much broader vision of educating and forming the whole person for a greater purpose. While this mission initially focused on those preparing for priesthood or religious life, the Jesuits gradually extended their educational apostolate to the wider society. They established schools where the ideals of magis—the constant pursuit of excellence—together with discipline, intellectual rigour and hard work, became defining characteristics. They were also among the first educational bodies in Europe to standardize the curriculum and structure of the education they offered. Consequently, students in Jesuit-run institutions received an education that was remarkably consistent in its organization, depth and breadth.
Ultimately, Jesuit education has always sought to form men and women of competence, conscience, compassion and commitment—individuals capable of making meaningful and positive contributions to the wider human family. It is an education that inspires people to serve generously, without counting the cost, and to do everything Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam—for the greater glory of God. These are the values that inspired the Jesuits who founded Ocer Campion Jesuit College, and they remain the values that continue to guide Ocer and all Ocerians, past, present and future.
Following the Mass, the Ocerian community gathered to share a festive meal. Even those students who may not have fully understood the significance of the celebration found themselves joyfully participating in the occasion through the fellowship and the special meal that was served. After lunch, classes resumed as scheduled. In the spirit of St. Ignatius, who began his life as a soldier before becoming a pilgrim and founder, students were encouraged to return to their classrooms with renewed determination, ready to face the intellectual battles before them.
The celebrations continued the following day, 1st August 2026, when the Jesuit community welcomed friends to share supper with them. It was an opportunity to celebrate together the enduring legacy of St. Ignatius of Loyola—what he has come to mean personally to each Jesuit, to the Society of Jesus as a whole, and, above all, to the mission the Jesuits continue to carry out in this part of the world.
