I “XTi” PEDAGOGICAL CONGRESS OF THE SOFÍA BARAT EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

Educating with Passion and Purpose. From Model to Action

On July 2nd and 3rd 2026, we held the First “XTi” Pedagogical Congress of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Spain. It was celebrated in Madrid, bringing together more than 400 participants, most of them educators from the Foundation’s schools, and a significant group of guests from other partner institutions.

We can say that we achieved the objectives we had set for this event: we made visible, shared and celebrated the process of transformation that our schools are undergoing through Programme 43,19 from the “Escuelas Católicas” of Madrid and the “XTi” Pedagogical Model and, secondly, we strengthened our networks of collaboration with an inspiration and energy that will continue to nourish this precious work begun by Madeleine Sophie Barat.

During the two years leading up to the congress, a “steering team” was in charge, made up of 13 people (members of the Foundation’s governing team and central services, as well as educators from the schools who stand out for their creativity and organisational skills). The “steering team” was the heart and soul of the congress and carefully took responsibility for the programme, infrastructure, contact with speakers and sponsors, accommodation and meals, communications and graphic design, etc.

The programme was carefully designed and combined institutional responsibility, leadership experience, educational thought and a broad perspective on Catholic education.

Following the beautiful prayer, which, through contemplative dance, prepared our bodies and spirits for everything that was to come, the opening ceremony was presided over by Claire Castaing, Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Claire’s words, so closely aligned with the spirit of the congress, were a true gift and an inspiration to everyone present.

She was followed by Sister Teresa Vives, President of “Escuelas Católicas”, who placed the congress within the synodal network formed by Catholic schools. The session was brought to a close by Jesús Avezuela, President of the FESB Board of Trustees and General Director of the Pablo VI Foundation, who welcomed everyone in his dual capacity as President of the Foundation and host. Jesús emphasised the need to offer a strong educational project rooted in the Gospel at a time when circumstances are not easy for educational institutions, particularly for publicly funded private schools.

The opening keynote, “From Our Roots to Educational Change”, was delivered by Conny Mateos, a Sister of the Sacred Heart and coordinator of the Sacred Heart Schools Network in Mexico, whose career has been marked by educational guidance, pastoral work and accompaniment of young people. Conny offered a fascinating journey through Madeleine Sophie Barat’s educational insights, drawing on key episodes from her life and some of her writings.

This was followed by the panel “Innovating with Purpose”, featuring four educators from four Catholic educational institutions that have experienced educational innovation processes inspired by their specific charisms: Mar Martín, Headteacher of Colegio Compañía de María in Zaragoza and President of “Escuelas Católicas Aragón”; Belén Blanco, Educational Director of the Marianist Schools Network in Spain; Jesús Félix Martínez, a de La Salle Brother and former Director of the educational works of his congregation in Spain and Portugal; and María José Domínguez, RSCJ, Vice-President of the FESB Board of Trustees, who took part in the International Education Commission of the Society that developed “Sophie’s Gift”, an updated interpretation of the educational philosophy of the Sacred Heart.

The four speakers engaged in a dialogue that made clear the importance of grounding innovation processes in the project of meaning that constitutes the source of inspiration for each institution. It was also interesting to hear that all charisms converge in the Gospel and, therefore, that there is much more that unites us than separates us.

After the break, the congress also sought to incorporate voices particularly connected with protection, care and holistic formation, convinced that placing the person at the centre of our educational mission requires our schools to be spaces of care and respectful treatment. The dialogue “Accompanied and Cared For” featured two highly respected voices: María Dolores López Guzmán, Head of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart’s Protection and Care Plan, and Xavi Serret, Coordinator of the People Development area at FESB.

The afternoon of the 2nd of July was devoted to the presentation of good practices through 15 workshops, each led by one of the schools. Each participant was able to take part in four workshops.

On the second day, following the prayer led by Margarita Bofarull, RSCJ and member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, two retired teachers, Javi Usoz and Jon Urzay, led a dialogue with six former students from the Foundation’s schools. The stories of Paula, Miguel, Carlota, Beatriz, Pol and Alberto highlighted the experiences and values they share as a result of their time at Sacred Heart schools.

Next, Virginia Cagigal, PhD in Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Comillas Pontifical University, opened the dialogue session “School and Family: The Necessary Educational Partnership”, which continued with contributions from three family representatives, a school counsellor and a member of the administrative staff.

Alfredo Hernando, psychologist, researcher and creator of Escuela21.org, an international laboratory for identifying and replicating good practices, was responsible for the congress’s final keynote, “The Futures of Education.” With his warm and thought-provoking style, Alfredo left us with the challenge of remaining faithful to Madeleine Sophie Barat’s words: “Times change and we must change with them.”

The congress was brought to a close by Fernando Orcástegui, Director of the Foundation’s governing team, who devoted his moving address to thanking everyone who had made the congress possible, with special recognition for the Sisters who have placed the charism in our hands.

The final flourish came from Icíar Ybarra, “Gaudea”, with a musical performance featuring the “anthem” created especially for the congress and a journey through the songs associated with the mottos of recent school years.

A very special mention must go to the congress presenter, Lourdes Carrasco, a former student and mother of students at the Granada school. Her ever-enthusiastic voice truly became the voice of the Sacred Heart family, giving coherence to the development of the congress.

The congress motto was present throughout and was repeated many times: “Educating with Passion and Purpose.” After this day and a half of shared reflection, the participants will surely have been able to renew their commitment to making their schools passionate and purposeful places of learning.

Schools that frequently revisit their roots because they “know where they come from”; that are guided by a compass pointing towards shared goals because they “know where they are going”; and that build a synodal community in which families, students and educators complement and enrich one another, and therefore “know with whom they are walking.”

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