From 17-19 July, the Province of South India of the Congregation of Holy Cross, in collaboration with the Peyton Institute for Families, hosted a landmark three-day national seminar titled “Empathy: The Heartbeat of Education”. The event brought together 65 Holy Cross educators from 28 schools spanning the four Holy Cross jurisdictions in India.
Held with the aim of exploring how empathy can transform the classroom, staffroom, and school culture, the seminar was a blend of practical learning, community-building, and reflection.
At the opening session, Fr. Lawrence D’Almeida, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of South India, gave an engaging inaugural address on the centrality of the heart in the vocation of teaching. He was accompanied by Fr. Norbert D'Mello, C.S.C., Provincial Councilor.
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The seminar was anchored by three keynote addresses: Fr. Biju Thomas, C.S.C., Principal of Dahisar School, Mumbai, presented on “Emotional Intelligence in Leadership”, stressing self-awareness and empathy as critical qualities in school administrators.
Fr. Shiju Joseph, C.S.C., Executive Director of the Peyton Institute, spoke on “Preventing Harmful Educator Behaviors”, encouraging reflective practices and institutional accountability.
Mr. Shirish Sebastian, wellness coach and educator, delivered a thought-provoking session on the staffroom ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of synergy among colleagues and effective, empathetic collaboration. He also shared practical classroom methodologies aimed at building engaging and student-centric learning environments.
An interactive panel discussion, held in two concurrent groups, allowed educators to share challenges and commonalities from their respective institutions—promoting a sense of unity and shared mission across the Holy Cross network. There were also rich cultural and recreational experiences to further facilitate that networking, including a cultural evening showcasing traditional Indian dance, folklore, and music.
The valedictory ceremony was presided over by Br. PJ Santhosh, C.S.C., Superior of the St. André Province, who offered powerful reflections on the practical nuances of empathy in education. He referenced recent real-life stories from across India.
Also present for the ceremony were Fr. D’Almeida, Fr. George Jacob, C.S.C., Education Coordinator for the Province of North East India, Fr. Arockia Selvaraj, C.S.C., Education Coordinator for the Province of Tamil Nadu, and Br. Chacko, C.S.C., Representative of Educational Coordinator for the St. André Province.
The Holy Cross educators expressed their great appreciation of the seminar, underscoring that the sessions and panel discussions were inspirational and hands-on, offering real-world strategies that they could immediately implement in their schools.