Fortaleza (Brazil). From 2 to 4 July 2025, there took place in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, the VII National Congress of Catholic Education (ANEC), with the theme, “An education that transforms: educate, take care, and hope”, in response to the contemporary challenges of Catholic education faced in the Country.
The Congress – with 48 speakers and 330 stands with innovative pedagogical and educational solutions, including the Salesian publisher, “Edebê Brasil” – counted about 2,500 delegates, with Bishops, priests, provincial Superiors, two Mothers General, as well as representatives of the government of the state of Ceará and federal institutions of national education.
During the event, the 80th anniversary of ANEC was celebrated, reaffirming its commitment to an integral and social quality education. They were eight decades of effective, coherent, and passionate presence in the mission to educate in the light of the Gospel, in constant dialogue with culture, science, the Church, society, and the present time.
For the occasion, as a sign of faith and evangelizing mission, there was presented the icon “Jesus, Master of Hope”, created specifically for this jubilee by the artist of the sacred, Maria Fonseca, originally from Ceará and resident in São Paulo.
During the solemn celebration, ANEC also paid tribute to four personalities by conferring the Catholic Educational Merit Award. This award has been created with the objective of valuing people and institutions that stand out for their significant contribution to Catholic Education in the Country, especially in favor of the Global Educational Pact. The Prize was intended to express gratitude to those who, with courage and sensitivity, have contributed to the construction of a more fraternal, supportive, and human education.
Among the awareded was Sister Adair Aparecida Sberga, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of Our Lady Aparecida Province (BAP), first Vice-President of the Superior Council of ANEC, who also held the role of Scientific Coordinator of the Congress.
Sister Adair was very touched by the award and thanked ANEC. She said, “It is a great satisfaction and an honour for me to work in favor of Catholic Education in Brazil, which has always sought to contribute to a national project whose sovereignty is based on the dignity of its people. It is a greatness that is not only measured by tangible goods, but above all, with those values that do not perish and that promote the integral realization of the person in the family, in the community, and in society as a whole.”
The hope is that ANEC continues to be voice and presence of the Church in Brazilian education, promoting coordination between schools, universities, networks, congregations, and pastoral education around a single ideal: to form fully realized people, committed citizens for the common good, and missionary disciples of the Gospel.
Photos: Flickr ANEC
Muchas felicidades querida sor Adair. Dios siga bendiciendo tu misión realizada con tanta competencia y entusiasmo.
Parabéns querida Irmã Adair. Fico muito feliz com este reconhecimento pelo teu longo e árduo trabalho em prol da educação das novas gerações. Deus continue a te fortalecer e abençoar.
Muito obrigada, querida Sirlei, pelo seu carinho e apoio. Um grande abraço.