In the spring of 1996, Cardinal Pio Laghi, Prefect of the then Congregation for Catholic Education, asked the Gregorian University to start a course for the formation of formators in seminaries. This led to the creation of a new academic entity called the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Formation of Formators in Seminaries (CIFS). The Centre later expanded its mission to include the formation of formators for consecrated life, taking the name Saint Peter Favre Centre for Formators to the Priesthood and Religious Life. The year 2026 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of its foundation. ‘In a person's life, thirty years represent maturity and responsibility,’ observes Fr Godefroid Bambi Kilunga SJ, Pro-Director of the Centre. ‘It is therefore right and fitting to celebrate this anniversary with gratitude to God and the Church, who have always accompanied and supported the Centre's activities.’

During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Favre Centre will promote three events to remember its past (6th November 2025), explore the present (11th December 2025) and look to the future (28th April 2026).

The opening day of the commemorative year, on 6 November (8:00 a.m., room F007), will be dedicated to recounting the origins. After the institutional greeting by Rector Fr Mark Lewis SJ, the Director of the Historical Archives Fr Martin Morales SJ will present the figure and works of Favre. Don Alessandro Ravaglioli, psychologist, will retrace the developments of this intuition. Finally, Fr. Adelson Araujo dos Santos SJ, former Director of the Centre, will offer his testimony and share his work experience. The morning will conclude with Holy Mass celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda.

On the second day, 11 December 2025, a workshop will be held focusing on interdisciplinarity, a distinctive feature of the training programme offered by the Centre. In the morning, there will be a series of lectures on the relevance of theology for training, psychological and spiritual accompaniment, and the protection of vulnerable persons. In the afternoon, the reflection will continue in small groups. On the third and final day, 28 April 2026, we will take a look at the challenges that future formators will face in an ever-changing world. ‘Even in the face of complex challenges,’ concludes Fr. Bambi, ‘the Lord Jesus is always present among us, until the end of time. He calls us to serve him under the banner of the cross and invites us to live our mission in faith and hope. We entrust this year of commemoration to him and ask him to bless and make our commitment fruitful.’