These words by Mark Boris Andrijanič capture the main message of the round table discussion held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, organized by Škofijska strela at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium (DCG) in St. Stanislav Institution. The discussion focused on opportunities for studying at universities abroad. The guests included: Zala Tomašič, a political scientist and sociologist, alumna of DCG and Cornell University (USA), and Member of the European Parliament; Jerneja Koren, an alumna of DCG, who completed her Master’s degree in Pharmacology and Immunology at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) and is currently pursuing a PhD in biomedical research at the University of Basel (Switzerland); Mark Boris Andrijanič, a lawyer, alumnus of DCG and the University of Oxford, he served as Slovenia’s first-ever Minister of Digital Transformation; and Rok Sekirnik, a chemist, alumnus of the University of Oxford, and president of ASEF, a non-profit organization supporting the education of highly talented students and scolars in Slovenia.

The discussion engaged with questions of a more personal and developmental nature, such as what kind of student profile foreign universities are looking for, as well as what studying abroad and such a global experience contribute to students’ intellectual and personal development. Most guests emphasized that they were drawn by the fact that universities abroad seek engaged students who are actively involved in shaping their own curriculum. The discussion also answered many practical questions – the process of selecting an appropriate university abroad, key differences between domestic and international study environments, the principal added value of international study, application procedures for universities in Europe and the United States, funding opportunities, and issues related to accommodation.

During the discussion, the guests – mostly alumni of DCG – also reflected on their former school, considering how their education there had shaped them and prepared them for academic pursuits abroad. They spoke about why it is worthwhile to return to Slovenia after completing one’s studies and the role of the state in facilitating such returns. The discussion concluded on a highly encouraging note. The speakers encouraged the more than one hundred students present to spend at least one year studying abroad, as it is an unforgettable experience that provides invaluable international perspective. They urged them to think carefully about the impact they wish to make with their talents and with what kind of passion they will contribute—whether in Slovenia or abroad—to changing the world. Finally, they highlighted the important role of parents in supporting young people by allowing them the independence to pursue opportunities abroad. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Christ is the Life and the Resurrection.
In Him we want to believe,
in Him to place our hope,
Him we want to love.
With Him, with Christ,
we, too, want our Easter resurrection
and seek to attain everlasting life.

(Anton Vovk, an excerpt from the Easter sermon 1949)

 

FELIX ALELLUIA!

St. Stanislav’s Institution, Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, Jeglič Student Home, Alojzij Šuštar Primary School, Good Shepherd Kindergarten, Janez F. Gnidovec Residence Hall, Slovene Home, Matija Tomc Music School and Stane Kregar Gallery

Anton Česen, M.A. Director

Sara Isaković—mother, elite athlete, Olympic medalist, and Master of Psychology, who is also a respected lecturer—addressed the students and teachers of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Drawing on her rich experience, she spoke primarily about where the key to success lies, what it means to harness mental strength, how to apply it in everyday life, and what prevents us from using it to its full potential. She also touched on the responsible use of mobile phones and the harmful effects of excessive use of social media.

She devoted the most attention to the exposure of our brains to constant stimulation, which can be detrimental on the path to achieving both mental excellence and physical readiness—especially when facing important challenges such as exams, competitions and final assessments that students have ahead of them. Success in these areas is a matter of individual choice. Even long after the inspiring lecture, some students remained for personal conversations with the speaker, who skillfully engaged and held the audience’s attention throughout. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

“By birth the Only-begotten and Express image of God; and in taking our flesh, not sullied thereby, but raising human nature with Him, as He rose from the lowly manger to the right hand of power,—raising human nature, for Man has redeemed us, Man is set above all creatures, as one with the Creator, Man shall judge man at the last day (…) He who has given us to share His own spiritual nature,He from whom we have drawn the life’s blood of our souls, He our brother will decide about His brethren.” /St. John Henry Newman, PPS II-3, 25 December 1834/

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year 2026.

St. Stanislav’s Institution, Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, Jeglič Student Home, Alojzij Šuštar Primary School, Good Shepherd Kindergarten, Matija Tomc Music School, Janez F. Gnidovec Residence Hall, Stane Kregar Gallery and Slovene Home

Anton Česen, M.A. Director

On the 120th anniversary of St. Stanislav’s Institution the 2025 Christmas card is dedicated to its former student, the versatile visual artist Tone Kralj. He dedicated his whole life to creating a very large opus of work including sculpture, graphics and paintings, of which the monumental sacred church paintings are considered to be Kralj’s crowning achievement. His work has had a profound impact on Slovene fine arts and has left a lasting impression on the cultural heritage of Slovenia.

Four of the graduate students from The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, namely Ivana Ferjan, Angela Mahnič, Zala Trošt and Lucija GartnEr, spent twelve days in December 2025 at The Colegio Ntra. Sra. de la Merced – Tres Cantos. While getting to know their Spanish peers, Spanish educational system, family life and the culture of the visiting country, Mrs Lidia Ruis, a teacher and coordinator at the Bilingualism Department of the same school expressed her views on hosting the students from Slovenia with the following words: »I just wanted to write to thank you for giving us the opportunity to host your four students at our school over their stay. It has truly been a great experience for both our students and our host families, and we have all really enjoyed having them with us. The girls integrated very well into school life and created a lovely atmosphere throughout their stay. The families also told us how positive and enriching the experience was, so thank you for making this possible. I would also like to thank you very much for the gifts you and the students gave us. They were a really thoughtful gesture and we truly appreciated them. We hope this will be the beginning of many more collaborations in the future. Please send our best wishes to the students and to everyone involved at your school.« This what all the exchange visits are about – learning, sharing, caring and getting to know each other! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Each year the entire school community celebrates St. Stanislav’s Day to mark the feast of the Institution’s patron. This academic year the celebration is special as the 120th anniversary of St. Stanislav’s Institution is being marked. The fill rouge of the celebration is explained under the motto treasure in jars of clay.

We have the pleasure of inviting you to this year’s celebration which will be marked with holy mass on Thursday, 13th November 2025. Holy mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Ljubljana, Stanislav Zore OFM at 3 p.m. in St. Vitus Church, Ljubljana Šentvid. The formal celebration will take place at 5 p. m. in the sports hall of the Alojzij Šuštar Primary School. Dr. Federico V. Potočnik, doctor of medicine and alumnus of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium., will hold the official speech. The performance will be given by the students of all schools in St. Stanislav’s Institution.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Anton Česen, M. A., Director of St. Stanislav’s Institution

Ana Javornik, a soon-to-be law student, delighted the school community this summer with some joyful news. She took part in the international literary competition Energheia submitting her short story entitled “The Burning Sea”. The above mentioned competition sellects the best short story written by young people aged 18 to 30 from various countries. The best stories are translated into Italian, and from among them a panel of experts—composed of distinguished Italian writers and literary critics—selects the winning story for each country.

Ana wrote a stylistically and thematically polished unputdownable short story. Through fragments, the story of a physics teacher unfolds—a man who wants to take revenge on the sea. He decides that the sea must burn. “Not just burn—burn up completely; nothing must remain except charred dead fish and piles of scorched salt.” But how? The entire school community is proud of Ana’s international litarary success! /Erika Komatar, teacher of Slovene language and lieterature at DCG/

HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT

 The death and resurrection of Jesus
is the heart of our faith
and the basis of our hope.

Christ died, was buried, was raised and appeared. For our sake, Jesus experienced the drama of death. The Father’s love raised him in the power of the Spirit, and made of his humanity the first fruits of our eternal salvation.

Christian hope consists precisely in this: that in facing death, which appears to be the end of everything, we have the certainty that, thanks to the grace of Christ imparted to us in Baptism, “life is changed, not ended”, forever. Pope Francis, Spes non confundit (Hope does not disappoint), 2024.

 

May the celebration of Easter fills you with hope brought about by the mystery of Jesus’ resurrection. Felix Alleluia!

Anton Česen, M. A., Director of St. Stanislav’s Institution

 

The salvation that God offers us is an invitation to be part of a love story interwoven with our personal stories; it is alive and wants to be born in our midst, so that we can bear fruit just as we are, wherever we are and with everyone all around us. The Lord comes there to sow and to be sown. (Pope Francis, Christus vivit, 252)

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year 2025.

St. Stanislav’s Institution, Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, Jeglič Student Home,

Alojzij Šuštar Primary School, Good Shepherd Kindergarten, Music School, Janez F. Gnidovec Residence Hall, Stane Kregar Gallery and Slovene Home

Anton Česen, M.A. Director

 

 

Each year the entire school community celebrates St. Stanislav’s Day to mark the feast of the Institution’s patron. This academic year the celebration is special as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of The Good Shepeherd Kindergarten is being marked. The fill rouge of the celebration is explained under the motto Rejoice in the Lord.

We have the pleasure of inviting you to this year’s celebration which will be marked with holy mass on Wednesday, 13th November 2024. Holy mass will be celebrated by the Archbishop of Ljubljana, Stanislav Zore at 3 p.m. in St. Vitus Church, Ljubljana Šentvid. The formal celebration will take place at 5 p. m. in the sports hall of the Alojzij Šuštar Primary School. Andreja Poljanec, Ph. D., a lecturer at Sigmund Freud University Ljubljana, will hold the official speech. The performance will be given by the students of all schools in St. Stanislav’s Institution.

We look forward to celebrating with you.

Anton Česen, M. A., Director of St. Stanislav’s Institution