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Kircher Network and its partner high school institutions are offering a diverse range of Training Opportunities: Study Week in Granada: Christian and Muslim relations  The Kircher Network's HEST cluster on Christian Muslim Relations is hosting a Study Week in Granada focusing on "Christian and Muslim Relations: Bridging Intercultural Societies for Peace in Turbulent Times." This program emphasizes fostering dialogue and understanding between Christian and Muslim communities, drawing from Al-Andalus’ history amidst global tensions. It is vital for students in theology, humanities, and political sciences to address challenges and promote conflictnational T resolution and harmony in today's world. It will take place from June 30th to July 6th and applications are open for Kircher Network’s students of the mentioned faculties. The expenses will be covered for the first 12 applications. Read More Course on identity and mission of Higher Education Institutions We invite you to check the website of the new course on the identity and mission of Jesuit Higher Education Institutions organized by the Kircher Network. This course aims to offer an introductory immersion experience and hybrid formation for our faculty, leader administrators, and staff who want to gain a foundation in Ignatian identity and the Jesuit higher education mission. Following the Ignatian Pedagogy traditions, the course seeks to be an integral experience comprising intellectual, interiority, and relational approaches. We envision the course as an educational endeavor and an exceptional opportunity for regional networking, fostering mutual understanding among the participants The course, conducted in English, comprises three-day sessions in Vienna and three online meetings. It will start in September 2024, with an introductory webinar followed by three-day in-person sessions at the Society of Jesus’ Kardinal König Haus in Vienna (October 28, 29, and 30), and two follow-up webinars on Ignatian Leadership in November 2024. Read More II International Symposium on Secularity The II International Symposium on Secularity “Do we need religion? Contributions of spirituality and religion to the post-secular and communitarian societies" will take place at Sankt Georgen University (Frankfurt), from the 30th to the 31st of May 2024. Read More    
Between 28th February and 2nd March, 12 representatives of the network of Jesuit Social Centres in Europe gathered in Dublin for a three-day in-person meeting. The gathering aimed to develop a deeper common understanding of the issues at stake in the upcoming European elections, to share initiatives and identify possible collaborations. The question of preserving democracy in view of growing polarization and extreme views was at the centre of attention. Inputs from two experts, on the topic of interaction between migration and politics in Ireland and on impact-oriented communication, helped to deepen the debate. The meeting was also the occasion for the participants to discover the realities, challenges and accomplishments of Jesuit social works in Ireland, through meetings with the teams of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ) and of JRS Ireland. The participants also met with the Irish Provincial, Fr. Shane Daly, for a common Mass. Contributing to the success of the session was the outstanding Irish hospitality, orchestrated by the director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, Kevin Hargarden, and the entire JCFJ team. To all, “go raibh maith agaibh” (“thank you” in Irish, literally “may good be at you”!) 
“Safeguarding children and adults is about transforming human relationships, from violence to dialogue, from abuse to equity, so that social interactions become the best shield to prevent abuses.” (Jeyaraj, Guiney & Racionero-Plaza 2023). The Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE), together with the Zentrum für Ignatianische Pädagogik (Centre for Ignatian Pedagogy - ZIP), has been working in recent years to support schools in our region in this transformation. Through online trainings, conferences and consultancy, we support the development of a culture of protection in our institutions. In March 2022, we were pleased to invite representatives from our schools to come together to reflect on important safeguarding issues at a conference entitled “Protecting Minors in Our Schools: Preventing and Responding to (Sexualised) Violence”. Over 130 representatives from Jesuits schools in 23 countries gathered in Ludwigshafen, both in person and online, to discuss this crucial topic. Following the post-conference video, we are pleased to offer now the book: “Protecting Minors in our Schools. Preventing and Responding to Sexualised Violence”.  It is a collection of  contributions prepared by the keynote speakers of our Safeguarding Conference in Ludwigshafen (2022). The articles presented here start with  outlining the context of the problem and move on describing in detail specific safeguarding issues.  Proposed responses to the current challenges in this area cover model solutions and practical suggestions for their implementation. We hope that this book will be an impulse for further reflection on safeguarding, an inspiration for improving existing policies and protocols and designing new prevention schemes.  It is our objective to sustainably strengthen a culture of protection in our Jesuit and companion schools.  
On February 21st, we inaugurated our campaign at Atelier 29 in Brussels. This hybrid event captivated an audience of over 150 attendees. Filipe Martins, SJ, the director of JESC, and Alberto Alemanno, the founder of The Good Lobby, unveiled the core motivations and objectives steering our coalition. Béla Kuslits, the Senior Ecology Officer at JESC, presented our trio of policy proposals:  An Interinstitutional Agreement safeguarding the rights of Future Generations. The appointment of a Commissioner for Future Generations, serving also as Vice President. The incorporation of a Future Generations Impact Assessment within the Better Regulations Guidelines. Following these insightful introductions, a panel discussion featuring eight coalition members delved into the social and political hurdles confronting our campaign. The dialogue highlighted the varied insights coalition members contribute to this advocacy endeavor, with a special focus on the pivotal role of youth organizations. The event concluded with a networking reception, where engaging conversations with our guests sparked promising opportunities for broadening our collaborative efforts.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the organizations of the Jesuits have served and accompanied 100.765 people fleeing violence. Coordinated by JRS Europe and the Xavier Network, in collaboration with NGOs and local partners, the Society of Jesus has provided emergency aid, shelter, psychosocial support, education, and integration, among other services.  “Since day one, we have been accompanying refugees fleeing the war with a coordinated holistic response in Ukraine, neighbouring countries, and across Europe. While it might not be on newspapers covers anymore, this crisis is still unfolding, and we are committed to provide long term support”.  “Our hearts are filled with hope from the many testimonies of both refugees and host communities that embrace solidarity and integration. They continue to show us that in a context full of pain, stress and sorrow, hope is still alive. We are immensely thankful to the continuous solidarity of many generous people, foundations and organizations who trust in the work of the Society of Jesus”.  As the emergency continues, the needs of the refugees have evolved, and the response has adapted. While during the first year more than half of the support activities were aimed at short-term and emergency aid, in 2023 that has dropped to 17%. Meanwhile, medium-term activities, such as housing and education, have more than doubled from 20% to 52% in 2023. However, the biggest increase was in long term accompaniment, more than tripling from less than 10% in 2022 to 31% in 2023.  The One Proposal, which was presented in July 2022 after an in-depth needs assessment, encompasses a wide range of services to be provided to an originally projected 73,168 people over the course of 3 years. Since then, it has been continuously revised and expanded with yearly needs assessments.  It addresses the needs of forcibly displaced Ukrainians across Europe, from immediate humanitarian response and emergency assistance in Ukraine and its neighbours, to long-term programmes to promote and integrate refugees. Therefore, it will benefit internally displaced people, refugees of Ukrainian nationality and refugees of other nationalities, displaced by the conflict in Ukraine.  The report, as well as dozens of stories of the people being helped through the One Proposal, are available at jrseurope.org/en/project/the-one-proposal/. You will find a summary and testimonies in the attached factsheets. You can also find more information about how to donate and/or take action to help refugees and other forcibly displaced people.  We remain united in working together on this common response in Ukraine, as well as on other common projects where we accompany, serve and advocate for so many refugees and forcibly displaced people across Europe.
Fr António Sant’Ana SJ was appointed European Coordinator of the Pope’s Prayer Network by Fr. Dalibor Renić SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. He will be the European Assistant of the International Director

UPCOMING EVENTS

18-20
Mon - Wed
Mar 2024
ONLINE
Consult JCEP Consult of the president of Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. It takes place online. READ MORE
2
Tue
Apr 2024
ROME
Italy
Diaconal Ordination S. Donatas Kuzmickas (ECE) will be ordained deacon on 2 April at 4 pm in the church Il Gesù in Rome by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça. READ MORE
10
Wed
Apr 2024
BRUSSELS
Belgium
European Works in Brussels Meeting of the Jesuits and Collaborators working in JCEP, JESC, JRS-Europe, Chapel for Europe and the Teachers of Religion in the European Schools. READ MORE
11-14
Thu - Sun
Apr 2024
LYON
France
Ecology Delegates Meeting of the European Ecology Delegates at the Eco-Centre Le Chatelard in Lyon, France READ MORE