European Association of Jesuit Alumni/ae

Working for others

"En Todo Amar Y Servir"

Presidents' Conference, Vilnius, 26-28 March 2004

Minutes of the Meeting  -   [Français]

Present:
José Maria CABEZUDO, SP, José Maria MENÉNDEZ, SP, Filipe GARRIDO, PT,
Gianpaolo MARINI, I, Bernard KOTTRUP, D, Paul ROGERS, GB,
P. Pierre SALEMBIER SJ, F, Eric de LANGSDORFF, F, Frédéric BUXTORF, F,
Sabibe PERREAU, F , Denis LARCHER, F,
Gonçal Fábregas ALEGRET, SP, P. Fernando MESEGUER RUIZ S.J, SP,
Hermann v. BRAUNMÜHL, D, Louis COOREMAN, B, P. Luk ARTS SJ, B, P. Maurice PILETTE SJ, B, Alain DENEEF, B/WU, Alain BAYARD, B, Wolfgang WILDNER, A,
Simonas KRIVOSCENKA, LIT, Martynas LUKOSEVICIUS, LIT, Nomeda MISELYTE, LIT, Henryk GANOWIAK, PL, Piotr RADWANSKI, PL,
Excused:
Bernard THOMPSON, GB / WU, P. Götz WERNER SJ, D, John MCCABE, GB,
Stephen GATT, MT, P. Cristóbal SARRIAS SJ, SP, Sascha MOSER, D, P. Uberto CERONI SJ, IT, Olivier WOUTERS, B, Ciro CACCHIONE, IT, Hervé CARRERA, FR

1. Opening – prayer – thoughts provided by P. Luk Arts SJ

2. Welcome by Aldonas Gudaitis SJ, Lithuanian Father Provincial

3. Round the table and news from the federations:

• Its the first time in 50 years, that the confederation meets in an eastern country and this just before Lithuania joins the European union.
• Approval of the minutes of the Berlin meeting.
  Hermann von Braunmühl circulated a letter he wrote and containing his remarks concerning the minutes. Instead of always saying nice words we should have concrete projects and constitute working groups. To this end he suggests to fix an action-schedule.
  His letter didn't cause any reactions and he didn't get any answers.

Spain: Spain held it's general Assembly one month ago. 24 associations were present.
The new web-site was presented.
The next national congress will take place in Saragossa.

Gonçal Fabregas makes a point of thanking Hervé, Louis and all those who expressed their solidarity by sending messages when Madrid suffered terrorist attacks.

France: The French federation celebrated its 50 th anniversary. At this occasion the new Provincial Father Dumortier SJ introduced himself.
Un action plan was adopted for the period 2004 – 2006.

Great-Britain: The project « Eagle Aid » celebrates its 10 th anniversary. During these years 400.000,- € have been distributed to social projects.
A new web-site has been created which gives the opportunity to make donations on-line.

Germany: Efforts are made to strengthen contacts between the alumnae, the colleges and the company. .
2 projects are running:
- the Arrupe contest, a literature contest for the pupils of the upper forms of Jesuit colleges on subject of Social Projects of the Company of Jesus. This contest is awarded with 9000,- € altogether. The prizewinners will be introduced in March 2005 during an official ceremony.
- The Magis organisation: Support of the pre-congress organised by the Jesuits on the occasion of the World Youth Day.

Belgium Wallon region: The federation celebrated its 50 th anniversary. It brings together the associations of 7 colleges, a school of engineering and the Stanislas Kostka. Foundation
The aim of the activities is to intensify the ignatian spirituality in the colleges where there are Jsesuits anymore (Jesuits left in only three colleges) .
The Stanislas Kostka Foundation gives the opportunity to strengthen the contacts with colleges from eastern Europe. The foundation allows students of these countries to study in Belgium by paying the travel expenses and cost of residence.

Poland: The alumnae association of Gdynia has a new bureau. 50 % of the members represent young people who left the colleges the last ten years.
This year there will be festivities for the 10 th anniversary of the college and the association. Father Kolvenbach and the Cardinal of Wroclaw, honorary member of the association and alumni of the college of Vilnius will attend the ceremonies. There will be the inauguration of a new gymnasium and a swimming pool, which have been co-financed by the alumnae.
On November 13 th there will be a memorial service for St. Stanislas Kostka SJ.
In September a new Jesuit college will open near Krakow.

Italy: Intensification of the contacts with the colleges, which have been neglected during the last years.
First details concerning the organisation of the next meting in Rome.

Belgium, Flemish region: There was much enthusiasm for preparing the congress of Malta. Now, that there are new concrete aims, motivation has lessened, principally amongst the elder ones.
In the colleges, the directors have decided to introduce compulsory social courses for the pupils. The alumnae could help to prepare those.
The college of Antwerp supported the Dollar Arrupe campaign.

Portugal: The national congress has been postponed until October. The discussion between the cooperation between the alumnae and the company of Jesus has not been completed yet. La discussion sur la coopération entre anciens élèves et la compagnie de jésus n’étant pas encore terminée. The point is to integrate other lay organisations in view of a cooperation of all lay organisations around the company.

End of the round table: Father Salembier suggests for the next meetings, that a written report of the federations should be sent beforehand to the participants (per mail for example).

Observation of a minute silence to pay a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in Madrid.

Presentation of the Lithuanian federation ( http://alumnai.vjg.lt/ljaf ): The federation is made of 2 associations, the Vilnius association (founded in 2000) and the Kaunas association, www.alumnai.tinkle.lt.  (founded in 2002). The most important event is the organisation of the summer camp for the European alumnae.

Other activities consist in enhancing contacts with other schools in Lithuania and Europe, orgainzing retreats and spiritual reflexions, participating at school at school fêtes, organizing seminars tp prepare the pupils to university (How to cope with the first year at university).

World Union: Preparation of a program based on 3 subjects:
- How to become an NGO
- Preparation of the circulation of the bulletin "ETC » through the web-site. The circulation on paper and by post is very expensive. Alain Deneef asks all the federations to pay their fees to the World Union.
During the meeting of Rome, Bernard Thompson will report about the first results and he will take bearings about different subjects.

Suggestion of P. Salembier for future meetings: Foresee an access to Internet during the meeting to be able to visit the national sites and show the accessibility to the site.

4. Financial report of Gianpaolo Marini

TRESORERIE

To all Committee members of the J.A. European Confederation
A tous les Membres du Comité de la Confédération Européenne des Anciens et Anciennes Elèves des Pères Jesuites

Vilnius, March 27th 2004 Object: funds situation Dear Friends, I would like to inform you about the "cash" situation and the contributions receivable:		Vilnius , 27 mars 2004 Concerne: situation des finances Mes chers Amis, Je voudrais vous informer de la situation de caisse et des contributions:
a) cash balance at Nov.8th , 2003(Berlin) / bilan au 8 novembre 2003 (Berlin) € 4.960,29 bank expenses " (6,39) general expenses " ( 1884,00) (1) bank interests “ 12,36 contribution received " 410,00 cash balance at March 27th 2004:    € 3.492,26 note : (1) contribution for the partecipation to the Calcutta Congress returned to the President     b) contributions receivable from: / contributions à recevoir:
	2002 / 03	2004 / 05
Spain		300,00
Malta	100,00	150,00
Ireland	?	?
S. Belgium		300,00
G. Britain		300,00
N. Belgium	260,00	300,00
Portugal		150,00
France		300,00
Germany	260,00	300,00
Austria		300,00
Italy		300,00
Poland		paid
Lithuania		150,00
Total receivable	620,00	2.850,00	3.470,00
c) expenses payable for: / frais à payer pour: Contribution for Malta Congress = € 2.000,00 (decision taken during Wien meeting in March 2002)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYMENT PS: I would like to remind you our banking account		INSTRUCTIONS POUR LE PAIEMENT PS: Je me permets de vous rappeler le compte bancaire
Bank CREDITO ARTIGIANO SpA Banque Swift Code ARTI IT M2 Swift Code Adress Piazza San Fedele 4 20121 Milano – Italy Adresse Account 01 54724-16 Compte Name GIANPAOLO MARINI European Jesuit Alumni Confederation Nom Please if it possible , pay by cash directly to the Treasurer or to his delegate in order to avoid bank expenses. Thank you ! S.v.p., pour eviter frais bancaires, payez vous directement au trésorier ou à son délégué
BUDGET FOR BIANNUAL EXPENSES 2004/05
Bank Secretariat Bureau meetings Contribution to Malta Total   Contributions receivable In cash at March 27th 2004 Total		100,00 800,00 2.100,00 2.000,00 5.000,00   € 3.470,00 3.492,26 € 6.9692,26

5. Next meeting, October 30th / 31st and November 1st 2004 in Rome

Gianpaolo Marini gives some in formations concerning the accommodations and the program of the Rome meeting.
Some of the places don't seem to be satisfying enough, as some of the rooms only have a bathroom on the corridor. We ask Ciro Cacchione to make some suggestions and to present them for mid-April. Decision is taken to prolong the meeting for one day until November 1st.
Concerning the program and the Agenda: we will put the accent on the activities which have a link with the company and ignatian places.
It will be difficult to organize a meeting with Father General. Father Salembier will ask Father general if a meeting could be envisaged when he'll meet him in Versailles in June. One possible subject to be discussed could be the integration of alumni in an enlarged Europe, our mission and our suggestions.

6. Discussion and Suggestions

2006 will give us the opportunity to celebrate several anniversaries and commemorations of St. Ignacio, Frances Xavier and Peter Fabre. The French Father Provincial would like the French alumni to participate actively. Suggestion: widen the circle of the persons concerned.
To organize this, one should take contact with Father Rosaert, president of the Conference of Provincials, who will coordinate the festivities.
Father Pilette notices that this program supposes do a lot of work and preparation, now what had been planned during the previous meetings has not been accomplished.
2004 the meeting of Rome has not been properly prepared yet
2005 for the congress of Lisbon, we had decided to define 5 subjects, now we have not even decided the objectives.

Alain Deneef suggested to evaluate past activities. Everybody should participate to establish a list. He sent a questionnaire to all the federations to list all social activities. Nobody returned it.

In Paris we decided to constitute 5 working groups to treat special themes. Eric suggests that every group makes a report about the theme discussed. José notices that it had been decided that the conclusions will be presented in Lisbon and not yet in Rome.

Louis suggests that the bureau sees all the suggestions again to elaborate a feasible program. This was already decided in Rome, but had never been put into practice.
Father Salembier notices that it is impossible to do a good job without any objectives.
José informs that the working session of Sunday morning will consist in constituting the working groups, the work to be done and the persons responsible.

Father Pilette notices that it is time to prepare the congress of Lisbon. The previous congresses had been prepared for more than 2 years, the documents were ready 6 months before. The organising association had planned all the details. Only the contents had been decided by the Confederation.

7. The Congress in Lisbon: July 2005

The federations are asked to give an approximate number of participants at the congress. This is to allow the Portuguese friends to fix a budget and the fees, which vary with the number of participants.

Felipe Garrido presents the provisional program.
The Congress itself will last three days.

Felipe has prepared a program for 8 days:

• 1st day (July 24th): Arrival in Lisbon for those who participate at the pilgrimage
• 2nd day (July 25th) Pilgrimage to Coimbra
• 3rd day (July 26th) Pilgrimage from Coimbra to Fatima
      - the younger and sporty ones walk part of it
      - the other walk on a shorter distance
      - for those who cannot walk, there will be a bus provided.
      in Fatima there will be a mass and reflection time
• 4th day (July 27th) Arrival of the Congress participants in Lisbon
  Those who went to the pilgrimage can visit Lisbon
• 5th day (July 28th) 1st day of the Congress
• 6th + 7th day (July 29th/30th) Congress
• 8th day (July 31st) St. Ignace day celebration in the morning
  after-noon, end of Congress and departure

A dormitory will be provides in the college for the young people at a reasonable price.
Father Salembier is willing to prepare the pilgrimage to Coimbra with Olivier Martin.

8. Next meetings of the European Confederation

The next meetings will take place in:

• October 30th / 31st and November 1st 2004 in Rome
  as we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Confederation, we will invite all former presidents and spiritual counsellors to join us.
• March 12th and 13th, 2005 in Gdynia, Poland (the exact dates have not been decided yet)
  Discussion concerning the place. As it is difficult to travel to Gdynia, it may be better to organize the meeting in Warsaw or Krakow, which are easier to reach by plane.
  2 problems still remain:
• On the Polish side: In Gdynia we can all have accommodation in the Jesuit college, considering that the polish members and college representatives come from Gdynia.
  Concerning all the others: it is important, that the meeting place is easy to reach and that it is not too expensive, as it is only a two days meeting (some of us took the whole day to arrive in Vilnius and had several stop-overs).
  Moreover there are no cheap flights (except for Warsaw and Krakow, flying Air Polonia)
  It would be important to list the different possibilities of each of us and we should think about an alternative until we meet in Rome to be able to take a decision there.
  José will discuss about it with our Polish friends.

9. Working groups

- Politics, morality and ethics: Father Pilette being the only one in this group, he will join the group "education"

- Education: by next summer, we will have accomplished a consultation to better know the relationship between alumni and.
The outcome will give us the opportunity to have a basis for work to be accomplished during our next meeting.
The group has already some ideas. The results will be presented in Rome.
Hermann von Braunmühl asks for sending this document by mail before the meeting in Rome.

- Construction of Europe: we will base our work on 2 documents:
the paper delivered by Giscard d’Estaing on the project of constitution
le documents of the Jesuits delivered on this subject
4 major points emerge from the discussion:
    - the European alumni believe in the construction of Europe
    - how to communicate the experience we live to the alumni not being present
    - develop relationships between the different colleges in Europe
    - communicate our enthusiasm concerning the European construction.

- Politics, Ethic, Social activities: Louis has taken over the responsibility of the group in the absence of Hervé, Hervé sent us per mail a list of points which will be used as basis for the discussion.

10. Methods of communication:

We first need to improve the communication among st ourselves.
    - to acknowledge receipt of the mails and messages we get.
    - to answer in a reasonable period of time
    - if we think we are not the right addressee, forward the message to the person concerned
The e-mail and postal addresses /phone numbers available will be listed by Bernard Kottrup.
Felipe Garrido will circulate a questionnaire to have more information about the colleges, the number of local associations, the number of members etc.... All the presidents are kindly invited to answer this questionnaire.
Alain Deneef will also circulate again the questionnaire concerning so called social organisations in which we are involved.

11. Alumni coming from Jesuit Universities:

We realized that our organization only convenes alumni coming from secondary schools.
Now the company runs a lot of universities and engineering schools etc... These alumni are not represented in our organisation. We are going to draw up a list of these institutions and contact the persons responsible of the company and of existing alumni organizations.

12. Members' data bank:

In Germany, there exists a data banc about the members of the federation. Everybody has the opportunity to register and to look for in formations about the other members.
It would be interesting to examine the possibility to establish such a database (on which server, costs responsibilities concerning the management of such a database)

Other meetings:

• Day of catholic organisations in Lille between September 24 - 26, 2004
• World Youth Day in Cologne: 15.8 - 21.8. 2005
• Jesuit Pre-Meeting: 9. 8. - 14. 8. 2005 near Cologne

Thanks
The Confederation wishes to thank the Lithuanian Confederation and for the very warm welcome in Vilnius and especially Father Frédéric Buxtorf and Salembier for their translation

[Top]