History of the Conference of European Provincials S.J.
1972 - 2009
1972
May 18th - 20th. A first ever meeting was held in Paris of the provincials of Western Europe in the presence of Fr General Pedro Arrupe. At this meeting Fr Arrupe said that the Society needed to consider what it might do specifically in the "European milieu".
September 30th. Fr General established the Committee of European Provincials (AR.XV.957). Fr Simon Decloux (BME) was appointed President. Members ESP, GAL, BRI, HIB, NER, BSE, POR, the Delegate for Italy, and the President of the German Provincials' Committee.
1973
January 1st. Denmark, U.K. and Ireland acceded to the EC.
1974
January 14th - 15th. The Committee met at Villa Cavaletti, Rome to review formation at the European level, the European institutions and other areas of possible European collaboration.
December 1st. Opening of GC32 in Rome.
1975
March 7th. Close of GC32.
1976
January 26th - 29th. The Committee met again at Villa Cavaletti. The Statutes of the Committee were discussed. The Committee's existence was reconfirmed after CG32. Fr General consulted on a president and wider membership.
Fr Luk de Hovre (BSE) was named as president, and Fr Jean Weydart (GAL) as secretary. The Committee was made up of Belgium (BME & BSE), France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Yugoslavia.
1977
January 25th - 29th. A meeting at the General Curia in Rome discussed areas of co-operation at the European level.
1978
January 31st - February 4th. A meeting was held at Heverlee in Belgium.
A visit was made to the European institutions.
August 6th. Death of Pope Paul VI.
August 26th. Election of Pope John Paul I.
September 28th. Death of Pope John Paul I.
October 16th. Election of Pope John Paul II.
1979
February 1st - 4th. A meeting at Southwell House, London discussed the Jesuit contribution to the European institutions.
1980
January 31st - February 3rd. Meeting at Berchmanskolleg in Munich. The composition and role of the Committee were discussed.
1981
January 1st. Greece acceded to the EC.
January 29th - February 1st. Meeting at Gallarate, Italy. Eurojess was set up. Luk De Hovre's mandate ended.
August 7th. Fr. Arrupe suffered a stroke.
October 5th. Fr. Paolo Dezza was appointed as Apostolic Delegate
1982
January 28th - 31st. A meeting planned for Barcelona was cancelled and a small group of provincials met in Rome with Fr Dezza, the Pontifical Delegate.
Fr Guy Jacqmotte (BSE) was named as new president in June 1982. Secretary: Fr Paul Symonds (BRI).
1983
January 27th - 30th. A meeting held in Barcelona prepared for GC33 and the election of a new general.
September 2nd. Opening of GC33.
September 3rd. Acceptance of Fr Arrupe=s resignation.
September 13th. Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach was elected general.
October 25th. Close of GC33.
1984
February 9th - 13th. A meeting was held In Marseilles in the presence of Fr General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach. The future of the Committee was discussed. At present it was made up of only half the European Provincials. Should something be set up along the lines of the USA Conference? Knowledge of English would be necessary for all members. A document The Mission of the Society in Europe was produced.
1985
March 21st - 24th. The Committee met at Campion Hall, Oxford. It proposed that there should be a Directorate made up of eight Jesuits. They should establish a permanent Secretariat of the Committee, to be made up of an Executive Secretary, a person responsible for contacts and liaisons, and an administrative secretary. The first two should be appointed by Fr General for a period of three years. The Directorate should determine the work of the Secretariat.
May 24th - 25th 1985. The Directorate met at Heverlee, Belgium to discuss the setting-up of a Secretariat.
1986
January 1st. Spain and Portugal acceded to the EC.
February 6th - 10th. At a meeting in Lisbon the idea of a Secretariat began to take shape. The role and powers of a possible president of a Committee of European Provincials was discussed. A terna was prepared for Fr General.
April 23rd. Fr Ignasi Salvat (TAR) was appointed as President of the Committee of European Provincials by Fr General .
1987
March 5th - 10th. First meeting of the Conference of European Provincials in Zagreb. Henceforth the term 'Committee' would be used for a smaller meeting of Provincials in the years when the full Conference did not meet. The Statutes of the C.E.P. were agreed at Zagreb. After this meeting Fr Paul Symonds ceased to be Secretary. Fr Salvat appointed Fr Jean Beckers (BME) in his place.
1988
May 17th - 22nd. The Committee met in Mosta, Malta. Theme: 'What does Europe mean to you and how is it lived in your Province?' It approved the budget for the next two years. It also proposed a 'European Year' for scholastics as part of their formation and set up a committee led by Fr Jacques Gellard (GAL) to study this. It also set up a committee led by Fr Mark Rotsaert (BSE) to look at increasing collaboration between our centres of study, especially of theology.
1989
April 20th - 25th. The Committee met in Vienna. It considered Fr Mark Rotsaert's report on European collaboration in the formation of our scholastics. There had been strong resistance to the idea of a 'European year' because it would increase the length of formation.
1990
March 2nd - 6th. Second General Assembly of C.E.P. in Brussels. The GA heard reports on the current state of the provinces in Eastern Europe and discussed the assistance given by the provinces of Western Europe; this was at the explicit request of Fr General. Formation was discussed and the President was asked to set up Euro-groups for directors of formation centres and for lecturers in philosophy. The future of OCIPE, the Foyer Catholique and the European Schools was discussed. At this time Jacques Delors was president of the European Commission.
October 3rd. Reunification of East and West Germany.
1991
February 5th. Death of Fr Pedro Arrupe.
February. First meeting of Directors of Formation Centre Euro-group in Chantilly, France.
April 11th - 15th. The Committee met in Warsaw. Nineteen provincials took part. Once again Fr Mark Rotsaert's report on Formation in Europe was discussed. There was discussion about setting up a 'European Community' in Strasbourg. OCIPE was also discussed at length.
1992
March 25th B 30th. The Committee met in Manresa, Dublin. Twenty provincials took part. The provincials met President Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Connell. They also visited Belfast and Portadown.
1993
March 18th - 22nd. Third General Assembly of the C.E.P. in Geneva. Fr General was present throughout. A new version of the Statutes (21 March 1993) was approved. Henceforth the General Assembly would meet every two years with a Committee meeting in alternate years. (The Committee would now be made up of two provincials from each assistancy.) The provincials voted on a terna for a new president. Fr Philip Harnett (HIB) received a large majority. Fr General immediately announced that he would appoint Fr Harnett President of the C.E.P. but deferred his appointment as major superior until he could clarify the latter's functions. The GA approved a Declaration on OCIPE and another on the Foyer Catholique.
October 1st. Fr Philip Harnett (HIB) takes over as President of the C.E.P. He is the first full-time President of the C.E.P.
November 1st. The Maastricht Treaty takes effect formally establishing the European Union.
1994
April 14th - 18th. The Committee met in Berlin. They discussed a Strategy Document prepared by Fr Harnett (with assistance from Fr Calvez). The Statutes of the C.E.P. were again revised and it was decided that in future meetings of the C.E.P. should be held in November. There was discussion about whether the president should reside in Brussels or Strasbourg.
July 11th 1994. Fr Philip Harnett appointed major superior. He moves his residence from Brussels to Strasbourg.
1995
January 1st. Austria, Finland and Sweden accede to the EU.
January 5th - March 22nd. GC34 takes place in Rome.
October 26th - 31st. Fourth General Assembly of the C.E.P. in Manresa, Spain. Fr General was in attendance from 28th - 30th. The opening day was a workshop on the challenges presented by contemporary Europe. Two scholastics made a presentation on EJIF. The possibility of a Europe-wide Jesuit cultural review was discussed.
1996
September 1st. Fr Gerwin Komma (ASR) was appointed acting President. Fr Harnett had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and Fr Komma had been in Strasbourg helping him since July.
November. The Committee met in Rome.
December. Death of Fr Harnett.
1997
October 23rd - 28th. Fifth General Assembly of the C.E.P. in Dobogokö, Hungary. Fr General attended the latter part of the meeting. The Document The Mission of the Society in Europe was discussed and adopted. The Statutes of the C.E.P. were once again revised and provision made for Fr General to appoint an Executive Secretary of the C.E.P. who would be Assistant/Socius to the President. The provincials unanimously decided not to meet annually. The Provincials prepared a terna for Fr General for a new president.
1998
March 25th. Fr Alfred Darmanin (MAL) was appointed President of the C.E.P. by Fr General.
November 12th - 16th. The Committee met in Seville, Spain.
1999
March 25th. Fr Chris Dyckhoff (BRI) was appointed Executive Secretary and Assistant to the President by Fr General (for three years, renewable).
October 21st - 26th. Sixth General Assembly of C.E.P. in Rodízio, Portugal. Fr General was present throughout. This meeting took The Movement of Peoples in Europe as its main theme and it was decided that the C.E.P. should issue a statement on this subject. To the surprise of many the GA voted down a proposal to set up a C.E.P. Task Force on Formation.
2000
May 8th. Fr General appointed Fr Mark Rotsaert (BSE) as Acting President of the C.E.P. This followed Fr General's acceptance of the resignation of Fr Alfred Darmanin.
September 29th. Extraordinary General Assembly of the C.E.P. in Loyola. Fr General was present throughout. [This meeting followed on from the world meeting of Provincials]. This meeting prepared a terna for Fr General. It also decided that the General Assembly should meet every year and insisted that the President should be full-time.
October 3rd. Fr General appointed Fr Mark Rotsaert as President of the C.E.P. Fr Rotsaert continued to be Provincial of BSE.
November 14th. The office of the C.E.P. moved to Brussels from Strasbourg.
November 17th - 20th. The last meeting of the Committee. Ways to take forward the work of the C.E.P. were discussed. The changes necessary to the Statutes in the light of the Loyola meeting were decided upon. The Statement on the Movement of Peoples in Europe was agreed and issued.
2001
October 19th - 24th. Seventh General Assembly of the C.E.P. held at Le Châtelard, Lyon, France. Generally agreed to be a most successful meeting. The ECE, EOC and EOR assistancies all held preparatory meetings at Le Châtelard from the 17th. A 'Formation Committee' was set up to determine criteria for assessing our European Formation Centres by 2002, make an assessment of these by 2003, and make reasoned proposals for the future by 2004. Fr David Smolira (BRI) was named as chairman of this committee which was made up of one Provincial and one >formation person= from each assistancy. The necessary changes to the Statutes were agreed (and approved by Fr General in November 2001).
2002
October 26th - 30th. Eighth General Assembly of the C.EP. at Lainz, Vienna, Austria. All members arrived on 24th October and separate assistancy meetings were held until 26th October. On Friday 25th October EMR and EOC held their first ever joint meeting. Fr David Smolira (BRI) reported on the progress made by the Formation Committee and announced that it should be possible to make firm proposals at the General Assembly in 2003. A document The Mission of our Common Apostolic Works in Brussels and Strasbourg was discussed. The General Assembly mandated the President to set up a Task Force on the Movement of Peoples to be chaired by John Dardis (HIB). Fr General attended the meeting from 27th October until its conclusion.
2003
September 27th. Fr Mark Rotsaert (BSE) became full-time President of the C.E.P.
October 25th B 29th. Ninth General Assembly of the C.E.P. at Czestochowa, Poland. The proposals of the CEP Commission on European Centres of Jesuit Formation were not approved. The Assembly mandated the President, in consultation with Fr. General, to appoint a small group of provincials with the task to assist the President in taking forward the process of recommending to the General Assembly certain Centres as European Centres of Jesuit Formation. This President=s group was mandated to report to the CEP General Assembly in October 2004 with a modified proposal.
October 30th. Fr Tommaso Guadagno (ITA) succeeded Fr Chris Dyckhoff as Assistant to the President.
2004
May 1st. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU.
October 23rd B 27th. Tenth General Assembly of the C.E.P. at Naples, Italy. In his speech Father General spoke of the preparation needed for the next General Congregation. The Conference went on to discuss the document on European Centres of Jesuit Formation. The other major topic discussed by the Conference was vocations. The question of our common mission in Europe was raised.
2005
April 2nd . Death of Pope John Paul II.
April 19th . Election of Pope Benedict XVI.
September 1st. Fr Frank Turner (BRI) was appointed Director General of OCIPE.
October 20th - 26th. Eleventh General Assembly of the C.E.P. at Liverpool, England. Joe Dargan(HIB) presented the outline of the new European Tertianship due to open in Dublin on September 2006 under the jurisdiction of the C.E.P. President. An Interim Report of Commission III on European Formation Centres was presented and discussed. Frank Turner (BRI) the new Director of OCIPE presented a Vision and Mission Statement. The Task Force on Migration also presented a report as did Jan Stuyt on JRS-E. Antoine Keruel (GAL) presented a proposal about a delegate for the social apostolate. The procedures of the C.E.P, the issue of co-operation between Africa and Europe and the theme of our mission in Europe were discussed.
2006
February 2nd. Fr General convoked the 35th General Congregation.
September 18th. The new tertianship of the C.E.P. opened in Manresa House, Dublin. There were two tertian instructors Fr Joe Dargan (HIB) and Fr Jan van de Poll (NER). There were twelve tertians.
October 15th. Fr Dermot O=Connor (HIB) succeeded Fr Tommaso Guadagno as Assistant to the President.
October 19th - 25th. Twelfth General Assembly of the C.E.P. at Ludwigshafen. Germany. The Final Report of Commission III on the European Formation Centres was passed unanimously. The Conference set up three new commissions: Commission IV would elaborate issues of collaboration and organization in the eleven European Centres. It would also work out the responsibilities of the president and the provincials in relation to the new Centres. Commission V would work on criteria for Formation Centres in the First Cycle of Theology. The Commissio Mixta would be concerned with the ongoing dialogue between the C.E.P. and JESAM. The setting up of a migration desk was approved. Other issues discussed included closer links between JECSE and the C.E.P. and the question of Islam in Europe today.
2007
January 1st. Bulgaria and Romania became full members of the EU.
February. Publication of Guidelines for Formation in the post-novitiate stage in the European Centres of the Society of Jesus.
June. Fr Brendan MacPartlin (HIB) was appointed as the first Social Delegate of the CEP. He will have a council comprised of six Jesuits with expertise in the social field.
October 18th - 24th. Thirteenth General Assembly of the C.E.P. at Gdynia, Poland. Fr General was present throughout but only attended the final sessions. Interim reports were presented and discussed by Commission IV and Commission V. Presentations were made on AJAN, OCIPE (including the Warsaw office), JRS-E, and the work of Mission Offices with NGO=s. The President reported on progress in the implementation of the new Guidelines published the previous February. A report from the Coetus Praevius of GC35 on the role of conferences of provincials and presidents of conferences was discussed. The provincials voted for a new president and a terna was prepared by the Council and sent to Fr General.
2008
January 7th . GC35 opened in Rome.
January 14th. Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach resigned as general.
January 19th. Fr Adolfo Nicolás (JPN) was elected 30th Superior General of the Society.
February 14th. Father General appointed Mark Rotsaert as a General Councillor non-resident in Rome and asked him to stay on as President of the CEP for some years more.
March 6th. Conclusion of GC35.
October 16th – 22nd. Fourteenth General Assembly of the C.E.P. in Madrid, Spain.
Father General attended the first day of the Assembly and gave an address. The agenda of the Assembly included a report on the European tertianship in Dublin by the two Instructors. The document of Commission IV was passed by the Assembly and the document of Commission V was passed in principle with the proviso that some details would be re-worked. The provincials also agreed on the appointment of a Delegate for the Formation Centres. There was a discussion on the intellectual apostolate and presentations were made by the directors of OCIPE, JRS-E, by the Social Delegate, the Headmaster of the Loyola Gymnasium in Prizren, Kosovo, and by the president of Lumen Vitae.
December 9th. The offices of the CEP President and Assistant were moved to 3 rue des Trévires, Brussels.
2009
March 20th. The revised Statutes of the CEP were approved by Father General.
