News from the Provinces 2004
First Scholastics' meeting of the new Castilla Province
Scholastics from the new Castilla Province (former Castilla and Toledo provinces) gathered for the first time for a two day meeting at San Rafael, 22-24 October 2004. They were thirty altogether. Six scholastics from outside Castilla joined those who study or do their regency at Salamanca, Madrid and Granada. Keynote speakers were Pablo Guerrero on the pastoral projects of the province, Higinio Pi on social work and Javier Ruiz Seiquer on the Cologne 2005 youth project. This first meeting will not be the last. Others have already been planned.
...Noticias de Castilla, 31 October 2004 - December 2005
Scholastics of French Province meet with regional councillors
The scholastics of the Province of France – first and second cycle as well as regency – met in Vanves near Paris, 30 October 2004, together with the Provincial, the two Vice-Provincials and four Jesuits who are in one of the regional councils. Topic of the meeting was an examination of the today situation in order to get a clear view on what the scholastics expect for the future of the Province.
...Reported by Pierre Olry, Socius, Paris, December 2005
Eleven Polish Scholastics have their "Arrupe month"
In the month of September a group of eleven scholastics from two Polish Provinces had their Arrupe Month in Jastrzêbia Góra. We stayed in a very nice Jesuit house, right at the Baltic Sea. After days of retreat, we had a series of meetings with priests Jesuits and diocesan, lay people, families and a bishop. With our quests we tried to look very honestly at the hopes and dangers for our future priestly life and ministry in the Society. It was especially strengthening to listen to the families speaking about their hopes for us and their deep need for good priests. Life experiences of the variety of priests gave us a sense how God is willing to work both through our strengths and our weaknesses. Among the fields we touched were: education, Spiritual Exercises, ministry of the Word, ministry through media, youth ministry.
...Reported by Pawel Adamczyk, EJIF Chairman, November 2004
Forty-one young Jesuits together in Ireland for annual EJIF Summer Meeting
Forty-one young Jesuits from twenty-five provinces, including two from the
USA and one from Vietnam – were together at Clongowes Wood College in Ireland
for the annual Summer Meeting of the "European Jesuits in Formation" (EJIF). The
topic of the meeting was “Faces of Priesthood Today” and Fr James Hanvey SJ from
Heythrop College, London, was the facilitator of the "Forum", the first part of
the meeting.
As usually, the second part of the EJIF meeting was an Ignatian retreat. It took
place from 4 to 12 August in Manresa House, Dublin. Afterwards there was the so
called “Symposium” – at the Clongowes Wood College where delegates elected three
additional members for the EJIF Coordination Committee. They also prepared their
participation in the World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne, Germany.
Fr Orlando Torres SJ, Assistant to Fr General for Formation, and Fr Mark
Rotsaert SJ, President of the Conference of European Provincials, were both
present in the EJIF meeting.
...Reported by Jan Regner,
September 2004
Interprovincial cooperation Flanders and the Netherlands for WYD
Last year the preparations for the MAGIS-project, our Ignatian pre-program for the World Youth Days in Cologne 2005 started in Germany. MAGIS involves the reception of a few thousand young people in some fifteen cities in several countries around Cologne. Together with the MAGIS team the preparing teams in the two provinces of Flanders (North-Belgium) and The Netherlands will cooperate in the organisation of some pilgrimages and creative experiments. These experiments are meant for groups of about 30 internationally mixed young people, and will last for five days. After that we will all gather at the rocks of the Loreley. For the participating Jesuits and lay persons in the Netherlands and Flanders it is a big challenge to take part in MAGIS and a privilege to have the World Youth Days so nearby. Coordinator of the Flemish – Dutch cooperation is Johan Verschueren SJ, who did the talks on obedience for EJIF last year. We look forward to see the EJIF-delegates next year and to cooperate with them in and around Cologne.
...Ward Biemans, The Netherlands, June 2006
Celebrating the 450 years in Andalusia and Canaries
During the past year in Bética Province we have celebrated the 450 years of
our presence in Andalusia and Canary Islands. This since the day when St
Ignatius send a letter to P. Nadal to have the Hispanic territory divided in
three provinces: Castile, Aragon and Andalusia.
On November 25 of 1553, the first community started a school in Cordoba with 14
Jesuits, today we are almost 243 Jesuits, 14 in formation, working for the
promotion of faith in Jesus Christ and the Justice demanded by that faith, in
different fields, “Choosing to live for the Greater Glory of God”.
Next October we are going to celebrate an International Meeting of History of
the Society of Jesus in Andalusia and Canary Island in Cordoba, we hope to see
you there.
...David Fagundo, May 2004
French grand style scholastic meeting!
Ninety-eight young Jesuits - second year novices, scholastics on regency and those studying first and second cycle of philosophy and theology - from France or living in France were invited at the annual scholastics' meeting at Le Châtelard, 26-28 March 2004. Theme of the meeting was: "Le Monde, l'Eglise et la Compagnie de demain: qu'espérons-nous?". The introduction was given by Bernard Lapize de Salée SJ, vicar general of the diocese of Oran and parish priest at Tlemcen, Algeria.
...Nicolas Steeves, May 2004
The annual regents’ meeting of the Italian province took place at the end of
February in Rome. About twenty Italian regents (including the Polish regents in
Italy), had the possibility to share their life, experiences, fears and hopes in
this moment of their formation. This meeting was also an occasion to grow more
in unity and friendship. Fr. Roberto Boroni, delegate for the regents, and Fr.
Francesco Tata, our provincial, were present throughout the meeting too.
From the 11th to the 14th April, all Novice Masters and Rectors of
post-novitiates of the Southern European Assistancy will have their annual
meeting in Naples. Father Roberto Boroni will speak about the new Statutes on
Poverty.
...Reported by Simone Aliverti, April 2004
Spanish Jesuits working for peace
Well, now we have only one preoccupation in our heart as you can imagine: the
terrorist attacks in Madrid. Some Jesuits have saved miraculously because they
get every morning one of the same trains bombed; the one stopping at El Pozo,
where we have a parish.
What are the Jesuits doing now? Actually, it is time to work for peace. In fact,
we have celebrated some masses at the Jesuit parish of Saint Raimundo of
Peñafort at El Pozo with this theme. On Sunday 21st March, we were joined by a
large crowd to pray for 70 people who died next to El Pozo. Many people
succoured to the appeal of the parish priest, including the Mayor of Madrid and
other authorities of the city. This parish has always been very renowned for
being so close to its people, but in these days this companionship is growing
ever closer. The Jesuits at El Pozo are working very hard indeed, as plenty of
people have suffered the loss of a dear one.
On 2 April, the procession of Christ of Pozo and of Our Lady of Sorrows (Nuestra
Señora de los Dolores) will start from the Jesuit Church of El Pozo.
...Reported by Eduardo López-Aranguren, Toledo Province, April 2004
Some publicity for the German speaking scholasticate...
The freshly united German province once more offers a German language course
for young scholastics all over the world at Munich from 25 July until 20 August
2004. All interested young Jesuits are invited to learn more about the German
culture, the political situation, the landscape and of course more about the
German language.
Also for young Jesuits who want to study in Germany: the School of Philosophy at
Munich offers a broad and excellent spectrum from ancient to contemporary
philosophy. At present, there are a number of scholastics from many European
countries, for example from Lithuania and Latvia and the Czech Republic, living
and studying at the “Berchmanskolleg”. The atmosphere is very international and
interesting. The University is also open for non-Jesuit students. Therefore, all
Jesuits who are interested in a stay in the German province not only for the
language course on summer are most welcome.
...Reported by Marcus Vallaster, March 2004
Past, present and future projects in the Tarraconense Province
Presently the Tarraconense Province has fifteen Jesuits in formation. Four of
them are in their regency whilst the others are studying different subjects.
However, most of us are living in the area of Barcelona. This allows us to meet
very often; in fact, we meet once per month to carry on common projects.
Recently we have been participating in three particular projects. We took part
in the organization of a meeting in Barcelona with young people coming from
different religious congregations. The beautiful number of 265 young men and
woman from whole Spain met and talked about the situation of the religious life
during the first weekend of December. Another present project is the premiere of
a play called “Arrupe.com”. The play has been written and directed by two
scholastics. It has been a difficult work taking into account that the play is a
musical!!
For the near future, we are preparing a big encounter with young people for the
next Easter. It will be in our school in Raïmat (Lleida). We hope that more than
two hunderd people will participate in this meeting. As you can well note we are
living a very good moment in the province. Despite the difficulties, we are
enjoying our present and looking at the future with hope. For more information
about this and other projects, please visit our website:
www.jesuites.net
...Reported by Santi Torres, March 2004
Young generation of Flemish-Dutch Jesuits meeting
As has become a tradition in the Flemish-Dutch cooperation, young generations
of Jesuits (that is, all companions who entered the Society after 1970), come
together twice a year: once in the summer to meet “informally” around a splendid
barbecue, and another time in December to discuss some “hot topic”. Therefore,
we meet during 24 hours in one of our retreat centres in the BSE, Godsheide or
Drongen.
Some of us came even from Rome, from Dublin and Birmingham to join our Christmas
meeting around “Permanent Formation” in Godsheide. It was a good time to
rediscover the richness and diversity of the companions who will influence the
image of the Society in the Low Countries for the next years. This “forum” gives
thanks to strong inputs on the topic, personal reflection and common prayer also
a non-negligible life-giving impulse at our being-a-Jesuit-among-others, our
feeling-a-member-of-a-Body – or, as someone once had put it: our union of minds
and hearts.
...Reported by Bert Daelemans, Antwerp, February 2004
Visiting Ireland in preparation for the 2004 EJIF summer meeting
Preparations for the Irish EJIF summer meeting are in full-swing mode.
Representing the EJIF Coordinating Committee, Roderick Vassallo met with James
Hanvey (Forum Facilitator for this year’s meeting), Kevin O’Rourke and Declan
Murray to continue the necessary preparations for the EJIF summer meeting to be
held in Ireland.
We met to discuss and elaborate further the Forum bearing the title: “Faces of
Priesthood”. In fact, we are planning to interview various people from different
constituencies on their images and expectations from a priest. Hopefully these
constituencies will provide sufficient variety for members of the forum to get a
sense of the questions and multi-faceted reality that is priesthood. Moreover,
we met two committed lay persons to help us out in the organisation of these
interviews. It was clear from this meeting that such relevant persons have so
much to offer. In fact they have challenged us with a terrific simplicity;
straight to the point and constructive indeed.
The Forum in thus taking shape and it seems to me that plenty of deep questions
concerning priesthood will be brought to the surface. We will then invite the
delegates to take all these questions in prayer during the eight-day retreat
given by Fr Paul Chetcuti, Provincial of Malta. Quoting James Hanvey: “If the
forum will be as enriching for EJIF as it has been for us in these two days,
then I think we can be assured of the Spirit's creative presence”.
...Reported by Roderick Vassallo, February 2004
About regents working with JRS-Slovenia...
Recently two young regents, one from the Slovenian province (Tine Jenko) and
one from the Slovak province (Peter Girašek), both working with JRS-Slovenia,
participated in the annual meeting of Social Apostolate in Pieštany, Slovakia.
The main issue was how to organize Jesuit social apostolate in a better and more
efficient way. A very positive remark of this meeting was also that scholastics
had opportunity to meet and discuss their role in the social apostolate. We
managed to discuss also the August 2004 meeting of Jesuits working in Social
Apostolate that will take place in Celje, Slovenia, where the main participants
of this meeting will be JRS, Eurojess and Mission Ouvrière.
In December, all Slovenian scholastics met with Fr Provincial in a one day of
formation. The entire day was devoted to reflect on the first month of the
apostolic/studying year. This year we went to Croatia in a town called Opatija,
which is on the Adriatic coast. A good thing to end the year with.
...Reported by Tine Jenko, February 2004
"So the Jesuits still exist" in France!
In January, we usually celebrate all priestly and diaconal ordinations of ours in Paris. It is a wonderful moment to thank the Lord and to pray for the Society’s future. Some days after New Year, four Jesuits have been ordained priest and two others deacon. For this occasion, Saint-Sulpice Church, located in the centre of the city, was crowded with companions, families and friends of the newly ordained fellows. There were also some surprising visitors looking for the superb traditional crib “à l’italienne” which is very famous. Awe and wonder filled these guests and visitors as their numerous questions witnessed. In fact, one of them said: “So, the Jesuits still exist!” For the newly ordained ministers, this celebration in such a “public place” is indeed a call to live “in the frontline”
...Reported by Xavier
Roger, February 2004
Regency Meeting, a great experience indeed
Last year we started a really good experience for scholastics: the Regency
Meeting for the Betica province. After this success, we decided to go on and
repeat the event in hope for good or better results. In fact, all the
scholastics who are working at this stage have a reunion in Seville each month.
At present, we are five scholastics and a brother. A father called “Padre
Instructor de Maestrillos” (Instructor of regents) accompanies us. During the
entire weekend, we have enough time to share what is happening in ourselves and
around us in all the regards our regency.
Personally, I find this opportunity to be an excellent time to share our way of
living, my mission in our school, in our studies, my and our difficulties, joys
and hopes. It helps us all to feel really part of a mission, of being sent to
the mission of Christ today.
...Reported by David Fagundo, January 2004
Well, after EJIF ended their meeting in Prague/Hostin, we
Croatian scholastics took some time to reflect upon what happened during the
summer meeting and decided to choose the topic of “Priesthood in SJ” for our
annual meeting of the scholastics. Reactions were good, and we came to the point
where we, as scholastics, can see more clearly, what it means to be a priest,
and now we have a better clue of what we can expect.
New projects are in the line! Amongst these we are in for a facelift on our
website, creating a whole new look for our official web pages: www.isusovci.hr.
A meeting was held with the scholastics and they agreed to provide a fresh
material for the pages, such as meditations, thoughts, etc... Printing new
brochures for vocations and trying to get closer to the people. Darko Perkovič
is publishing his first singing album! We will have a nice number of new books
regarding the Society (our way of proceeding, documents on poverty...).
...Reported by Mika Martinjak, Zagreb,
January 2004
Germany: "Scholastikersymposium" and "Scholastikerrat"
The scholastics of both German provinces met again this year for a symposium
on the Feast of All Saints. Almost 30 young Jesuits, both provincials and the
formation director spent the three days with a thematic section and an
organizational section. The main theme discussed, just as last year, was “the
engagement of the senses in the liturgy”. A pastor and a young liturgical
specialist presented on the basis of two masses their interesting and
stimulating workshops. Besides reflection, there were also two other masses,
which were planned together and celebrated: one with more traditional elements
and the other with more modern elements. A discussion about the experiences and
development of rituals, which are not explicitly liturgical – for example the
farewell to a young group leader or the welcoming of someone to a new Jesuit
community –, closed up the thematic part of the meeting.
The organizational part comprised a report on the status of the planning for the
Jesuit project for World Youth Day 2005, “Magis”, as well as questions and
conversations with the two provincials and with the formation director. The
process of deciding upon new European Formation Houses was an important topic,
as well as voting and planning on the next scholastics' gathering. As delegates
to EJiF, Felix Schaich and Nic Weiser were nominated. The new scholastics'
committee or "Scholastikerrat" consists of Christoph Hermann, Felix Schaich, and
Axel Bödefeld, and will also have just three members in the future single German
province. The meeting for next year will deal primarily with the World Youth Day
and in this spirit it will take place on the Loreley, the final gathering site
for the “Magis” project.
...Reported by Axel
Boedefeld, January 2004