The Jesuit presence in Türkiye falls under the responsibility of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), which accompanies and supports the Society of Jesus' presence in the country. The Jesuits have a community in Ankara, where they engage in pastoral work and collaborate closely with the local Church, contributing to its life and mission. From 1 to 4 October 2026, the Jesuit community in Türkiye had the honour of welcoming Fr Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, and members of his team. The visit coincided with the conclusion of the celebrations marking 25 years of Jesuit presence in Ankara and provided an opportunity to reflect on the community's history, strengthen relationships with the local Church and look towards the future of its mission. The following article shares highlights from this meaningful visit. From Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th October, the Jesuits in Türkiye had the joy of welcoming Fr. Arturo Sosa and his team, comprising Frs. Victor Assouad, Cipriano Diaz Marcos, Ricardo da Silva, Dalibor Renic and Marek Cieslik. This is the third time we have welcomed with gratitude a Superior General in this way since the foundation of our community in Ankara on 1 October 2000, following visits by Fr. Kolvenbach in 2006 and Fr. Nicolas in 2011. Fr. General and his team spent the first two days of their visit in the south of the country, where they were welcomed by our brother bishop, Antuan Ilgıt. On arriving in Adana, they were then able to walk in the footsteps of Saint Paul in Tarsus, before continuing on to Iskenderun, where Antuan resides without his cathedral, as it collapsed during the earthquake that struck the region in February 2023. The following day, they travelled to Antioch, a city which had been completely devastated by that event, where they witnessed life gradually returning to the area, before flying to Ankara that evening. In October 2026, the Jesuit community concluded the celebrations marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of its presence in the capital of the Republic of Turkey (and the Society’s third presence in ‘Asia Minor’ over the past few centuries), providing an opportunity to take stock and look ahead to the future. On Saturday morning, we gratefully reviewed our history with the Generalate team and reflected on the various milestones that have marked our presence in Turkey over the last quarter of a century, before considering the most recent of these and the promises it holds, following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. A visit to the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Marek Solczynski, enabled us to broaden our perspective on the Church in Turkey, whilst the festive lunch gave the Generalate team the chance to discover the country’s culinary culture with enthusiasm. In the afternoon, after some time spent reflecting further on what had been discussed that morning, we spoke with a number of friends and collaborators who shared their perspectives on our work and that of the local Church, before celebrating a Mass of thanksgiving together to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of our presence in Ankara, on the feast day of Saint Francis Borgia. Sunday was devoted to the feast day of the parish entrusted to the Society in Ankara and dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Following a meeting with our bishop, Mons. Massimiliano Palinuro, the Generalate team met with a group of young Turks who shared with them what had led them to seek baptism. The celebration of the feast of Saint Thérèse with the bishop and the entire local Turkish-speaking Christian community late in the morning allowed the Generalate team to appreciate the wonderful vitality that animates it and which was overflowing everywhere, far beyond the walls of our chapel! The reception that followed gave everyone the opportunity to meet Fr. General and chat with him in a relaxed atmosphere. At the end of this visit, the Jesuit community felt confirmed in its presence in Turkey and is beginning a new pastoral year with a renewed fire.

The Jesuit European Committee for Primary and Secondary Education (JECSE) brings together Jesuit schools across Europe and the Middle East, fostering collaboration, formation and the sharing of good practices in the field of Jesuit education. It works to strengthen the Catholic and Ignatian identity of Jesuit schools and support their shared educational mission. On 6-9 October 2026, JECSE brought together Primary School Heads from across its network in Ariccia, near Rome, for a gathering entitled “Sharing the Best We Have: Faith, Community, Mission.” Building on the reflections of previous international gatherings, the conference explored how school leaders can nurture their own faith, foster communities of belonging and bring the Ignatian mission to life in their schools. In this article, Agnieszka Baran, Director of JECSE and Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education of JCEP, reflects on the gathering and its key insights. How can Jesuit schools remain deeply rooted in their Catholic and Ignatian identity while welcoming children and families from diverse backgrounds? How can school leaders nurture their own faith, build communities of belonging, and ensure that their mission comes alive in everyday school life? These questions accompanied the Primary School Heads of the JECSE network during their gathering at Casa Divin Maestro in Ariccia, near Rome, from 6 to 9 October 2026. Under the theme “Sharing the Best We Have: Faith, Community, Mission” primary school leaders from across Europe came together to reflect, pray, share experiences and strengthen their common commitment to Jesuit education. Continuing the journey begun in Jogjakarta The conference builds on the reflections initiated at JESEDU-Jogjakarta 2024, where members of the Jesuit Global Network of Schools gathered to explore what it means to educate for faith in the 21st century. The global seminar invited Jesuit educators to deepen their Catholic identity while engaging in mature dialogue with other religions, cultures and increasingly secular societies. For JECSE, these questions continue to inspire reflection across the European network. The new cycle of thematic conferences, “Sharing the Best We Have: Faith, Community, Mission,” brings the insights of JESEDU-Jogjakarta into the everyday realities of our schools and leadership teams. The journey began with the Secondary School Heads in Málaga in October 2025, followed by Pastoral teams in Loyola in February 2026. Now, Primary School Heads bring their own perspectives, reflecting on how pres-secondary education nurtures faith, belonging and a shared sense of mission. The cycle will continue in 2027 with a gathering for Pedagogical Leaders. Primary education has a distinctive place in this conversation. It is often where children first experience school as a community, begin to develop their understanding of belonging and relationships, and encounter questions of meaning, values and faith. Families, too, may be discovering for the first time what makes a Jesuit school distinctive. This gives primary school leaders both a particular responsibility and a valuable contribution to make to the wider mission of the network. Mission: rediscovering what brings us together The conference opened with a reflection on mission, the shared purpose that gives Jesuit schools their common Ignatian identity. Fr Nicola Bordogna SJ, representing the Fondazione Gesuiti Educazione (FGE), the Jesuit Education Foundation of the Euro-Mediterranean Province, officially opened the gathering and helped launch the conversation on what it means to remain faithful to this identity in a rapidly changing world. Remaining faithful to our mission requires more than preserving traditions; it calls us to communicate our values authentically through relationships, educational choices and the daily life of our communities. Jesuit schools welcome children and families with different religious backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. This diversity raises important questions: How can schools remain rooted in the Gospel while ensuring that every child feels welcome? How can they share the richness of the Catholic and Ignatian tradition while respecting the freedom of each person? Rather than offering easy answers, the gathering created space for honest reflection on these questions and on both the opportunities and challenges facing Jesuit education today. Faith: making room for interiority and encounter The second day turned towards faith, inviting participants to look inward and reconnect with their own spiritual lives. In the demands of school leadership, time for silence, prayer and personal reflection can easily become secondary. Yet Ignatian spirituality reminds us that authentic leadership begins with the capacity to listen: to ourselves, to others and to God. Anne-Marie Turroques and Christine Jeay guided participants in exploring interiority and what it means to lead from a place of personal authenticity. Through guided reflection and group sharing, school leaders were invited to consider how greater awareness of their own inner lives can help them accompany others with greater attentiveness and compassion. Francisco Machado then led an Ignatian prayer workshop, offering participants opportunities to explore concrete ways of developing their personal relationship with God. The day offered a valuable reminder that faith is not simply part of a school leader's professional responsibility. It is also a personal journey that needs time, nourishment and care. The capacity to accompany others grows from the willingness to attend to one's own spiritual life. Community: listening, discerning and deciding together On the third day, the reflections on faith and mission came together in the theme of community. Personal faith and interior growth are not ends in themselves. They invite us to turn towards others, build relationships and contribute to communities shaped by the Gospel. For school leaders, this also raises a practical question: how can the ways we listen, communicate and make decisions reflect the values we seek to promote in our schools? Fr José Olea SJ introduced participants to spiritual conversation and communal discernment, two important practices in the Ignatian tradition. These approaches encourage people to listen deeply, share their experiences honestly, remain open to different perspectives and seek together where the Spirit may be leading a community. Participants then explored how these practices might be implemented in their own schools. Small-group conversations allowed them to reflect on real leadership challenges, learn from one another's experiences and consider how decision-making processes can become more participatory and discerning. The programme also included networking tables, offering further opportunities to exchange experiences and explore how to bring what we had learned back to our Provinces and schools. A communal Examen, led by Roberta Camilleri, offered a moment to look back on the day's experiences, recognise what had been meaningful and consider what might be carried forward. These moments of shared reflection highlighted an essential aspect of Ignatian leadership: community is not simply a structure within which a school operates. It is something leaders continually build through the way they listen, accompany others and make decisions together. Learning through encounter and shared experience Throughout the gathering, presentations and workshops were complemented by prayer, personal reflection, small-group conversations and informal encounters. This combination is central to JECSE's formation approach: creating space not only to learn new ideas, but also to experience the values and practices being discussed. The presence of colleagues from different countries and educational contexts offered participants the opportunity to discover both the richness of their diversity and the purpose they share. The challenges facing primary schools may take different forms across Europe and the Middle East, but the commitment to accompanying children and families, nurturing hope and living the Ignatian mission creates a strong foundation for mutual learning. Bringing the experience back to our schools The conference concluded with a pilgrimage in Rome, offering participants a final opportunity to reflect on their shared journey and reconnect with the spiritual roots of their educational mission. As the school leaders return to their communities, the invitation is to carry these reflections into everyday practice: to protect time for prayer and interiority, to create spaces where genuine listening can take place, and to involve colleagues more deeply in discerning the direction of their schools. “Sharing the Best We Have: Faith, Community, Mission” is more than a conference theme. It is an invitation to consider what we, as Jesuit school communities, are called to share with the children, families and educators entrusted to our care. Faith, community and mission cannot be separated. Our mission gives direction to our work; faith nourishes our personal commitment; and community enables us to live that commitment together. By listening to one another, learning from different experiences and making room for God's presence in our decisions, we can continue to build schools that are faithful to their identity, open to the world and deeply committed to the flourishing of every child. The journey begun in Jogjakarta continues — in our schools, in our relationships and across the JECSE network — as we seek to share the best we have in the service of young people and the common mission of Jesuit education.

The European Schools are a network of educational institutions established to provide multilingual and multicultural education, primarily for the children of staff working in the European institutions. Bringing together pupils from different nationalities, languages and cultural backgrounds, they seek to foster a shared European identity while respecting the diversity of their communities. The Society of Jesus has been involved in coordinating Catholic religious education in the European Schools since 1962, following a request from the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels. Today, this mission is carried out by the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP) with the coordination of Ms. Annie Thumelaire. She accompanies and coordinates the teaching of Catholic religion across the schools. On 3 October 2026, students, parents, teachers and members of the educational communities of the Brussels European Schools gathered at the Chapel of Collège Saint-Michel for their annual opening Mass. Presided over by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, the celebration brought together the community in a spirit of joy, simplicity and care for Creation. The following article was brought to us by Annie Thumelaire. A new school year marked by joy, simplicity and care for Creation Since 1962, at the request of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, the Society of Jesus has accompanied and coordinated Catholic religious education in the European Schools. Today, this mission is entrusted to the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP) and forms part of a long tradition of presence and service to young people. Through education and the transmission of faith, it allows us to contribute to the formation of young people who will be called upon to play a role in shaping Europe's future. It was in this spirit that, on Saturday, 3 October, students, parents, teachers and members of the educational communities of the Brussels European Schools gathered at the chapel of Collège Saint-Michel to celebrate the opening Mass for the new school year of Catholic religious education. It was a wonderful moment of encounter and communion, allowing everyone to begin the new academic year by placing at the heart of their mission what brings them together: faith, fraternity and the desire to grow together. This year, we were delighted to welcome His Excellency Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union, who presided over the celebration. His presence among us was a precious sign of our communion with the Holy Father and the universal Church. Through his mission as the Pope's representative, Archbishop Auza made tangible the universal Church's closeness to the European Schools and to everyone working within them. He was joined by several Jesuit priests who concelebrated the Eucharist: Fr Gonzalo Villagrán, Socius to the President of the Conference of European Jesuit Provincials; Fr Bernd Günther, Director of the Chapel for Europe; Fr Franck Janin, Superior of the Saint-Michel Community; and Fr Tommy Scholtès, Rector of Saint John Berchmans Church, the magnificent church that welcomes us each year for our opening Mass. Learning from St Francis The celebration was held under the inspiration of St Francis of Assisi, whose 800th anniversary of death is commemorated this year. In his homily, Archbishop Auza invited everyone to welcome the new school year with a simple and trusting heart, following the example of the "little ones" mentioned in the Gospel. He also recalled how St Francis teaches us to look upon Creation with wonder and to care for our "common home". Referring also to Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si', Archbishop Auza emphasised how the example of St Francis continues to challenge us: caring for Creation is inseparable from caring for the most vulnerable, seeking peace and recognising our responsibility towards one another. Beginning the school year with the Eucharist, he reminded us, means turning towards the One who accompanies us and gives us true joy. This joy does not depend solely on our successes, results or achievements, but springs from our relationship with the Lord. It was a particularly beautiful way to begin the new school year: learning to give thanks, welcome joy and recognise the gifts entrusted to us. When a young voice becomes a prayer: a moving testimony of trust One of the most memorable moments of the celebration was undoubtedly the performance of the song "Oceans" by a young S7 student. Before singing, she explained that she wanted to offer the song as an expression of gratitude to God for the way He had accompanied and supported her through some particularly painful experiences she had recently faced. In the silence of the chapel, her voice became a genuine prayer. It was a simple yet deeply moving testimony of trust and hope, touching everyone in a very personal way. Through her voice, an entire generation of young people was also able to express its trust, vulnerabilities and hopes. Students' prayers come to life The chapel itself reflected the students' active participation. It had been decorated with drawings, crafts and creative works made by the young people during their religious education classes, inspired by their prayers and personal intentions. Displayed throughout the celebration space, these creations gave a visible presence to the students' voices and reminded everyone that this Mass was truly their celebration: that of an entire community coming together at the beginning of a new school year. A celebration reflecting the diversity of Europe The diversity of the European Schools was expressed throughout the celebration through the different languages, readings, songs and active participation of the students. This multilingual and intercultural dimension gave the Eucharist a very special character. It reminded us that our differences are not an obstacle to unity; on the contrary, they can become a source of richness when embraced through a shared desire for encounter and communion. A community united in joy A special activity was organised for the youngest children, allowing them to experience this celebration centred on St Francis and Creation in an age-appropriate way. After the Mass, parents, students, teachers and friends gathered for refreshments and fellowship. It was a simple and welcoming opportunity to extend the joy of the celebration and begin the new school year together. May this school year be marked by joy, simplicity and care for Creation. And may we, following the example of St Francis, learn ever more deeply to give thanks for the wonders around us and to care for one another.

The Chapel for Europe, located in the heart of Brussels, is an ecumenical place of prayer and encounter, offering a space for spiritual reflection, dialogue and Christian presence in the European capital. It brings together people from different Christian traditions and backgrounds, fostering unity and a shared commitment to the European project. On 6 October, the Chapel celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of welcoming visitors and contributing to the spiritual and ecumenical life of Brussels. We are pleased to share this article, brought to us by Bernd Günther, Director of the Chapel for Europe.   When, in the 1980s and 1990s, the European Union was reshaping an entire district of Brussels with its buildings and institutions, an initiative was launched by European leaders and the Jesuits to ensure that churches would also form an integral part of this new Europe. ‘Europe needs a soul,’ remarked Commission President Jacques Delors at the time. The small chapel, attached to a former convent, was already falling into disrepair. It was acquired and renovated at great expense. It was then consecrated in September 2001. Twenty-five years on, we look back and look ahead. Jérôme Vignon, the Chapel’s first president, once again highlighted the founding vision. Fr Bernd Günther SJ, the Chapel’s current director, noted that the core principles of the Chapel’s mission have lost none of their significance: Engaging with Europe, spirituality and pastoral care for the Europeans in Brussels, and ecumenism have been key priorities since the very beginning; over the years, interfaith cooperation has been added to these. The future of the Chapel, of Europe and of the Churches will also be shaped by these challenges. However, it was not the speeches that defined the evening, but the ecumenical prayer involving Protestant, Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox bishops and church leaders. Lively music, heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving and a great blessing for the future made the celebration a deeply moving occasion. Twenty-five flowers, brought by people from various groups and phases within the Chapel community, were woven together into a single colourful bouquet, bearing witness to the Chapel’s diversity and vitality. The evening brought together people from the Chapel’s early years with the young people who now attend its services and activities. A closing reception, filled with many encounters, seemed to go on forever.

The annual in-person meeting of the JCEP Safeguarding Coordinators took place this year in Ljubljana, Slovenia from the 5th to the 7th of October. Twelve of the sixteen Provinces were represented, along with the accompaniment of the JCEP Socius and the JCEP safeguarding coordinator. The first day was an important opportunity for us all to share from our respective Provinces some of the most important and interesting safeguarding initiatives that have been ongoing throughout the year, as well as a sharing of local and broader safeguarding challenges. Although the safeguarding coordinators meet 3-4 times per year online, the in-person meeting is a critically important sharing experience, where safeguarding issues are explored on a much deeper level, and we as individuals get to enjoy the mutual support of our network in the physical presence of our safeguarding colleagues. This year’s meeting was a very productive and fruitful one, cultivating a greater sense of collaboration and community. The main topic for discussion was the risk of Spiritual Abuse and how to establish safe spaces and relationship for personal spiritual growth. It was beneficial for us all to spend quality time together sharing experiences and insights on the subject, culminating in the production of a discussion note on spiritual abuse.  We thank Dr. Lisa Oakley, Professor of Safeguarding and Knowledge Exchange in the Division of Psychology at the University of Chester, for her academic expertise and continued support to the work of our safeguarding coordinators on this emerging, and complex, safeguarding issue. We also express our sincerest gratitude to Fr. Hans Zollner, SJ., Director of the Institute of Anthropology at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana, who joined us in person in Ljubljana. Fr. Hans led us on a very inspiring and motivational journey into safeguarding through the lens of Ignatian Spirituality. We very much appreciate your insights and your support. And finally, many thanks to the Province of Slovenia for hosting and facilitating this year’s meeting.

What began 20 years ago as an English-language initiative has grown into an international family of teams helping people pray in more than 15 languages. This year, representatives of the different language editions of Pray As You Go gathered in London to celebrate two decades of the initiative, share experiences and explore new ways of collaborating. Among them several representatives coming from JCEP Provinces. It was particularly significative the presence of May Naguib, representing the Arabic edition, “Fi Tareeqi Osalli” (On My Way, I Pray). Her reflection offers a glimpse into a gathering marked by prayer, cultural diversity, friendship and a shared desire to make Ignatian spirituality accessible to people around the world. We are share here this testimonial. On 8 September, Pray As You Go teams from different languages and parts of the world gathered in London for a meeting that combined collaboration with the celebration of 20 years since the launch of the English edition. Over the years, the initiative has expanded and is now available in more than 15 languages while new languages continue to join. For me, the week began with a personal celebration, as it coincided with my birthday. On the first evening, the organisers surprised me with a celebration in which participants from different countries shared food and desserts representing their cultures. It was a very special way to begin our time together. The programme opened with a workshop on the importance of donations and on sustaining and developing the ministry. The different language teams then shared their experiences, including the reach of their editions, the number of users, and the volunteers and staff involved in preparing the content. We also took part in workshops on social media, marketing, the use of artificial intelligence, and ways of deepening faith and Ignatian spirituality among young people.  The Arabic experience received a great deal of interest and warmth. I felt a genuine desire among the other teams to collaborate and offer support, which increased my gratitude for this ministry and for being part of such a large family. We also discussed new ideas for developing the service and reaching more people. One particularly meaningful moment was the participation of Fr Cristóbal Fones SJ, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. He expressed enthusiasm about collaborating on the preparation of monthly Arabic-language content connected with the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions. His love of music was also a wonderful gift: his playing and singing during our prayer together were truly special, and I felt privileged to hear him perform live. The gathering was not limited to workshops and discussions. On the second day, we discovered London through a kind of treasure hunt, which brought me together in a team with participants from the German edition in Switzerland, as well as the Dutch, French and Cantonese editions from Hong Kong. As we explored the streets and landmarks of the city, including Big Ben, getting to know one another became much more spontaneous. Differences of language and culture became an opportunity for laughter, sharing and friendship. We took many photographs along the way, preserving memories of our time together. On the day of the anniversary celebration, we met Fr Peter Scally SJ, the person behind the original idea for Pray As You Go. We listened to the story of its beginnings: how, 20 years ago, he started working on the initiative on his own, spending long hours preparing the recordings. Others gradually joined him, and the idea continued to grow until it became what it is today. Afterwards, we took part in a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the 20th anniversary of the initiative. We were not simply present as guests, but participated actively in the celebration. I had the privilege of proclaiming one of the intercessions in Arabic before the congregation. For me, the gathering began with a celebration and ended with a celebration. At the end of our days together, we prayed and each person shared what they were taking away from the experience. When it was my turn, I summed up what I had felt through one image: “A large family speaking the same language… but in different languages.” We came from different countries, cultures and linguistic backgrounds, but we discovered once again that we belong to one mission: we pray together, learn from one another, and care for one another.