Last European Jesuits in Formation (EJIF) meeting took place in Denmark. After one week of focusing on the topic of collaboration in Copenhagen and another week of Annual Retreat in Maribo, Luis Busto de Moner (ESP), Paul Rousselot (EOF) and Gabrielius Zaveckas (ECE) were appointed as the members of the next Coordination Committee (CoCo), having Luis as the chairman. Therefore, following the tradition, three scholastics came to Brussels to organize EJIF 2025 with Fathers Dalibor Renić SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), and Herminio Rico, Socius and Treasurer, as well as János Lukács, Formation Delegate of the Conference, who joined the discussions online. Before seeing each other in Brussels, the Coordination Committee had several online meetings to recognize the common vision of what topics would be possible, what place would be suitable, and which accents would be important for EJIF 2025. The discussions in the Belgian capital brought fruit: as the Jesuit formation ought to prepare the members of our Order to serve the others and as working with those closest ones to ourselves are the other fellow Jesuits, the topic was chosen accordingly: Companions called to serve together.  The meeting will take place in Marseille, from August 1st to 20th. This year, every Province will be invited to appoint one scholastic as a delegate. After “crystallizing” the topic, the place and the date, the distribution of further tasks between the three young companions became possible. Finally, the encounter itself, the time of Christmas and the opportunity to visit Brussels, city of many European institutions, were good reasons take a long walk through the mixture of traditional and modern architecture, to visit the cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, the Grand Square and the City Hall… and of course, to discover some Belgian specialties. CoCo of EJIF 2025Luis, Paul and GabrieliusJanuary 2025

The Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, in collaboration with the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI), has published a collection of essays exploring Muslim-Christian relations, with a focus on the lived experiences and theological exchanges in Indonesia and beyond. Titled “Toward a Theology of Dialogue with Islam,” the book features articles originally published in EAPI’s journal, Asia Pacific Mission Studies. The collection is anchored by Pope Francis’ historic 2024 visit to Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. “The warm welcome extended by President Joko Widodo and Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar to Pope Francis has been an image of fraternity in the gesture of brotherhood while recognising each other as equal in diversity,” writes the book’s editor, Dr Rene Oliveros. This milestone serves as the book’s opening narrative, framing broader discussions on the shared spiritual heritage between Islam and Christianity. It is divided into three sections: Muslim-Christian Dialogue, Dialogue of Spirituality, and Theological Dialogue. Fr Greg Soetomo SJ’s “Immersion Seeking Faith Understanding” introduces the collection, emphasising immersion as a means for theological exchange rooted in the experiences of participants in the Asia Pacific Theological Encounter Program in Jakarta, Salatiga, and Yogyakarta. In Muslim-Christian Dialogue, Oliveros analyses the Joint Declaration of Istiqlal, co-signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Umar, which calls for religious harmony and collaborative action to address global challenges like climate change. Meanwhile, Scholastic Carlos Cesar Barbosa SJ narrates the inspiring collaboration between a Muslim sheikh and a Catholic priest to address homelessness in São Paulo, Brazil. In Dialogue of Spirituality, Scholastic Pham Van Doan SJ presents pilgrimage as a transformative experience for interfaith understanding. Sr Nurhayati Wiguno OSU shares a personal account of her childhood and the deep bonds formed in “Growing as an Indonesian Ursuline Together with Muslim Friends,” which helped shape her decision to embrace a life in the convent. Finally, in Theological Dialogue, Scholastic Mark Tri SJ examines the historical migration and cultural integration of Muslim Chinese communities in China. Xavierian Missionary Richard Niyukuri SX explores how shared reverence for Jesus can open avenues for dialogue—especially in missionary work—in “Witnessing to Eisa al-Masih in the Muslim World”. Scholastic Isodorus Bangkit Susetyo Adi SJ concludes the collection with an examination of the theological exchanges between early Muslim scholars and Nestorian and Monophysite Christian theologians in the 9th century and their enduring influence on interfaith dynamics today. “Toward a Theology of Dialogue with Islam” is available to read and download here.

From July 28 to August 3, 2025, the Pope invites young people worldwide to Rome for the Jubilee of Hope. Réseau Magis is organizing an opportunity for over 500 students and young professionals to join this significant event. Program Overview: Experiments (July 19-23): In the week leading up to the Jubilee, participants can engage in "experiments" lasting 4 to 8 days. These experiences, rooted in Ignatian spirituality, are designed to help individuals find God's presence through various activities. Options include sailing from the French coast to Ostia, a musical journey through the Alps, a mendicant pilgrimage, and social projects in Matera, Italy. Jubilee in Rome (July 28 - August 3): An estimated one million young people will gather in Rome for catecheses, conferences, visits to Jesuit sites, the Holy Door pilgrimage, and a weekend at Tor Vergata. Highlights include a vigil and closing Mass presided over by the Pope. On July 31, participants will celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola with a Mass at the Church of the Gesù, led by Father Arturo Sosa, the Superior General of the Jesuits, alongside Magis delegations from around the world. Spiritual Exercises (August 4-9): After the Jubilee, attendees can participate in Spiritual Exercises at the Simplon Pass on the Italian-Swiss border or at the Saint-Hugues Spiritual Center near Grenoble. These retreats offer a serene environment to reflect on the experiences of the previous weeks and delve deeper into Ignatian spirituality. Registration Details: Registrations opened on January 12, 2025. Participants can choose from various packages based on their availability: Espresso: A one-week program focusing solely on the Jubilee. Classica: Includes an experiment before the Jubilee. Spirituale: Features the Jubilee followed by the Spiritual Exercises. Completa: A comprehensive experience encompassing an experiment, the Jubilee, and the Spiritual Exercises. Each package is designed to provide a holistic experience, integrating personal growth, spiritual development, and community engagement. Detailed information on registration procedures, transportation, and pricing is available on the official website. Réseau MAGIS About Réseau Magis: Réseau Magis is a community for young adults aged 18 to 35, offering teams, activities, and tools to pray, make decisions, and receive guidance in the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, in collaboration with the Jesuits and the Ignatian family.  

At Christmastime, the Church celebrates new beginnings—Christ’s coming into the world, when everything is made new. Yet, as Christians, we also recognize these new beginnings as continuations—fulfillments of God’s unwavering work among us, answers to ancient promises that transcend time. This December, the Jesuits of Lebanon had the privilege of witnessing such a moment: a development in one of our missions that is both a new chapter and a continuation of enduring care, a realization of old promises and the dawn of new opportunities. For decades, a diverse community of migrants, refugees, and others has gathered faithfully at St. Joseph Church in Achrafieh for English-language Masses and activities. This year, on December 8—the feast of the Immaculate Conception—Bishop Cesar Essayan elevated this community, formally establishing it as a parish within the Latin Vicariate of Lebanon. Fr. Dan Corrou, SJ, an American Jesuit who has served this community for several years, was installed as its first pastor. The new parish has been designated the Anglophone Parish for all of Lebanon, with a special focus on serving migrants and refugees. This unique mission reflects the history of its members. Migrants from across Africa, South Asia, and the Philippines come to Lebanon, driven by economic pressures or displaced by war and persecution. For over 30 years, Jesuits in Beirut have walked alongside these communities. Beginning with the work of Fr. Martin McDermott, SJ, and the late Fr. Theo Vlugt, SJ, St. Joseph Church has become a refuge—a home for those far from their countries and a source of solace amid the challenges migrants face in Lebanon. The parish inauguration was a joyful celebration. Bishop Cesar presided over a moving Mass, joined by Fr. Michael Zammit, SJ, provincial of the PRO Province, and numerous other Jesuits. Parishioners from over a dozen countries participated, with representatives from each migrant community serving as lectors, acolytes, choir members, and dancers. Even the church itself seemed to rejoice: the festive procession and incense during Mass triggered the building’s new fire alarms! The occasion brought together families whose children had been baptized, couples who had been married, and catechumens who had entered the Church over the past year, all receiving a special blessing from the bishop. After Mass, a celebratory meal showcased the cultural diversity of the parish, with dishes from the various migrant communities. While Jesuits have long ministered to this community, its establishment as an official parish is more than a procedural change. It challenges a lingering mindset in some circles that migrants’ place in the Church is limited to charitable outreach through organizations like Caritas. This perspective reduces migrants to their economic and social needs, overlooking their spiritual dignity and full membership in the Church. By declaring St. Joseph Church a parish, Bishop Cesar has sent a powerful message: migrants in Lebanon are not just recipients of charity—they are integral members of the Body of Christ. The men, women, and children—South Sudanese, Sri Lankan, Filipino, Nigerian, Cameroonian, and more—who form this parish are the people of God. The establishment of St. Joseph Parish affirms their right to pastoral care, sacraments, spiritual formation, and the sacred community of the Church. This parish is more than a space; it is a home at the heart of Beirut, where the Church’s universal call is lived out: a home for all.

On Tuesday, December 17, Fr. Herbert Krawczyk SJ, a Polish Jesuit working in Aarhus, a citizen of the Kingdom of Denmark, received from Mrs. Ewa Dębska, Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Polish Embassy in Denmark, the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Duda. Father Krawczyk was honored for his outstanding services in his activities for the Polish community and the preservation of Polish cultural heritage and sacral architecture in Denmark. The decoration is awarded for services to Poles living outside the country and for contribution to the service of the Polish diaspora. Among those decorated were also the Bishop of the Copenhagen Diocese, Czeslaw Kozon, and the Rev. Julian Bodnar CSSR. The award ceremony took place at the Polish Embassy in Copenhagen. The ceremony was attended by Fr. Henryk's confreres from communities in Aarhus (Jutland Peninsula) and Copenhagen.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an essential tool in higher education. In response, Universidad Pontificia Comillas has published a guide aimed at integrating AI into teaching and administrative practices, as part of its Digital Transformation Master Plan. AI adoption varies across society and within Comillas itself. While some are already innovating with AI, others are cautiously evaluating its use, and some have yet to incorporate it. Comillas seeks to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to explore, research, and harness the potential of AI in their daily activities. The university envisions AI not only as a tool for specific tasks but also as a driver of innovation and growth. Accordingly, the guide is designed to support users at all levels of familiarity with AI, offering practical examples of its application in educational, research, and administrative contexts. The guide was developed by the Office for Teaching Innovation Support (OAID) and the Information and Communication Systems and Technologies Service (STIC), with input and expertise from professors Isabel Carrero Bosch, Sara Lumbreras Sancho, and Eduardo César Garrido Merchán. The guide is available for consultation and download (in Spanish)