From July 27th to July 31st, the meeting of the JCEP Eurogroup of Jesuit Brothers took place in Gdynia, Poland. Twenty Jesuit brothers from different JCEP provinces—accompanied by the JCEP Socius—gathered to reflect on the vocation of the Jesuit brother and share their experiences. The meeting was organized by Théophile Desarmeaux (EOF), who was in charge of the program and sessions, and Damian Wojciechowski (PMA), who handled the logistics. The meeting alternated between moments of exchange and reflection and more casual time spent together, including several cultural visits. There were opportunities for personal prayer and spiritual conversation about each brother's current experience in his province, as well as time set aside to reflect on the vocation of the Jesuit brother—contributing to the ongoing reflection within the International Commission of Jesuit Brothers. The group also spent time discussing the activities and projects of the JCEP. Additionally, we took time to visit Gdańsk and Gdynia, and to walk in the forest near the Jesuit community. This informal time spent together was very helpful for getting to know each other better and sharing personal experiences. Along with daily personal prayer and the Eucharist, a daily hour of Eucharistic adoration added spiritual depth to the meeting. The time spent together reaffirmed the importance of having this dedicated space, given that the number of brothers in any single province is relatively small. In this regard, it was clear that the Conference level is the perfect setting for these occasions. At the same time, these exchanges allowed everyone to reaffirm the enormous value of the vocation of Jesuit brothers as a symbol for the entire Society of Jesus of the foundational role of service, as well as the vital contribution brothers make in fostering welcoming and hospitality within the Society.

The Jesuit community in Ankara, Turkey is one of the communities under the direct responsibility of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP). Jean-Marc Balhan SJ currently serves as the Superior of the community. In the following article, the community in Turkey shares a glimpse of its recent activities, daily life and experiences, as well as some of the people and communities it accompanies. In Turkey, the Jesuits are primarily at the service of the local Church, particularly through the parish in Ankara and in other places. Christian formation for young adults, in various forms, has a particularly important place in our mission. We also occasionally accompany members of the local clergy. More recently, we have also been accompanying a number of young people who are discerning a possible vocation. Alexis is the parish priest of Ankara and also visits the Christian community in Eskişehir. He collaborates with the television channel SAT-7, where he offers programmes introducing viewers to the Catholic Church and the Christian faith. Changmo, who has just returned from his third year in Lebanon, has resumed his service in the parish, particularly among young people. He also takes great joy in welcoming the many visitors who come through our doors during the afternoons. Michael, meanwhile, remains faithful to his writing projects and to the international Christian community in Ankara. From time to time, he travels to Ireland to celebrate anniversaries—his own 80th birthday, or that of one of his brothers, who recently turned 90! Jean-Marc focuses primarily on accompaniment and is often on the road, leading various sessions and retreats, while also making regular visits to the Christian community in Konya. At times, he is also in the air, travelling for other missions, such as teaching and giving sessions on Islam at the Facultés Loyola Paris (FLP) or during “Jesuit Weeks” organised by EOF. On other occasions, his travels take him abroad to represent the Church in Turkey—or to deepen his own skills in facilitating communal discernment! In June, our major superior, Dalibor Renić, came to visit us. During his visit, we also took a day off to explore the ancient city of Gordion, the former capital of the Phrygians, who dominated Anatolia in the 8th century BC after the Hittites. Since then, we have become experts on King Midas, who was said to turn everything he touched into gold, and on Alexander the Great, who, after cutting the famous “Gordian Knot” with his sword, went on to become master of Asia! In the photo, we are standing in front of the entrance to a royal tomb, dug into one of the largest burial mounds in the region. In October, we will welcome an even more important visitor—but we will tell you more about that next time. Until then, we wish you all a wonderful summer!

The International Relations Officers of the Kircher Network play an important role in strengthening international cooperation among Jesuit higher education institutions, facilitating the exchange of good practices, developing joint initiatives and identifying opportunities for collaboration across the network and beyond. Their meeting in Krakow on 6–7 July provided an opportunity to reflect on ongoing cooperation and explore new ways of connecting institutions, particularly through Erasmus+ programmes and other international initiatives. The Kircher Network’s International Relations Officers gathered in Krakow on July 6–7, hosted by Ignatianum University, to share experiences, exchange good practices, and explore new opportunities for collaboration across the network. The meeting highlighted lessons learned from Erasmus Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) and advanced preparations for the 2027 Erasmus BIP Student Study Week in Brussels, “Ignatian Leadership and Citizenship for a United and Inclusive Europe in a Time of Uncertainty.” Participants also discussed future joint initiatives, including Erasmus opportunities on AI in international education, a possible faculty and leadership formation BIP inspired by the Canisius Formation Course, and strengthening Erasmus+ cooperation with Saint Joseph University of Beirut. The gathering also included updates on Kircher Network and IAJU initiatives from Dr Susana Di Trolio, Executive Secretary of the Kircher Network, and a presentation of the European Leadership Programme (ELP) by Lucia Trubenová. Organised by the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) in Brussels, ELP is JESC’s flagship programme, bringing together young professionals from across Europe for leadership formation inspired by the social and spiritual tradition of the Society of Jesus.

We present an inspiring example and model for the work of the Jesuits across the JCEP provinces—in this case, a Portuguese Jesuit who spent most of his ministry in Timor-Leste. The Portuguese Parliament has unanimously paid tribute to Fr João Felgueiras SJ, the Portuguese Jesuit who died in Timor-Leste on 3 July at the age of 105. The motion of condolence was proposed by the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar Branco, and was unanimously approved by members of parliament from all political parties, who then observed a minute of silence in his memory. The text, read by the Secretary of the Assembly's Bureau, highlighted Fr João Felgueiras's commitment to the people of Timor-Leste during a decisive period in the country's history. At the turn of the millennium, as Timor-Leste consolidated its independence after decades of occupation and conflict, he remained dedicated to education, social assistance and the Catholic mission. Through his long ministry, thousands of students from successive generations passed through his classrooms, where he shared not only knowledge but also the Portuguese language and culture. At the same time, his work contributed to strengthening Timor-Leste's identity and supporting the country's institutions during the difficult years surrounding the restoration of independence. Fr João Felgueiras was born in Portugal in 1921 and entered the Society of Jesus at a young age. He was sent to Timor-Leste in the 1950s, where he would spend most of the rest of his life. Over the course of more than seven decades, he became one of the most respected figures of the Catholic Church and of Portuguese cultural presence in the country. A teacher and educator by vocation, he dedicated much of his life to the formation of young people. His work extended beyond the classroom, however, encompassing social assistance, pastoral ministry and the care of communities during some of the most turbulent periods in Timor-Leste's modern history. He remained in the country through the Indonesian occupation and the violent years surrounding the independence referendum in 1999, when much of the population experienced displacement, destruction and violence. For many Timorese, Fr João Felgueiras became a symbol of perseverance and service. His long presence in the country allowed him to accompany several generations, contributing to the preservation of cultural and linguistic ties while also supporting the development of a distinct Timorese national identity. His commitment was not limited to the Portuguese-speaking community: he devoted himself to the people of Timor-Leste and to the country's social and spiritual development. His life was closely intertwined with the history of modern Timor-Leste. Having arrived during the final years of Portuguese colonial rule, he witnessed the Indonesian invasion and occupation, the struggle for independence and the birth of the independent Timorese state. Throughout these successive periods, he remained committed to education and to the service of the people, particularly the most vulnerable. The tribute paid by the Portuguese Parliament recognised not only the longevity of his life but, above all, the depth of his service. His 105 years of life and more than seven decades in Timor-Leste made him a living witness to a remarkable period of history and to the enduring relationship between Portugal and the Timorese people. The Portuguese Province of the Society of Jesus was represented at the solemn ceremony by Fr António Ary, Socius to the Provincial.

The JCEP is a conference blessed with a rich history that connects directly to the life of St. Ignatius. Throughout the provinces covered by the Conference, there are important historical sites and sanctuaries that bear witness to the earliest history of the Society of Jesus. Recently, Alcalá de Henares—a university city near Madrid and home to one of Spain’s historic universities where St. Ignatius once studied—presented its program commemorating St. Ignatius’ time in the city. Alcalá de Henares in is preparing to commemorate the 500th anniversary of St Ignatius of Loyola's time in the city, a brief but pivotal period in his spiritual, intellectual and apostolic journey. Throughout the year, the city's main institutions will come together to celebrate the memory of the pilgrim and the historical and spiritual legacy he left behind. The historic Antezana Hospital, where Ignatius lived between 1526 and 1527, hosted the presentation of the commemorative programme, which will begin in September and run until May 2027. The programme has been jointly organised by the Alcalá de Henares City Council, the Antezana Foundation, the Diocese of Alcalá de Henares, the University of Alcalá and the Society of Jesus, with the aim of highlighting the importance of Ignatius's presence in the city's history. The programme includes seven lectures, three exhibitions, two musical performances, commemorative tours of Alcalá and a Mass marking St Ignatius's time in the city. The initiative aims to help rediscover the connection between the city of Alcalá and the founder of the Society of Jesus, as well as the mark left by his journey of seeking, formation and service. St Ignatius's stay in Alcalá was a pivotal moment in the development of the apostolic project that would eventually lead to the founding of the Society of Jesus. Welcomed into the Antezana Hospital as a kitchen and nursing assistant in exchange for room and board, the pilgrim began studying philosophy and theology at the university founded by Cardinal Cisneros. This formation proved essential in shaping his desire to help souls through a solid mission of evangelisation. During the presentation, Asensio Esteban Vallejo, president of the Antezana Foundation, emphasised the historical impact of St Ignatius and the importance of the place where he served, studied, prayed and cared for the sick. In the context of Spain's Golden Age, Alcalá was characterised by a humanism that found its fullest expression when placed at the service of others. In this sense, he highlighted that "in Antezana, more than just lodging, Ignatius found a way to live the Gospel." Pedro Luis García Vera SJ, superior of the Jesuit community in Alcalá de Henares, explained that St Ignatius's months in the city were a time of seeking God's will, formation and closeness to the poor. "His entire stay in the hospital, surrounded by simple people, convinced him to live his life in the manner of Jesus: poor and humble," he noted. The Bishop of Alcalá de Henares, Bishop Antonio Prieto Lucena, also recalled that Alcalá was the place where Ignatius began to develop his apostolic project. He emphasised that the experience of living alongside the poor and sick at Antezana remains significant today in the formation of Jesuit novices, who undertake periods of service in hospitals as part of their formation. The Mayor of Alcalá de Henares, Judith Piquet, highlighted St Ignatius as part of the city's historical heritage and as a significant figure in the history of Spain, Europe and the universal Church. In her address, she expressed her gratitude for the collaborative work of the institutions involved in preparing the anniversary celebrations and recalled one of the saint's most famous sayings as a practical guideline: "Love must be shown more in deeds than in words." The events marking this anniversary will provide an opportunity to revisit an essential chapter in the life of St Ignatius and in the history of Alcalá de Henares itself: the encounter between study, service, poverty and the search for God that decisively shaped the pilgrim in the years before the birth of the Society of Jesus.

János Lukács SJ is the Delegate for Formation of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. In this capacity, he participated in the international symposium organised by Manresa Retreat House and shared his reflections and experience from the meeting with us. Joining him were Dany Younes, Tertian Instructor, and Arnauld de Roland, Co-instructor, both from the JCEP Tertianship Programme team in Bikfaya. From 15 to 19 June 2026, the International Centre for Ignatian Spirituality at the Cave of Saint Ignatius hosted its third International Symposium, titled Spiritual Exercises and Affective-Sexual Integration. Among the more than eighty participants from diverse cultural backgrounds was a dedicated group of Jesuit formators focused on applying the symposium’s insights to the current challenges of religious formation. The symposium centred on the Four Weeks of the Spiritual Exercises, addressing the affective-sexual dimension of the human condition from an integral and spiritually transformative perspective. In light of the various instances of abuse and disorder that have emerged in the Church, the gathering sought to offer tools for greater awareness and a change of outlook among those who accompany others through the Exercises. Morning sessions offered a variety of lectures on anthropology, psychology and theology. Topics included the theological dimension of bodily and sexual integration, wounds of affectivity and the experience of guilt and sin, Jesus’ ministry to those on the margins, including complex processes related to sexual orientation and gender identity, the characteristics of victims and perpetrators in cases of abuse, and testimonies on maturity in love through marriage and celibacy. Afternoons were dedicated to small-group discussions, including a group specifically for Jesuit formators. While the presentations were not always directly applicable to formation, we noticed that they certainly sharpened our awareness of some of the challenges in Jesuit formation. For instance, our hyperconnected culture makes the already challenging initial steps towards affective maturity, such as identifying our own reactions—including shame, emptiness and pain—even more difficult. Thanks to the presence of Fr Michael Smith SJ from Australia, our “theory of change” in Jesuit formation emerged as a particularly interesting topic. Formation is one of the fields in which European collaboration at the Conference level is growing and becoming more consistent. This allows us to offer a more robust and comprehensive formation to young Jesuits.