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)

Testimony from Fr. Jean Tuân SJ at Lille University Hospital Since 2023, Fr. Jean Tuân SJ has served as a hospital chaplain at Lille University Hospital (CHU). He reflects on his mission of listening and comforting patients, describing the hospital as a place of profound suffering and fragility, but also of grace and reconciliation. A Unique World at a Critical Moment Lille University Hospital, one of the largest public health institutions in northern France, employs over 16,000 professionals and serves 6 million residents of the Hauts-de-France region. Comprising ten specialized hospitals, it treats 1.4 million patients annually. Appointed chaplain by Lille’s Archbishop, Fr. Tuân works across all units, officially stationed at Salengro and the Heart-Lung Institute. Hospitals are unique spaces, places of hope and healing, yet marked by suffering. Patients, representing all social backgrounds and beliefs, come here during life’s most vulnerable moments. This setting provides a rare opportunity to hear the deepest cries of humanity and engage with individuals at their most fragile. Listening to Life Stories In the hospital, patients endure waiting—whether for treatment, recovery, or the end of life. This waiting opens a door for chaplains to connect. Moments of trust, when patients share their life stories, are moments of grace. Some recount rich, inspiring lives that reveal beautiful souls, leaving the listener in awe and gratitude. Other stories are filled with unbearable pain: abuse, illness, loss, or despair. Listening to such accounts is both a privilege and a challenge. It offers patients a chance to unburden themselves, even briefly, and provides the chaplain an opportunity to bring solace in the face of overwhelming suffering. End-of-life conversations often strip away pretense, revealing what truly matters to the person. Beyond physical pain, many patients grapple with unresolved inner struggles. Some seek peace with God, others with loved ones or themselves. These moments allow chaplains to offer comfort and guide them toward reconciliation, helping them depart in peace. The Sacrament of the Sick often brings profound relief, both to the patient and their family. Learning Love Through the Cross Walking alongside suffering patients is a way of sharing their burdens, echoing Simon of Cyrene carrying Christ’s cross. A chaplain’s compassionate presence provides patients with support, helping them find peace in their struggles. These encounters teach the chaplain to love deeply, without glorifying suffering or becoming indifferent to it. The role of a hospital chaplain brings one face-to-face with humanity’s deepest suffering—disease, violence, and loss. Yet it also allows for the proclamation of God’s word, bringing hope to seemingly hopeless situations. The chaplain stands at the intersection of bioethics and faith, confronting challenging issues like euthanasia, abortion, and abuse. Amid this, prayer becomes a lifeline, sustaining the chaplain’s hope and compassion. Through this unexpected ministry, Fr. Tuân walks closely with Christ, learning to listen, console, and find God in the stories of those he serves. These encounters deepen his understanding of life’s meaning and strengthen his faith. In the hospital, he meets the poor in spirit, who, in turn, lead him closer to God.

On 9 November 2024, Fr General Arturo Sosa, SJ, has appointed Fr Jimmy Bartolo, SJ, from the Euro-Mediterranean Province, as the next Secretary for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education of the General Curia. Fr Jimmy Bartolo will begin his job in January 2026. This will give him and Fr José Mesa, SJ, the current Secretary, plenty of time to plan a smooth transition of this important apostolic area of the Society. Fr Bartolo is currently the Rector of Saint Aloysius College in Malta. He brings a great deal of experience, knowledge and dynamism to the Secretariat because of his many years working in schools, provincial coordination of schools and team work at the level of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. At the handover Fr Mesa will have completed more than 15 years as the Secretary for Education.

Between November 18th and 21st, Detention Visitors from 8 country offices met in Malta for the 18th Detention Visitor Support Group (DVSG) training. This annual meeting gathers JRS workers visiting people in Detention Centres across Europe to discuss the latest developments and challenges they are facing as well as participate in training sessions led by experts to better support detained migrants. This year the meeting focused on vulnerability within the context of detention and how to best accompany those most vulnerable. To explore this theme, discussions and trainings centred around vulnerability criteria, which vary across countries, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support practices that can be applied in the visits as well as ways for the visitors to take care of themselves in harsh and emotionally charged contexts. Mariza Koronioti, JRS Europe Programme Officer in charge of the Detention Under the Spotlight project and lead organizer of the event, expressed: “This meeting comes at a crucial time. It is the first DVSG since the approval of European Migration and Asylum Pact. This package of policies will be hugely impactful for Detention Visitors since it will drastically increase the number of people in detention, specially at the borders of the EU”. “We are happy to see continued commitment and enthusiasm from country offices to participate in this training and we are glad to continue co-creating this space that fosters an environment for detention visitors to support and accompany each other”, she added. In addition, the local office in Malta offered a closer look at the Maltese context, especially looking into the deterioration of access to detention centres and increasing limitations to the services they can provide. In addition, the Aditus Foundation, a JRS Malta partner, presented their experience using strategic litigation, including before the European Court of Human Rights, the improvements they achieved through it and the challenges they have faced. Finally, JRS Europe held the last sessions looking forward at the next steps in joint projects discussing how to best work together through legal, advocacy and communications joint activities that might maximize the impact of our work. This is crucially vital in a context where immigration detention is destined to drastically increase as a consequence of the policies of the European Migration and Asylum Pact. The Detention Visitor Support Group was created in 2007 with the aim of offering training and support to staff and volunteers visiting detention centres across Europe. Since then, it has had annual meetings in which everyone gathers to share experiences and best practices in the hope of improving the services provided to people currently in Detention Centres. Moreover, the experiences and observations of the detention visitors meeting at the DVSG lay the basis of JRS advocacy and communications work in the Detention Under the Spotlight project. While having as ultimate goal the elimination of immigration detention, we will keep providing support to detained migrants across Europe and fighting for the respect of their human rights, especially within this extremely harmful context.