Pascal and Benoit took part in Magis' summer week in Latvia and Lithuania last summer. One for the first time as a Jesuit, the other just for the first time.

Pascal Calu sj: Magis is a paradox for me: it is completely different every time and at the same time completely the same. Every time again miracles happen during that summer programme. Young people who may not often have the opportunity or the courage to speak openly about their faith in daily life, will find a refuge in Magis to share their faith and their doubts with each other and to grow together in faith and relationship with God and the universal Church.

Benoit: It would be my first Magis. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had only heard positive stories. Whenever I met someone who had already taken part, they advised me to go along with them. It also became my first pilgrimage. I already had some experience with traveling, but that got a whole new dimension.

Pascal: We travelled through Latgala, the eastern part of Latvia, as pilgrims with fifteen or so young people. Our goal was the Marian place of pilgrimage Aglona, but as with every pilgrimage, the road is more important than the finishing point. Latgala is predominantly Russian, very extensive and has few inhabitants. The nature is very beautiful. On quiet roads we walked an average of twenty kilometers every day with all our luggage. One day ended in a kayak, with which we crossed one of the many lakes in the region.

Benoit: We celebrated the Eucharist every day. In the beginning this felt a bit uncomfortable. I did my utmost not to 'do anything wrong'. But there was no chance to hide in a side aisle: with our group of sixteen it was always an intimate mass. As the pilgrimage progressed, the celebration began to feel more and more like coming home. After a long day of walking, we found peace in the house of God. The group also became closer, so that my earlier diffidence disappeared. The Mass gradually became more of a celebration than a mass.

Our group was a fascinating mixture of different nationalities. Each and every one of us brought our own habits, desires and doubts. However, it soon became clear that these differences hardly made a difference. When it came down to it, we seemed to have known each other for years. As if someone had anticipated that.

At the end of the day we held the Magis circle. I had already heard of it, but had never really understood why everyone was so special about it. It seemed like a simple round of reflection.

But it is precisely in the circle that Magis really becomes Magis. It is an opportunity to dig deeper, often with surprising results. In the circle you realize that you were alone in nothing that day. It is a moment where you can share those insights and experiences with each other.

Pascal: I experienced this first Magis as a Jesuit in a different way than the other times. While I was always interested in meeting others and then being personally enriched by their experience of faith in order to learn to make God more central in my life, there was now an additional aspect. As a Jesuit, I was allowed to witness God's actions in the lives of the young people and to accompany them to discover God in their lives. This made this experience comforting and went to the heart of my vocation as a Jesuit: to help people discover that God is very close to them.

Benoit: When I look back on my first Magis, I feel gratitude. Gratitude for the good friends I have from this adventure. Gratitude for getting to know God a little better. And gratitude for everything He has given us. In any case, my journey is far from over.

In 2020, the MAGIS meeting will take place in Hungary and neighbouring countries. From 1 to 9 September. Highly recommended for all young people who want to have a joyful international experience in the summer.