European Provincials General Assembly in Zagreb.

The General Assembly of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP) now meets twice a year. This time it took place in Croatia, near Zabreb, in an 18th century castle called Lužnica. The main objective of this meeting was to continue the discernment of the Conference's Apostolic Plan in the light of the recently published Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP).  To facilitate discernment the provincials were assisted by Ms Sandra Chaoul who participated and was part of the formation team for Common Discernment and Ignatian Leadership in the JCEP. One of the most repeated words in this discernment was "conversion" and was the fruit of the reflective re-reading of the letters of Father General Arturo Sosa in the launching and implementation of the UAP.  The provincials examined each of the UAPs looking at the graces received and the resistances they encounter in their implementation. They also deepened the knowledge and evaluation of the works and networks in the JCEP. Finally, they named the calls that the Conference is receiving to advance in the mission of Christ. The process remains open and will be concluded in future assemblies.

Another topic that the provincials discussed was East-West dialogue in Europe. The main speaker was Fr. Tomáš Halík. He is a professor of Sociology at the Charles University in Prague, pastor of the Academic Parish by St. Salvator Church in Prague, and president of the Czech Christian Academy. Halík said “I am convinced that the mission of Christians at this moment in history and in this European culture is not to offer certainties, but to teach the courage to enter the cloud of mystery, and live with life’s open questions and paradoxes. The most important service that the church can offer present-day people is to develop the art of spiritual discernment in personal life and in the life of society, reading the signs of the times.”

In the agenda of the provincials there were also many other themes: primary and secondary education, the Social Apostolate, present and future finances and development offices, among other themes. Also JCEP participants went for an afternoon visit to Zagreb City centre, a wonderful walking tour with a special stopover in the Cathedral and Saint Catherine Church, former Jesuit Church. Then they went to celebrate the Eucharist at St Joseph's Chapel in Jordanovac College Church. There, the Croatian Province offered a dinner to the whole conference. The Croatian provincial facilitated all the logistics of the meeting and at all times they were excellent hosts.