The Jesuits at the National Meeting of Christians in High Schools in Strasbourg.

On 1 and 2 February, the National Meeting of Christians in High Schools (CGE) takes place in Strasbourg. Several Jesuits, chaplains of high schools are present for this event which brings together 700 students.

"Student & Christian: influencer or follower? "It is on this theme that the next National Meeting of CGE (Christians in the Grande Ecole) opens on 1 and 2 February in Strasbourg. On the programme for the 700 students expected: 31 workshops, 6 round tables and an inaugural conference on the place of Christians in society, bringing together Mgr de Moulins-Beaufort, the historian of Catholicism Guillaume Cuchet and Anne Lécu, a Dominican woman and doctor in prison.

Four Jesuit chaplains of CGE students from all over France accompany their chaplaincies to this event: Fr. Nicolas Rousselot sj (Polytechnique and associated schools), Fr. Dominique Degoul sj (Centrale Supélec and HEC), Fr. Jacques Enjalbert SJ, who is also CGE regional chaplain for the Ile-de-France region (Sciences Po in Paris), and Fr. Kostia de Leusse SJ (ICAM and Purpan). Present in the chaplaincies of the grandes écoles for more than a century, the Jesuits maintain a close link with CGE, having given impetus to its creation by federating different circles of Catholic students in the 19th century.

Helping young people to take their place in the Church and in society

"Our role is to accompany students in building up living Christian communities on campus," explains Fr. Jacques Enjalbert SJ. Recognized as an association in its own right in student life, "these communities make it possible to develop dimensions of fraternal life, deepening of spiritual life, formation with the organization of conferences, service and commitment, and finally witnessing to the faith among other students. Several baptisms take place each year at Sciences Po," says the regional chaplain.

Faithful to the Ignatian tradition, the dimensions of personal accompaniment of the students in the discernment of their vocation and the unification of their Christian life with their studies remain deeply rooted in the chaplaincies animated by Jesuits.

The MAGIS network

Some young people from the MAGIS network, a platform of activities for 18-35 year olds throughout France, will also be present at the event, accompanied by the director, Fr. Gabriel Pigache SJ. Gabriel Pigache sj. "The MAGIS network supports the educational mission of the Jesuits among students," he emphasizes, "by acting as a bridge between the different youth pastoral networks. »

The objective for this weekend is therefore to make the students aware of the activities carried out by MAGIS and more widely by the Ignatian network: sessions in Spiritual Centres, the Magis House, the MAGIS teams and the summer of 2020 in Penboc'h.

https://www.jesuites.com/les-jesuites-presents-a-la-rencontre-nationale-des-chretiens-en-grande-ecole-a-strasbourg/