The Jesuits in Latvia have a long history reaching all the way back to the 1580s, when they were called in to counter the reformation there. The Jesuits were later expelled and in the 20th century worked underground because of the Soviet repressions. Today the Latvian Church encompasses the whole spectrum of Christian communities: Lutheran, Orthodox, Catholic, Baptist and other. 

The newest history of the Jesuits began only about a decade ago, when one Lithuanian Jesuit was tasked with creating conditions for a community to be established in Rîga. This community was successfully consecrated and entrusted to the protection of Peter Faber in 2014. There are currently 3 Jesuits working there: one of Polish, one of Latvian and one of Lithuanian nationality.

Promote Ignatian Spirituality

The purpose of the foundation of the community was to promote Ignatian spirituality in Latvia by giving spiritual exercises, accompanying the growing Latvian Christian Life Community and engaging in the ecumenical dialogue with the Lutherans. 

A new catholic parish

At this time the most important task this community faces is to build a new church in the neighborhood. This is important, because currently the faithful meet in a rented school hall with lots of people wishing to have a more appropriate place of worship.  Planned is a new Catholic parish in the municipality where currently there is only one other active parish. Next to that, the community endeavors to establish a spiritual center, where conferences and meetings could be held. The municipal authorities, though, hesitate to approve the project because of the opposition from some of the local inhabitants in the neighborhood. If all goes according to plan, the actual building could start in the spring of the next year. 

Additionally, the diocese now negotiates with the University of Rîga to establish a student pastoral there run by the Jesuits. The Lithuanian/Latvian province appreciates your supportive prayers for this mission of the Society in Rîga.