On 20 July, Fr. José de Pablo Martinez de Ubago left Brussels after seven years of office as assistant (socius) to the President of the European Conference (JCEP). He first served for four years with John Dardis. For the last three years we have worked closely together. Fr. José kindly shared the following thoughts with us at the end of these years. I thank him for this and wish him the best as he moves on to his new assignment at the Spirituality Centre in Manresa. God bless you José!
Franck Janin, JCEP President.
Interview with José de Pablo. How was the overall experience of these 7 years as Socius/Treasurer?
Seven years connecting people. A Jesuit Conference is not a mobile phone company but creating links and building bridges among Jesuits and partners in mission is a good way of describing it. It has been a sharing life experience in many senses, many travels, computer work, and meetings but full of life.
I remember the first time I presented to provincials the Formation Solidarity Mechanism results. We were in Ukraine for the JCEP Assembly. The 20 provincials stood up to see the figure beside their countries’ name. All of them were happy because of receiving and also because of giving. I was happy because I make solidarity real for our people in formation.
A sad moment was to see the situation in Syria during the President’s consult in Beirut in March 2014, It was few days before the death of Frans van der Lugt. The testimony of the Jesuits facing the impotence of the war in Homs and Aleppo taught me to pray in a different way, touching the earth, grounded, invaded by faces and names.
In contrast, the joy of the meeting in Malta gathering the Vocation Promoters with our communication people (JesWebCom) in May 2017. Our outing was to sail in the port of the Three Cities, all in the same boat. That ship was a sign of connection between networks, between Jesuits and friends, under the same flag and with the same mission.
In what ways your understanding of the Society of Jesus in Europe has changed?
My laptop screen has been like a window open to many different realities in Europe. At first I didn't know how to write or pronounce the names of my colleagues. I thought that being the Socius and the Treasurer was going to be a burden, because a secretary is the keeper of secrets and these secrets were not exactly good news. I soon realized that I have been a privileged witness, in person and online, of the many great works and initiatives of the Society of Jesus in Europe. Yes, we are getting older, we are suffering a process of decline, and sometimes we are our own worst enemies, but we continue to hear the Lord's call and to do great things by living close to God for the good of many people in need.
What lessons or new wisdom are you taking with you for your next mission?
I have worked with great people, four years with John Dardis and three years with Franck Janin. I’m very grateful to both of them. I have seen their style of leadership and communal discernment and I feel that I have taken the best of both for my own learning. This is a valuable baggage for my next mission and I will need these skills in the years to come. As examples, it was great to participate in the Ignatian Leadership Program (2015-2017) or to be involved in the discernment process of the Universal Apostolic Preferences during the JCEP Assembly in Barcelona (September 2018). I have learned that we have to move forward many things together, many networks, processes of fusion of provinces, works, etc. All this will only have a future if we, Jesuits and Partners in Mission, remain in union of prayer and collaboration.
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