Europe and Near East, 62 novices in 9 novitiates.

The call for a consecrated life can be felt in many different ways and in many different places. This year, 26 young men from all over Europe and the Middle East took the brave decision of knocking at the door of our Jesuit novitiates.  Some of them studied in Jesuit schools, others were involved in youth groups with Ignatian spirituality and some heard about us from a friend or on the internet. Each one of them has a unique story, but all of the share the same passion of serving God.

Jesuit training begins with a two-year programme called novitiate. This instruction begins only after a period of vocational discernment. The role of a Jesuit spiritual director is key in this process. This Jesuit's tasks is mainly focused on helping the young man discern what God is calling him to do, and how best to explore his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Only when mutual knowledge between candidates and Jesuits is mature enough the person will be admitted in the novitiate. Discerning a Jesuit vocation is an exercise of freedom, commitment and openness to find where God is willing to meet each one personally.

You want to know more about how to become a Jesuit? Check our page: https://jesuits.eu/join-the-mission/become-a-jesuit

All together there are 62 novices in the ten European novitiates, 26 in the first year and 36 in the second year. A novice learns to create a community of brothers who grow in prayer, knowledge of the Society, apostolic work, and personal enrichment. He meets the Lord through the 30-day Spiritual Exercises retreat. At the end of these two years, he pronounces vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

We invite you to pray for the journey of the Jesuit novices and also for all that may feel the vocation to become a Jesuit.

In the Jesuit Conference of Europe and Near East there are currently 9 novitiates. These are the details from each one:

Bilbao (Spain)

First year: 3

Second year: 2

Total novitiate: 5

Country: Spain

  

 

Birmingham (U.K.)

First year: 4 Novices
Second year: 1 Novice

Total novitiate: 5
Countries: Northern Belgium, Ireland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Czechia and Slovakia.

 

Cairo (Egypt)

First year: 3
Second year: 3

Total novitiate: 3
Countries: Egypt, Lebanon and Syria

 

Coimbra (Portugal)

First year: 4

Second year: 3

Total novitiate: 7

Country: Portugal

 

 

Gdynia (Poland)

First year: 4

Second year: 11

Total novitiate: 15

Countries: Poland, Russia, Ukraine

 

 

 

 

 

Genoa (Italy)

First year: 3

Second year: 6

Total novitiate: 9

Countries: Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovenia, Hungary and Denmark

 

Lyon (France)

First year: 3

Second year: 5

Total novitiate: 8

Countries: France, Southern Belgium and Luxemburg

  

Nuremberg (Germany)

First year: 2

Second year: 3

Total novitiate: 5

Countries: Austria, Germany, Lithuania and Switzerland 

 

Split (Croatia)

First year: 1

Second year: 2

Total novitiate: 3

Countries: Croatia