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s2smodern

Vocation promoters from around Europe gathered online (not in Ljubljana as had been hoped) for their annual meeting from the 10th to the 12th of May.

The promoters expressed fatigue at the uncertainty of the ongoing covid situation. But, in sharing their efforts on the first day of the meeting, it was evident they had displayed many creative initiatives over the past year of pandemic lockdowns to reach out and connect with men interested in exploring Jesuit vocation and in discerning God’s call to them in their lives.

New resources from Rome

On the first afternoon of the meeting, John Dardis and Mark Ravizza, from the Curia’s media team, introduced the new global Jesuits’ website and vocation promotion toolkit made recently available in anticipation of the anniversary year. They reminded the group of Father General’s letter which encourages ‘a rekindling of a broad and deep culture of vocation promotion … that requires the active participation of all Jesuits and of the lay men and women with whom we collaborate.’ They also highlighted the importance of vocation promoters working closely with delegates and others engaged in young adult ministry recalling the third apostolic preference which encourages an accompaniment of the youth in the creation of a hope-filled future. Recognising the overlapping pools of shared ministry and embedding a culture of vocation in each of them will result in more men joining the Society.

The vocation of Jesuit Brother

On the second day, the promoters focused on the Jesuit Brother’s vocation. An excellent presentation on the historical roots and evolution of the Brother’s vocation in the life of the Society was delivered in the morning by Wenceslaus Soto. As well as his detailed knowledge of the history of the Society, he enriched the talk by sharing aspects of his own experience and wisdom as a Jesuit Brother lived out over many years in Spain. He was followed, in the afternoon, by Stephen Power, a Jesuit Brother of the British province, who talked among other things about the role Brothers served at GC36, present for the first time in the Society’s history as Electors, and about preparations for the next international meeting of Jesuit Brothers in Loyola. He shared several case studies from Brother’s around the world which showed a vast difference in the way the Brother’s vocation is understood and lived out and how Jesuit Brothers are still often treated as second class Jesuits.

The presentations provoked a good level of sharing in small groups and raised questions about how to effectively promote Brother vocations in our provinces. It was agreed that many young people would find the Brother’s vocation attractive but that it was often poorly presented or overshadowed by focussing narrowly on Jesuit priesthood.

The final morning attended to business matters. It was decided that the next meeting, which will gather European vocation promoters and delegates of young adult ministry together, will be held next May in Slovakia (covid permitting.) The promoters thanked Grégoire Le Bel for his three-year service to the steering group of European vocation promoters and welcomed Jim Conway as his replacement.

Jim Conway SJ (BRI)

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