Autumn time fascinates me every year. This year in a special way. I observed the autumn colours in Drongen, where we had a meeting of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials. It has been more than a year since I was appointed Provincial of the Slovenian Province and I was looking forward to the first meeting in person. All the meetings so far have been via the internet. So, the first contact with other European provincials was a long-awaited meeting.

We gathered on Saturday, October 9 in the afternoon in the Old Abbey in Drongen together with Fr. Arturo Sosa. Next day in the morning and in the afternoon, he gave us points for retreat. After prayer we had a spiritual conversation in groups. We ended each day with the Eucharist and the social. On Monday morning we gathered again together with Fr. General at spiritual conversation and plenary. Each of us had an opportunity to share and express his opinion. In the afternoon we listened to Fr. Peter Rožič director of JESC and Social Apostolate Delegate for the JCEP. He invited us to the JCEP Justice and Ecology Congress that will take place next year in Loyola.

On Tuesday we discussed about a very interesting topic of reconciliation with Prof. Gwen Grifith-Dickson, Director of the Lokahi Foundation. In the same day in the evening we took a walk around the beautiful city of Ghent. On Wednesday, we talked about novitiates across Europe, and Fr. Alberto Ares introduced us to JRS Europe. In the afternoon Fr. Philip Debruyne, Communications Officer, encouraged us to write and publish the events on the JCEP website. Thursday was a so-called Assistancies Day, where we met each assistancy for itself. On Friday after the Eucharist we said goodbye and we went back to our provinces.

As a provincial, I often feel alone in my decisions and thinking. In Drongen, however, I had before me honest interlocutors who face similar problems as I do. Of course, there was also space among us for the beautiful things, which are not few in the current mission. The feeling at the first meeting was completely new. I didn’t know where to place it, so I was a little bit reserved and cautious at first. Then I began to slowly open up and felt the dynamics of space, trust and sincerity. I am immensely grateful for the excellent organization, hospitality and so many gifts received.