The first Belgian edition of the Mission Congress was a success! With more than 1,500 participants on March 18, 19 and 20, 2022, it has been one of the largest Belgian Catholic gatherings this year. It was also bilingual and entirely supported by laypeople. Participants were happy to have intellectually nourish their faith or their understanding of mission through round tables, to have discovered many concrete local missionary initiatives, to have seen a joyful and vibrant Church, and to have met again.

Alongside these many activities, moments of mass, adoration and prayer offered us to refocus on the one without whom nothing is possible – Jesus Christ. Pope Francis constantly reminds us that a Christian is called to be a disciple-missionary. Proclaiming the Good News, rooted in personal relationship with the Lord, is the Church’s primary mission, and therefore, ours.

The Mission Congress was an opportunity for great visibility for the Society. Many people came to tell us of their pleasant surprise to see the Jesuits so involved – a double-stand, about fifteen contributions to meetings and a status of official partner. Another stand was held jointly with several Ignatian entities, which was another opportunity to strengthen our ties, while the presence of some sixty other exhibitors made it possible to bond with others outside the Ignatian network. Attendance to workshops related to discerning the will of God or the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) was high.

On the other hand, the Mission Congress gave us the joy of working together on the same project, which is quite rare in an order where one service may be lived in many different ways. In addition, many Jesuit companions took their part by concelebrating, confessing, leading a round table, running a stand, talking on the radio or simply by being present. Thanks to all of them!