100 Young People made Spiritual Exercises at Maison Magis. 

From May 8 to June 7, the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life were organised at Maison Magis in Paris and online across French-speaking Western European Province. Let’s take a look back at this edition that has crossed borders.  

With the Magis Network, 40 participants gathered remotely using telecommunications, including three young people in Mauritius and two in Luxembourg. 

68 young people attended the SEEL at Maison Magis in Paris. I was one of the 34 guides and it was a real pleasure for me to be responsible for leading one of the sharing groups, made up of three boys and three girls.  

Each meeting was very rich. Participants felt confident and at ease. They shared their experiences of the Spiritual Exercises, their joys, their views, their challenges and struggles. Over the weeks, I saw an evolution in their prayer, as they asked for the graces offered in the exercises (for example, “Lord, help me recognize myself as a sinner and let you raise me up”). It was a real privilege to see God at work in their lives.  

One of the things I have noticed about young adults is their need to take a step back from the busyness of life, and to find some peace and quiet. Many experience a life too full of movement, noise and distraction. They rarely had the impression of hearing God’s voice. Finding time to pray proved difficult for them, but when they answered that call, they began to feel consolation. Witnessing it was a consolation experience for me too. I am grateful to have participated in the SEEL this year, and I look forward to accompanying more young adults next year, walking alongside them towards a hope-filled future. 

Brook Stacey SJ