On September 25, 2022, the Jesuit Spiritual Centre La Pairelle, located near Namur in Belgium, will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The entire Ignatian family of Belgium and Luxembourg is invited to celebrate.

Celebrating this jubilee (postponed due to Covid) will be an opportunity to strengthen the bonds and the spirit of the Ignatian Family, and to give thanks to the Lord for all He has given to so many people during these 50 years. At La Pairelle, hundreds of people have met Christ, experienced God's mercy, discovered their vocation to religious life or marriage, or simply tasted peace for a weekend of healing.

A spiritual and festive program

In addition to the gathering, times of prayer, celebration, and even dancing are planned. A Eucharist will be presided by Mgr Pierre Warin, Bishop of Namur, with Fr. François Boëdec SJ, Provincial of French-speaking Western Europe.

Participants will (re)discover the different organisations of the Ignatian Family through animations and stands. Fr. Nicolas Sintobin SJ will give a lecture on “The relevance of Ignatian spirituality for today”.

The history of La Pairelle

Originally, in 1935, La Pairelle was created to take in young Jesuits in formation. In 1971, the Society of Jesus transformed it into a spiritual centre. For more than 50 years, retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius have been given, sessions open to all seekers of God, and biblical training and spiritual accompaniment sessions.

These initiatives are managed by the Jesuits and the sisters of Saint-André, who arrived in 1999, but also by other nuns and many lay people, from the Ignatian Family and beyond.

Jésuites EOF