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From Monday 2nd August to Monday 9th August 2022, the Jesuit Novitiates of Birmingham, Innsbruck and Lyon gathered together in-person for an inter-novitiate meeting for the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.  The meeting took place at the Rue Sala Jesuit Novitiate in Lyon and included a three-day visit to the Jesuit community in Lalouvesc, at the shrine of St Jean-François Régis SJ.

The theme for the meeting was that of the religious vow of poverty, in response to Fr General’s recent request that the entire Society of Jesus review how we live poverty as individuals, communities and as a Society as a whole. Our reflection began with novices sharing experiences they have had of living the vow of poverty, or working with those on the peripheries. Presentations were thoughtful, articulate and prayerful, and were received in an atmosphere of deep listening to one another. This was to set the tone for the entire gathering. Later, each novitiate was invited to share an experience of a social apostolate in which novices had encountered.

In addition to listening to each other's experiences, the group visited Fr Jean Noël Gindre SJ at Coup de Pouce Université in Lyon, which translates as the University of the Helping Hand. We learned of both the efforts to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds access university education, and also the motivation for undertaking such an apostolate. A wide-ranging discussion ensued, exploring what made the apostolate distinctly Jesuit, to the tensions involved in holding together the promotion of faith and justice in such a religiously and culturally diverse setting. We learned, also, about the Christian history of the city during a visit to Antiquaille, the Cultural Centre of Christianity, and the story of the development of Sources Chrétienne which was presented engagingly by Fr Dominique Gonnet SJ.

A highlight of the trip was the visit to the shrine of St Jean-François Régis SJ in Lalouvesc. The parish priest, Fr Michel Barthe-Dejean SJ, guided the group through the basilica and the museum dedicated to the St Jean-François. For most members of the group, this was the first time they had heard of the saint. It was also a delight to join the parish community for Mass and a festive meal during the parish feast on Sunday 8th August. The group also enjoyed a visit to the Lake of Devesset, swimming and sailing in pedalos!

On our final evening in Lyon, we enjoyed a barbeque cooked by the novices, and each person performed a song, mime, dramatic performance or led the brothers in a game during our final gaudiosa. The blessings of the week were manifold, not least daily Mass animated alternately by each novitiate. All appreciated hearing about the insights and experiences of the others on the theme of poverty, but, as Novicemaster for the EOF province Fr Arnaud de Rolland SJ put it, it was the ‘simple brotherhood’ that was perhaps the greatest treasure we uncovered during our time together.

Eamonn Walls SJ (Prov Hib)

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