Jesuit Scholastics’ meeting in Bad Schönbrunn (Switzerland) – German Jesuit Priest, Marco Hubrig gives us a day-by-day account

The first day was characterized by some introduction to the Zen Buddhism held by Fr. Niklaus Brantschen SJ, who is both: a Jesuit priest and a Zen Master. We were enriched by a personal experience of a Zen meditation, guided by Niklaus and of course we had a dialogue in which we were talking about similarities and differences of a Zen meditation and a Christian mediation. In the afternoon, Fr. Felix Körner SJ, professor for catholic theology and Islamic studies at the Gregorian University in Rome, held a very inspiring speech about his personal experiences as a catholic priest in a Muslim country. For years he lived in Turkey and still has good relationships to Muslim families, Imams and other representatives. He encouraged us, to discuss with great respect for their religion, but always with a profound and sufficient knowledge and love of our own religion. Felix pointed out, not to believe too quickly, that all religious people might believe in the same things, but rather to keep and live with tension, that this might not be the case. In the evening an Imam from Zurich was invited to Bad Schönbrunn and spoke about his personal vocation and his challenges as Imam in Switzerland.

On Sunday, we had beautiful 25km pilgrimage from Bad Schönbrunn to the Benedictine Abbey of Einsiedeln, the most famous in Switzerland. That really was an outstanding experience, starting in the early foggy morning and walking, kilometer after kilometer a bit higher and closer to the Abbey. The higher we walked, the sunnier it became and the beautiful Swiss landscape greeted all of us on our pilgrimage. There was a plenty of time for personal prayer and for talking to some Jesuit friends. The Abbey of Einsiedeln with the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna was ready to receive us, and thousands of other pilgrims on that day. We celebrated Holy Mass there, it was presided by five of our six newly ordained priests (17th September in Innsbruck, Austria).

Due to illness, the Jewish Rabbi couldn’t come on Sunday evening but it gave us a chance to rest since we were tired after all the walking of the day. As a compensation the Jesuits from the Bad Schönbrunn community prepared some typical Swiss food: Raclette.

We ended the Scholastic’s Meeting with a Meeting with our Formation Delegate Fr. Hans- Jürgen Kleist SJ. He actually was very happy with us, a young and international group and he really was impressed by our loyal but friendly suggestions and the very friendly relationships between us. For all us, it was a huge shock to hear the news that Hans-Jürgen died on Monday 31st October, immediately after he came back to his community in Munich. He will stay in our hearts as a friendly and open-minded brother and we are sure, that he is now praying for all of us in heaven.

The Scholastics’ Meeting was a great experience. I’d like to thank the staff of the Lassalle- Haus in Bad Schönbrunn, especially the Jesuits living there. And of course, a very special thank to the young brothers, who prepared this meeting with great success. Thank you all guys!

Fr. Marco Hubrig SJ (one of the recently ordained priests)

This year’s scholastic’s meeting took place from 28th to 31st October in the recently renovated Lassalle-Haus in Bad Schönbrunn. For the first time, not only the scholastics of the German, Swiss and Austrian Province attended, but also those from the Hungarian and the Lithuanian-Latvian Province. It was an anticipation of the new Central European Province. The entire number was around 30 young Jesuits.