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Symposium of the ECE Province at Vierzehnheiligen. 

During the Easter week, around 180 Jesuits and staff of the Central European Province met in Vierzehnheiligen for their annual symposium. The guiding principle for the symposium was a quote from Hilde Domin: "I put my foot in the air and it carried”. The focus was on how faith can be lived and passed on today. "We all have the common project of proclaiming the message of Jesus," said Provincial Fr Bernhard Bürgler SJ in his welcoming address to fellow Jesuits and staff. 

How this can succeed in today's world was the topic of a discussion with Fr James Hanvey SJ, General Counsellor for Spirituality of the Society of Jesus in Rome, poet Nora-Eugenie Gomringer, who runs the Villa Concordia artists' house in Bamberg, and Ludwig Schick, Archbishop emeritus of Bamberg. In addition, young people from Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, Austria and Switzerland were invited to contribute their perspectives and experiences of faith. 

Witnessing the faith with one's own life 

Father Hanvey recalled the importance of hospitality in the Church. In a hospitable church, he said, everyone is welcome with their personal story. He also encouraged people to rediscover the gift of silence and not to be afraid to invite young people into it. In his talk, Archbishop Emeritus Ludwig Schick emphasised that faith is not a parcel that can be passed on. It is important to bear witness to faith with one's own life - only in this way it can reach the hearts of others. 

At the symposium, Fr Bürgler also presented the Apostolic Plan of the Central European Province of the Jesuits. The plan is a compass for the coming years. "It should give orientation to our Province, fellow brothers and co-workers to dare new things." The Apostolic Plan lists the goals of the Province in the five apostolic fields: Young People & Vocation, Pastoral Care, Schools & Universities, Adult Education Institutions & Retreat Houses and Social Affairs & Ecology. In addition, there is the question of successful communication in a society that is becoming more and more digitalised. The various aspects of the Apostolic Plan were discussed in workshops. 

The Provincial Symposium also included a joint service in the Basilica of Vierzehnheiligen with Archbishop em. Ludwig Schick, workshops on current topics and projects of the Order as well as time for exchange and encounter. 

Jesuits ECE 

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