Exactly 250 years ago, the towns of Skalka and Trenčín lost the Jesuits after their worldwide suppression. The same place was now able to enjoy a touch of the Jesuit spiritual heritage. Is it just a coincidence, or a God's direction? Are we witnessing a renewal of the old Jesuits´ friendship with the antient pilgrim´s shrine?

At the mid-July feast of St. Andrew-Svorad and St. Benedict, the patron saints of the Diocese of Nitra, a traditional pilgrimage was held at Skalka, in the western part of Slovakia. What was special this year? The Jesuits were invited to guide a creative retreat.

From 19 to 21 July 2023 Fr. Peter Girašek SJ and Fr. Jozef Bartkovjak SJ from the Jesuit community in Trnava prepared for pilgrims an offer to nurture the soul: the Eucharistic adoration, Mass celebrations with biblical inputs, testimonies and debates about the life and mission of Jesuits, opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, praying together the Way of the Cross.

Families with children, individuals and small groups, married couples, nuns, active lay people, experienced a relaxing and creative atmosphere at the shrine, surrounded by beautiful nature.

The meaning of “Skalka” in Slovak is “little rock”. The place bears the heritage of Benedictine eremites from 1020. There used to be an Abbey for two centuries. From 1645 till 1773 Skalka became a vivid Jesuit centre, especially in terms of vocations. An incredible number of 2,431 Jesuit novices passed through the novitiate house in Skalka.

Back to the retreat: it seems to be something more than just a pure coincidence. The whole event was extremely blessed. A family atmosphere was created, including a home visit. Musicians from the local area were involved.

Fr. Peter invited to pray with his own meditative paintings, inspired by Ignatian spirituality. Fr. Jozef shared his experience from his service at the Vatican Radio in Rome. The retreat was a space for spiritual deepening, for new contacts and refreshing the old ones, and for discovering new books about the Jesuit spirituality and history.

Skalka was a novitiate for the Hungarian part of the Austrian Jesuit province in the period 1655 – 1773. The registry of the Trenčín novitiate records a total of 2,431 novices admitted: 1,724 novices-Scholastics and 707 novices-Brothers. Almost half of them were born in the territory of Slovakia.

According to historical records, a total of 21,958 students graduated from the Jesuit high school in Trenčín between 1649 and 1773. There were 250 Jesuit professors over the years. Omnia ad maiorem Dei gloriam.

Exactly a quarter of century has elapsed. The papal breve Dominus ac Redemptor of Clement XIV. bears the date 21 July 1773. The Jesuits as a community have not returned to the region of Trenčín any more. After the worldwide renewal of the Society of Jesus in 1814, the Jesuit presence in Slovakia was renewed in 1853 with a new novitiate in Trnava.

The retreat at the shrine of Skalka was felt as a strong moment to pray together for the Lord´s gift of vocations. This year two novices from Slovakia entered the novitiate in Birmingham. May the Lord guide them and all the Jesuits in formation in the world.

(Written by Jozef Bartkovjak SJ)