I became Provincial of the British Province in September 2017, just as Franck Janin came on as President of our Conference. To my surprise, I was then asked to be a member of his Council, representing the Provinces of Western Europe. I accepted without hesitation for one simple reason: I quickly realised that working closely with Franck would be great fun. And so it turned out to be.

 Franck is a true European, a Frenchman who has become a Belgian – a path rarely trodden! He also speaks superb English, having done some of his training in Canada. His hinterland includes time with the community of L’Arche and a deep engagement with Ignatian spirituality, most especially his beloved Apostolic Planning and Discernment in Common. In short, he is a special kind of Jesuit!

As Conference President, Franck has brought all those skills and gifts to bear helping the Provincials to work together as a discerning body. That has taken quite a bit of work! It has meant building trust, teaching us to speak freely, listen carefully (usually in a foreign language), and take the risk of trusting the Holy Spirit to be the real protagonist of our meetings. The results have been transformative and we all owe Franck a great deal for his persistence and determination.

So now, Franck has come to the end of his six year term. It is indeed the “end of a diversion” away from the task of spiritual accompaniment at which he is so singularly gifted. The current Provincials will miss him. And those who, like me, are now ex-Provincials will look back at a special period in our own lives during which Franck’s support and collaboration were such valuable elements. Merci, mon ami!

Damian Howard SJ