From May 20th-25th, sixteen Vocation Promoters and YAM (Young Adult Ministry) Coordinators from across Europe gathered in Gent, Belgium. Coordinated by the Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), the annual meeting is jointly organised by the Conference Steering Groups for Vocation Promotion and YAM. This year, the meeting was held at the historic and scenic Oude Abdij (“Old Abbey”), a retreat centre of the European Low Countries  Region (ELC) at Drongen, near Gent.

The four days spent together were a time of spiritual conversation, mutual learning and enrichment, and deepening of the call of the Lord to the Society in Europe today. The keynote speaker was Sofi van Ussel, Director of Interdiocesane Jeugddienst (IJD), the inter-diocesan youth service of the Flemish bishops. Mrs van Ussel shared with the group recent learnings from the work of IJD with youth and young adults in Flanders. The group also took a day to reflect and pray on relevant sections from the De Statu Societatis Iesu 2023 (DSS), promulgated by Fr General last year. There was time for sharing of vocation promotion strategies from across the provinces, and planning for the future.

Not all was work, however. The delegates took the opportunity to visit the historic city of Gent on Thursday afternoon, see the local sights and taste local delicacies. The highlight of the afternoon was the visit to St Bavo’s Cathedral and contemplation of the famous 15th-century ‘Gent Altarpiece’, the ‘Adoration of the Mystical Lamb’ by the van Eyck brothers. Past met future as the group had the privilege of a special Virtual Reality (VR) presentation of the history and meaning of the piece.

In the closing mass to the meeting, Fr Dalibor Renic, President of the CEP, highlighted the tension faced by young people today between being at the margins of society, yet looking outwards, and being at the centre. This tension between being drawn outwards and being at the centre is a characteristic of the Jesuit vocation as well. As the vocations promoters and YAM coordinators returned to their respective provinces and ministries, there was a renewed sense of hope in the mission of the Society to young people and prospective Jesuits in Europe today.