Preparations for the Jesuit Universities and Faculties Meeting in July.

Diversity. This is one of the first words that come to our minds when we think about all the Jesuit Higher Education institutions in Europe and the Near East. How can we think of networking in Higher Education given this diversity of cultures, languages, contexts …? On the 18th of February, Father General addressed many Jesuits at the Vidyajyoti Theology Faculty in Delhi to discuss this same topic and to encourage them to network more in order to be more effective in their ministries. Can this happen in Europe and the Near East when the realities are so different? This is one of the key topics that the Rectors and Deans of Higher Education Institutions will discuss in Paris from the 9th to the 14th of July 2017.

The Steering Committee organising this meeting, met the past 15th of February at Centre Sèvres (the institution that will be hosting this event). This group, formed by Philip Endean SJ, Tomas García-Huidobro SJ and Carlos Coupeau SJ, was missioned by the JCEP to think on the sessions that would help the discussion on further collaboration of the Higher Education Institutions in Europe and the Near East.

The task is not easy. Does the Conference need something like what exists in Latin America (AUSJAL) or in North America (AJCU)? Is there a need for something different? Is there no need at all? What about UNIJES, which is doing a good job in Spain? Many questions will be addressed in July. The words of the first father, however, came to their minds to cast a light on the whole issue: "Each should have a knowledge of and a concern for the others, leading to a richer harvest of souls; for spiritual power, as well as natural, is intensified and strengthened when united in a common arduous enterprise far more than if it remains fragmented in many parts"

José Carlos Romero, the Coordinator of HEST (Higher Education for Social Transformation), also joined the group. They discussed how the project was going and they worked on the session that will take place in July. A great opportunity to get the feedback and reflections from Rectors and Deans!

What will be the outcomes of all of this? We will have to wait until July to know!