The president of the Conference has usually four consults per year. This one in Lisbon was the first in 2017. Fr. John Dardis is working simultaneously as President of the Conference and as Counselor for Discernment and Apostolic Planning. For the first time, Fr. Franck Janin, new appointed JCEP President, joined the Conference consult. It is a time of transition at Conference level, many important themes are on the President’s desk that cannot be overlooked. 

It is also transition times for many provinces in Europe, with important changes coming next summer like the merging of the French and Southern Belgian provinces, and Italy and Malta. Amongst several themes for discussion, there are many ongoing projects and programmes, like the upcoming Conference of Safeguarding in Budapest, Ignatian Leadership Programme in Beirut or the next JCEP general assembly in Ludwigshafen this October.

Besides the current and new Presidents of the JCEP, the team is formed by one socius, two counselors, and three moderators (who are elected by the provincials of each assistancy), these three moderators are: Fr. Johan Verschueren, from The Netherlands and Flanders Provinces, Fr. Bernhard Bürgler, from Austrian Province, and Fr. José Frazão Correia, Provincial of Portugal and the host of this event. 

The Portuguese province was hosting this event, their warm welcoming in Santo Inácio Retreat House was excellent for the Consult process. It was consoling to look at the ocean from the terrace in between each of the consult sessions.