The Groupe des Deux Rives met at the Diocesan House in Tunis between 30 December 2024 and 4 January 2025: Christophe Ravanel (Constantine); Víctor Ramos, Damien de Préville and Jesús León (Algiers); Jean-Marc Balhan and Alexis Doucet (Ankara), Àlvar Sánchez and Josep Buades (Laâyoune), Laurent Basanese (Rome) and Jaume Flaquer (Granada). The location enabled us to grasp some of the features of the Catholic Church in Tunisia and its challenges, through the overall vision of Mgr Nicolas Lhernould, Archbishop of Tunis, the look at Catholic schools of Fr Domenico Paternò SDB and the experience of a Muslim journalist, Hatem Bourial, as a participant in the African synod in preparation for the recent synod on synodality. As usual, the exchanges between the members of the Group highlighted the continuity and changes in each other's mission fields.
The move of the Society of Jesus in Morocco from Nador (on the Mediterranean coast) to Laâyoune (on the Saharan coast, opposite the Canary Islands) shows its commitment to a deadly migratory route, where service to the local Church enables it to join forces to bring life and hope to areas of suffering; just as service to Caritas throughout Morocco strengthens the social apostolate of the local Churches. The continuity of the mission in Ankara enables us to accompany a Church that is rooted in Turkey, in its language and culture. In Algeria, the Ben-Smen Spiritual Centre helps the spiritual renewal of Christians and Muslims, while providing an excellent framework for inter-religious dialogue with Muslims. The educational apostolate reaches both the youngest children in Constantine (Centre Nibras) and university students in Algiers (Centre Culturel Universitaire) and Constantine (Bibliothèque Dilou). The CCU's contribution to culture was also discussed, with exhibitions of paintings by beginners and self-taught artists. All this, without neglecting other services to the diocesan churches and the social apostolate (particularly in prisons). The intellectual apostolate in Granada, from Loyola University, provides a basis for teaching, research, university exchanges and places for inter-religious encounters and dialogue, particularly with Islam. The Holy See's Department for Interreligious Dialogue, in turn, strengthens opportunities for dialogue with Muslims through state, intergovernmental and academic bodies.
In our discussions, we talk about our encounters and our friendship with Muslims, as well as the accompaniment of those who encounter Christ, make their journey and, eventually, ask for baptism. These are issues that affect the development of the societies in which we live, our local Churches and the Society of Jesus. The relationship between our provinces of origin and our group is also an issue, as is the participation of several of us in the ‘Jesuits Among Muslims’ group. These are subjects that touch on the evolution of the societies in which we live, of our local Churches and of the Society. The relationship between our provinces of origin and our group is also an issue, as is the participation of several of us in the ‘Jesuits Among Muslims’ group. The situations of the societies to which we are sent touch us, such as the suffering endured by migrants, populations affected by war or the uncertain political processes in the Middle East.
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