Father Arturo Sosa visited the Province of Slovenia from 19 – 20 September. A key highlight of his trip was the centenary celebration of the St Ignatius of Loyola House of Spiritual Exercises in Ljubljana which was built in 1925. The celebration began with the Holy Mass presided over by the Provincial, Fr Miran Žvanut, in the presence of Father General.

During the homily, Father Sosa explained the importance of having our lives rooted in our relationship with Christ, stressing that every social action must necessarily be enlivened by faith and prayer, not just human planning or technical solutions; otherwise, it risks losing its meaning.

Turning his attention to the centenary celebration, Father General described the retreat house as a place where people come to “catch their breath”, withdraw from daily pressures, and encounter God – but also as a place meant to send people back into the world.

He explained that a retreat house should be characterized by the double movement of breathing – inhaling and exhaling. While a retreat offers time away from the regular rhythm of life, prayer and discernment should also lead to action. In this regard, those who do the Exercises are to re-enter into the world after encountering the Lord, seeking to better “love and serve” in the concrete circumstances of their own lives.

Father General went on to highlight the increasingly important role of lay collaborators in the mission of the Society of Jesus. Citing the Korean martyrs of the 19^th Century, whose memory was celebrated during the Mass on 20 September, he pointed out that 92 of the 103 canonized martyrs were lay people.

The Mass was followed by a gathering during which Fr Damjan Ristić, accompanied by guitarist Simon Perovnik and violinist Ela Perovnik entertained those present with inspirational music. The gathering also provided the opportunity to share some of the experiences of those who had done the Spiritual Exercises at the St Ignatius of Loyola retreat house in the past.

Sonja Pungertnik, the current director of the House of the retreat house, shed more light on its history. She said that the house has carried a lesson for all the people who have “built” it over the years. Recalling its eventful past, she focused on the ability to draw from past experiences in order to inspire both the present and the future. Pungertnik emphasized that today, as a hundred years ago, the need for a place to encounter God remains the same, and it is important to know how to listen and work in tune with the times and according to the needs of people.