On January 2-6, the Coordination Committee of EJIF (European Jesuits in Formation) gathered in Brussels in order to plan the Summer event of EJIF, which will take place in Cluj Napoca, Romania. EJIF is one of the oldest groups of the JCEP – the first EJIF group met as early as 1989 – and it is a key instrument to help Jesuits in formation develop bonds among themselves and a truly international and European identity, a key feature of Ignatian spirituality. We asked the coordination team to write a few notes.

 It was on the 20th of August at Le Châtelard in Lyon that EJIF 2025 came to a conclusion. This reunion of Jesuits in formation from across Europe, as well as a delegate from Egypt, had begun in Marseille under the theme “Companions called to serve together.” Fourteen delegates gathered each day to pray, share, cook, and serve alongside different communities in the city.

The reunion then moved to Le Châtelard, a spirituality centre of the EOF Province of the Society of Jesus. There, the group entered more deeply into a contemplative and prayerful space shaped by the Spiritual Exercises. As is tradition with EJIF, the meeting concluded with the election of new delegates to the Coordination Committee (CoCo) for the following year’s reunion. Those appointed were Miklós Forián-Szabó SJ (HUN), Ante Arambašić SJ (CRO), and Mikhael Ahmad SJ (BRI). With Miklós serving as Chairman.

An important milestone in the preparation of each EJIF reunion is a meeting with the Conference of European Jesuit Provincials (JCEP) team, comprised of Dalibor Renić SJ (President), Gonzalo Villagrán SJ (Socius and Treasurer), and János Lukács SJ (Conference Formation Delegate). The Coordination Committee arrived in Brussels on the 2nd of January. In the months leading up to this meeting, the team met regularly online to pray, share, reflect on feedback from the previous EJIF, and discern where God might be leading the group with regard to the theme and location of the 2026 reunion. This process also involved more practical research into our own provinces and others, noticing what stood out and what resonated most with each member.

After four months of distilling these reflections, we arrived in Brussels carrying the fruits of our shared discernment. Meeting with the JCEP team offered invaluable perspective and guidance as we sought clarity around our final decisions. Throughout our visit, moments of prayer and further discernment helped us to refine and confirm the direction to which we felt called.

Throughout this process, it was helpful to keep in mind that EJIF is not only a meeting of delegates, but also a formative experience for each participant, including the members of the Coordination Committee. Holding this alongside our discernment, we recognised a unique opportunity to integrate a deeper reflection on the vow of chastity, explicitly linked to mission. Inspired by Ignatius’s constant search for the greater service of God, we were drawn to the deeply Ignatian intuition of magis — not as doing more, but as seeking what leads to greater freedom, the more universal good, and a form of service that truly places the other at the centre. From this perspective, affective freedom and discerning accompaniment emerged naturally as key dimensions of the theme for the coming year.

In light of these reflections, it was discerned that the next EJIF reunion will take place in Romania, in Cluj-Napoca this summer.

 Of course, an equally important element of the Brussels meeting was simply being together. This was the first time since the previous EJIF that the newly appointed CoCo members were able to meet in person, both with one another and with the conference team. Alongside our meetings, we had the opportunity to visit the Brussels City Museum, the Cathedral of St Gudula, and the European Parliament building, as well as to share a memorable meal with the JCEP team. Our time in Brussels coincided with several days of snow, which lent a particular character to the visit — turning walks through the city and nearby parks into an unexpectedly joyful part of our time together. More than the places we visited, however, it was the experience of fraternity, companionship, and shared discernment that stood out most clearly, grounding our preparations in a spirit of joy that we carry forward as we continue our work toward EJIF.

EJIF Coordination Committee 2026

Miklós, Ante & Mikhael

January 2026

 The European Jesuits in Formation (EJIF) is a network that brings together Jesuits in formation from across Europe, offering a space for encounter, shared discernment, and mutual support at a formative stage of Jesuit life. Rooted in the Ignatian tradition, EJIF seeks to foster a sense of companionship and collaboration beyond provincial boundaries, helping young Jesuits grow in availability for mission within the universal Society of Jesus. Closely connected to the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials (JCEP), EJIF plays an important role in strengthening inter-provincial relationships, listening to the realities of formation across Europe, and nurturing future collaboration in mission. Through its annual reunions and ongoing coordination, EJIF serves as both a formative experience for its participants and a meaningful point of dialogue with JCEP on the life and mission of the Society in Europe.