On March 4th, the President of the Conference, Dalibor Renić, visited Namur University accompanied by the JCEP Socius, Gonzalo Villagrán. They had been invited by the Rector of the University, Ms. Annick Castiaux, who wanted to invite the JCEP President to get to know the University, it being so close to Brussels. The visit consisted of a nice lunch next to the river followed by a walk through the University campus. Ms. Castiaux was accompanied by different members of her team and of the University’s community: Mr. Stéphane Leyens, Vice-rector of International Relations and Cooperation; Mr. François-Xavier Fievez, Vice-rector of student affairs; Ms. Isabella Fontana, Director of the Service of International Relations; and Fr. Pierrin Lefebvre SJ, Professor of Economics and Religious studies.

The visit and the time together were a beautiful occasion to get to know better this important academic institution, first founded by the Jesuits in 1831 and recognized as a full university in 1948. The University of Namur is also an important actor in the Jesuit higher education networks, both at the European level (Kircher Network) and at the global level (IAJU). It was also an occasion to share with the members of the university community the goals and projects of the Jesuit Conference of European Provincials, a governance structure of the Society that at times is not sufficiently well known. In the conversations, we were able to share our impressions about the societies of the different European countries, the role of higher education in the Jesuit mission, and the different efforts in the field of identity and mission that are being put into practice, in particular the Canisius Formation offered by the Kircher Network.

The encounter was proof of how the European level of the mission, reflected in the life and projects of the Conference, offers a wider horizon to Jesuits, collaborators, and institutions in which to understand their own missions. It was also a new call to look for the many synergies that are there waiting to be activated in the Jesuit apostolic networks in Europe.