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s2smodern

Dear friends,

After a month in office, supported by a friendly and efficient team, I am gradually discovering the many different aspects of our European Conference. Some significant movements took place in the team of companions based in Brussels: José-Ignacio Garcia took over JRS Europe and Peter Rožič from Slovenia took over JESC and became the coordinator for social apostolate in Europe. He celebrated his 40th birthday on the day of his arrival in the European capital - that's a good sign! We are happy to welcome him. Hence, I can confidently say that all the Common Works of the Conference are in good hands.

During my brief journey until now,  I have been going from discovery to discovery, with the intention of participating in as many meetings as possible in order to gain the most complete view possible of the panorama of the Conference's activities. Due to the constraints of the agenda, I have already had to skip the recent meeting of European delegates for the social apostolate in Bilbao. I'm sorry about that and hope to be there next year.

However, together with the other Presidents of the Conferences, I took part in the Enlarged Council (Consiglio Allargato) of Father General at the beginning of September.  The Tempo Forte was rich both in terms of content and process. Speaking of content, I particularly welcomed the time spent deepening the themes of reconciliation and apostolic preferences for our universal Society. In terms of process, in the vein of GC 36, the Spiritual Conversation on the proposed points permeated our exchanges. This is how we pursue the goal of forming a discerning body together. I was also happy to attend the opening of the Tertianship in Dublin. Never has a year been so diverse. Among the 11 tertians, only 4 are from our Conference. Companions from Africa, China, the United States and India are gaining interest in our offer.

Being President of the Conference also involves other presidencies. For example, at my first meeting with the JECSE (European Jesuit schools network) board, I met with an extremely motivated team of people. JECSE is still looking for a director. Take note candidates! Likewise, I discovered the rich reality of the Xavier Network, which is a good example of the impetus that collaboration between Provinces can give to the service of the common good and solidarity. Two days with the cluster on Ignatian Studies allowed me to better perceive the potential of the HEST (Higher Education for Social Transformation) project. Finally, at the beginning of October, with the Provincial of the Near East and the Assistant of Western Europe, we will go and meet our two companions living in Ankara. Their difficult and isolated mission requires support.

I am pleased to be able to count on a competent and wise Consult. We met in Brussels to finalize the greatest event of the month - our annual meeting of Major Superiors in Ludwigshafen in the presence of Father General from 14 to 19 October. There are so many topics that are likely to be on the agenda. My wish is that, far from being obsessed by the quantity of subjects to tackle, we may live a little bit of the grace of Venice that came out so clearly during GC 36, that is to say to be an apostolic body of Companions, friends in the Lord, discerning together the Lord's call and his mission in the midst of the world and its uncertainties.

Pray for me. For my part, I entrust to the Lord our Europe as it finds its bearings, and each of our Provinces and Regions. May we experience the joy of being called to be part of the universal body of the Society.

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s2smodern