How can we reach out to young people today, help them to shape their lives in the light of the Gospel? This was the main topic of the annual European meeting of Jesuits (and collaborators) in University Pastoral Care (JUPC, November 6^th-9^th , 2018) . Besides the traditional exchange of news and the networking during meals and activities, we had a very interesting conversation on the preparatory document for the synod on ‘Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment’ and on the survey that accompanies it.

We did our own survey among the members of the group, and we were granted the chance to make our own little contribution on the topic. For this we had the chance to be accompanied by Giacomo Costa SJ, who, as part of the writing committee, gave us very interesting insights into the document. How important, for example, the theme of ‘care’ is to Pope Francis: care for our ‘common home’ (Laudato Si), care for the family (Amoris Laetitia), and now care for young people. The word is frequently mentioned in the document.

Our discussion followed the structure of the letter according to the triad of Cardinal Cardijn: ‘See, judge, act’. First to ‘see’ the context in which young people nowadays are living and thinking: a rapidly changing world, where the weaker are more vulnerable, and in which the much craved for freedom is not available for many. A world that is deeply shaped by technology, everybody hiding in his or her own ‘filter bubble’. A world where there is a growing multiculturalism. It is one of the riches of this document that it doesn’t start off with a priori assumptions, but tries to interpret a concrete situation.

The next step was to ‘judge’: How, then, can we help this hyperconnected generation to enter into a more reflective process to (re)orient its life, to enter into – yes, let us say it – discernment? The word was not used in order not to fall into Ignatian ‘slang’, but those who rare familiar with it, it is abundantly clear how Ignatian this document is. A triad, again, explains what discernment is consists of: ‘recognize, interpret, choose’. How young people are able to recognize what is happening and to be aware of the flavor which remains? How can they interpret it, that is to understand to what the Spirit is calling them, and then to choose a pathway of that calling?

Finally to ‘act’. We need to walk with young people, like a good shepherd. Here we meet our final triad: ‘Going out, seeing, calling’. We chaplains – and indeed every Christian - are asked to reach out more to young people and meet them where they are.

It was a great joy to be able to give our personal contribution to the discussion.

But there was also news to be heard. We heard three (again!) success stories  – one of MAGIS Central Europe of the summer of 2017, by Lenka Caskova. Another project with the name MAGIS we heard about was in Spain, where the word became a banner for dozens of youth projects (Juanjo Aguado SJ). Finally we heard the report of youth activities in the EOF (France and South Belgium, by Jacques Enjalbert SJ) – especially in and around Paris, where new chaplaincies are built in a future French ‘Silicon Valley’.

On Thursday – one day later due to a general strike in unruly Catalunya – we were following the footsteps of Ignatius in Manresa and in Barcelona. For me it took the shape of a minipilgrimage to the statue of Ignatius in of the ‘Santa Maria del Mar’ church in Barcelona. Worth the visit!