A three-day meeting for the Spiritual Centres of the EOF Province in Le Châtelard - Lyon, France (18-20 January 2019).

Every year, the directors, superiors and presidents of the associations of the five Jesuit spiritual centres of the EOF meet for a weekend of exchange and reflection, under the guidance of the delegate for spiritual apostolate.

Our first objective was to better understand what a Jesuit spiritual centre represents nowadays and what common features could characterize it. We then had a good brainstorming session, during which each centre presented its apostolic project for the group's evaluation and criticism. At the end of this exercise we identified three common axes – spiritual exercises, formation in accompaniment and weekends for couples –, as well as questions and specific areas of action for the future. Thus, one centre is delighted to attract hundreds of young adults interested in initiation retreats; another welcomes a good number of people who are distanced from the Church thanks to proposals aimed at the professional world; whilst a third gets a lot of requests for its 'listening sessions' in its diocese. Questions raised, included: How can we better address different family realities?; What place should be given to young people?; Should more teaching be reintroduced to counter the lack of religious knowledge?

A second important theme of the meeting was: volunteering in spiritual centres. Thanks to a questionnaire sent in advance, each centre was able to present the role and place of volunteers in its mission. Among the many issues raised, I would like to highlight those of the recognition of volunteers; the scope of their mission; and expenses and their support by the staff. Lively discussions allowed us to compare very different situations and the solutions or planned solutions that the various teams have already developed. What emerged was an image of living centres anchored in social reality!

A pleasant evening with the Jesuit community and members of the board of directors of Le Châtelard crowned an intense weekend, one which strengthened our desire to serve better through the works entrusted to us.