Experiences in Brussels, Palermo, Genoa, Torino, Milano and Manchester.

Brussels - Drongen

Come and see!

The European Youth Retreat 2019 attracted eleven participants who wanted to discover their relationship with Jesus. From February 8th on, the young Europeans went to Drongen Abbey close to Gent to spend the weekend without distraction, just focussing on their faith. The participants were guided through each exercise by a team of former participants, that was trained in leading each spiritual exercise by Wojciech Werner SJ during the previous three Sundays.

The retreat consisted of three steps: me—you—we. At the beginning, the participants were encouraged to discover not just themselves but also God’s role in their live. Times filled with creative reflections on each one’s path of life gave the opportunity to discover God’s footprints in their biography. The next phase emphasised the relation to others. This might also include one’s own vulnerability but also times, where the participant did not behave in a supporting or healing manner towards others. Failure and sins were brought into mind to finally let go of them. During a mass the participants faced all their failures and sins by writing them down on a paper that was enveloped afterwards. To show, that Jesus loves each one of us despite our sins and failures, these envelopes were handed over to the flames of a fire lit in the garden. This impressive ritual was for many participants the highlight of the retreat. They experienced, that God loves them and that their failures in daily life and in relationships do not count for God nor reduces his love to each one of us. Many participants were visibly moved by this and perhaps experienced the relieving power of reconciliation the first time in their lives. I assume, for many, this experience opened their hearts for God’s unconditional love.

These exercises seem demanding, and indeed, they were. So funny elements like warming up games, get togethers and dancing sessions created an easy atmosphere and helped to make a group out of the participants. Besides team-building effects, the purpose of these games was  something more important: the young Europeans could experience, that joy in a community is a most fundamental part of faith and that God wants us to be happy in an environment, where the faithful can rely on each other.

In summary, the European Youth Retreat were a great success. The participants discovered God and his unconditional love in their paths of life and the group leaders grew quite a lot on fulfilling their role towards the participants. God wants to show himself to us and God wants us to grow towards him. Both has happened in these blessed days at Drongen Abbey.

Christian Lischka, nSJ (GER)

Palermo – Genoa – Torino – Milano

From January 30th to February 2nd, 16 final year students from the Istituto Gonzaga of Palermo experienced the Ignatian spiritual exercises at the Chemin Neuf Community of Villa La Nuza Retreat House. They were accompanied by Fr. Salvo Collura SJ, Fr. Alessandro Viano SJ and Andrea Bonavita SJ. Simultaneously, in Genoa, another 14 high school students from the Istituto Sociale di Torino and the Leone XIII of Milan, accompanied by Fr. Nicola Bordogna SJ, Antonello Famà and Leonardo Angius SJ, went through the same enriching experience. This offer is being made to mature students within the Jesuit Education network at a particular moment in their lives after having been gradually prepared spiritually for this experience. This experience of the Spiritual Exercises is made just a few months away from their state exams, at the termination of high school when they are preparing to make important choices for their future, as they are setting the foundations for their career and their life as adults. More information

Jesuits EUM 

Manchester

Students at the Manchester Universities’ Catholic Chaplaincytook advantage of the offer of some quiet time for prayer and rest on a recent weekend retreat at the Prayer Centre of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God at Freshfield, near Formby.

Nine students took part, most of whom are part of the music group which enhances the liturgy at the 7pm Mass at Holy Name Church.  The group was accompanied by chaplaincy team members Sr Cecilia FCJ, Br Geoff te Braake SJ and Senior Chaplain Fr Peter Scally SJ.  A highlight of the weekend was the opportunity to sing at Sunday morning Mass for the residents of the care home run by the sister.

Jesuits in Britain