Brussels, 24 June 2025 — On this day, JRS Europe had the privilege of joining civil society actors, faith-based organizations, and frontline workers at the Voices of Hope event – a powerful gathering that amplified the lived experiences and aspirations of migrants and refugees in Europe. Hosted in Brussels, the event spotlighted inspiring initiatives supporting the integration and empowerment of displaced people, especially women and children. The event opened with a deeply personal reflection from Raymond A. Parcon, representing JRS Europe. He spoke not only as a member of JRS but also as someone who has lived the journey of migration firsthand. His words underscored the shared humanity that binds us all and the vital role of accompaniment in JRS’s mission. The Mariama Project: Empowering Young Women on the Margins Sr. Marie Vaillant, FMA, from the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco Ganshoren, presented the Mariama Project – a shining example of compassionate and targeted support for young migrant women. Aimed at girls aged 17 to 21, the project responds to the alarming vulnerabilities faced by migrant minors, particularly those at risk of modern-day slavery, exploitation, and social exclusion. Through six dedicated places in the Ganshoren boarding school, young women are provided not just shelter, but holistic care – including psychosocial support from the Umoya collective, educational guidance, and pathways toward work or further study. Sr. Vaillant highlighted the strength and courage of the girls in the program and called for greater attention to gender-specific migration challenges. The School of Peace: Building Bridges Through Education Mr. Natan Phuati Nzita, from the Community of Sant’Egidio, shared the impact of their School of Peace Project, which offers free, non-formal education to children, many of whom come from migrant or disadvantaged backgrounds. With warmth and conviction, Nzita described how the initiative fosters a culture of peace, where friendship, respect, and intercultural exchange flourish. In a time when children are often the most affected by forced migration, the School of Peace becomes a vital sanctuary. Language support, cultural engagement, and after-school tutoring help migrant children find a sense of belonging while improving their academic and social skills. The Livelihood Project: Restoring Dignity and Confidence Mr. Vincenzo Chiaiese, also from JRS Europe, closed the presentations with insights from JRS’s Livelihood Project, which supports socio-economic inclusion for refugees and migrants across Europe. Drawing from the latest regional report, Chiaiese highlighted best practices and shared stories of resilience and innovation from diverse local contexts. By centering the voices of those directly affected and promoting community-driven solutions, the Livelihood Project reinforces the importance of empowerment through meaningful work and education.  

On Thursday, May 15th, the Chapel for Europe hosted a special time of prayer organized by Together4Europe: 75 Years of the Schuman Declaration, a prayer to thank and renew the Spirit of European Unity. On 9 May 1950, the Schuman Declaration was proclaimed. This historic step laid the foundation for the European unification process—a vision of cooperation over conflict, and shared destiny over division. During the prayer, we gave thanks for 75 years of peace and fraternity and lifted intercessions for the future of Europe and the world. We were reminded that building the Europe we dream of requires daily commitment from all of us, the people of Europe. As Christians, our call is to walk together, even when it’s difficult—through perseverance, patience, and hope. Europe Day reminded us that our shared faith and values can still bear fruit in harmony, respect for differences, and fraternity. May this anniversary inspire us to renew our commitment to unity and peace in Europe.

The 14th and 15th of January 2025 marked a significant milestone for ‘Our Daily Bread’, with the network’s first-ever summit being held and the initiative officially launched in Brussels. The events started with an internal summit at the Maison Notre-Dame du Chant-d’Oiseau, a conference centre on the grounds of a Franciscan Friary in Brussels, where eleven participants in person (with additional online participants at various stages) represented nine different organisations. Our Daily Bread is an ecumenical network of faith-based organisations (FBOs) that work on the subject of agriculture and food systems. After a JESC’s 2023 report recognised that over 150 FBOs were working on this topic in the European Union, a group of organisations came together informally to discern the creation of an advocacy network. This discernment culminated in a manifesto and the aim to launch this network in January 2025. The summit began with a closed session where members of ODB discussed a plan for 2025, which included a campaign in Lent, a report to be released on diets, and where we can contribute in upcoming EU policy debates. 2025 is a big year for food policy in the EU as the debate for the next multiannual financial framework and Common Agricultural Policy begin. This was followed by a public event in The Chapel for Europe titled ‘Christian Vision for Sustainable Food Systems’, which officially launched this network. The highlight of this event was a panel discussion with former MEP and adviser to Ursula von der Leyen, Philippe Lamberts, and economist and theologian, Gaël Giraud SJ. The debate highlighted the importance of the role European Institutions can play in securing a fair and sustainable food system for Europeans. Both speakers emphasised that the Christian vision of hope must not be forgotten when advocating for a sustainable food system and that our network can act as an agent of this hope. The launch marked only the beginning for Our Daily Bread, and you are invited to keep up to date with this initiative through our website and social media platforms.

On October 8 we celebrated at the Chapel for Europe our Ecumenical Opening Prayer that marks the start of the social year activities after the summer break. Various religious figures from different Christian Churches, including the Catholic Archbishop of Brussels-Mechelen Luc Terlinden, participated at the prayer.  It was a powerful moment when the bishops and leaders of the different churches prayed together in the Chapel for Europe in Brussels, with prophetic words for the European Union: ‘Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God’ (Mi 6:8).

A memorial Mass for Peter Knauer SJ was held on Wednesday, 11 September, at 19:00 at the Chapel for Europe. On July 22nd, 2024, Fr. Peter Knauer SJ passed away peacefully in Berlin at the age of 89. After retiring as a professor of fundamental theology, he moved to Brussels in 2003 and remained there until 2018. Many remembered him for his pastoral services at the Foyer Catholique and the Chapel, as well as in other communities, where he spoke in Spanish, Italian, German, and even Esperanto. He was cherished for his kindness and commitment, his sharp intellectual mind, and his deep expertise in St. Ignatius of Loyola and his spirituality. May he rest in peace!

To mark International Women's Day, the Chapel for Europe organised, on March 19th, a round table/debate in collaboration with CathoBel (the portal of the Catholic Church in French Speaking Belgium), on the theme: MATRIARCHY IN BELGIUM: WOMEN IN MIGRATION. Four strong, socially committed women from different migrant communities in Belgium took part in this rich discussion. The guests around the table:- Godelieve Boekaert, Latin American community,- Andreea Nita, Romanian community,- Cécile Manguiers, African community and- Sema Aydogan, Turkish community.The event was moderated by Angélique Tasiaux, journalist at CathoBel.The guests shared their analyses based on their own experiences, highlighting the impact and important role of women in their respective migrant communities. Thanks to their testimonies, we were able to gain a better understanding of a reality that is both complex and shared by many, despite differences in origin, culture and language barriers.