A Province between shores: the Second Provincial Congregation
From 1 to 4 September, the Second Provincial Congregation of the EUM Province was held at “Casa Il Carmelo” in Sassone, near Rome. Forty-nine Jesuits gathered for four days of reflection in preparation for the 72nd Congregation of Procurators, which will take place in Indonesia in October 2027.
The Congregation opened with a presentation on the State of the Province by Fr Ronny Alessio SJ, Provincial of EUM. The moments of reflection were shaped by Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John: from recognising the currents carrying a Province called to leave familiar shores to the question, “Where can we find bread?” This question invites us to return to an authentic spiritual life and to rediscover the original meaning of service and relationships. It inevitably brings tensions, but these tensions can nourish discernment and lead to a more mature reflection. Following the Provincial’s presentation, there were opportunities to share in groups and to hear the fruits of these conversations in the plenary.
The second day introduced the three themes proposed by Father General: discernment in common, collaboration and working in networks. The group discussions and the plenary session highlighted the close connection between these three themes as the Province reflects anew on its life and mission.
On 4 September Fr Camillo Ripamonti was elected as Procurator. Before participating in the 72nd Congregation of Procurators, he will visit the Province communities to listen to the experiences and reflections of the Jesuits and their collaborators. Fr Gaetano Piccolo SJ was elected as his substitute. Speaking about his election, Fr Camillo said: “This mandate fills me with gratitude and, at the same time, with a profound sense of responsibility towards the EUM Province and the whole Society. As Procurator, I am called to gather and communicate to Father General the life and challenges of our Province. A period of attentive, shared listening now lies ahead of me. I hope that all of us will feel part of this journey towards the Congregation of Procurators, accompanying one another in prayer so that together we may recognise the signs of the times and allow ourselves to be guided by the Lord, crucified and risen, towards choices that are ever more prophetic and generous.”
During the Congregation, the delegates also discussed the postulates that had been submitted. Four will be sent to Father General. Among the themes that emerged were closeness to the poor, the ecological crisis and the new challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The postulates that were not accepted also contributed to the reflection, bringing important questions to the fore, including formation (particularly the formation of Jesuit brothers), the social apostolate and care for spiritual and religious life.
The Congregation also voted on the cogenda/non cogenda, expressing itself in favour of convening a General Congregation.
The Congregation concluded on 4 September with the Te Deum, giving thanks for the days of grace and sharing that had been experienced together and entrusting to God both the work already accomplished and all that still lies ahead. The following morning, 5 September, Fr Federico Lombardi SJ celebrated Mass, during which he recalled the moments shared together and invited those present to pray for reconciliation, faith and enthusiasm, all essential if the mission of serving the Society and the Church is to be carried forward.
At the conclusion of the Congregation, the Provincial expressed his gratitude for the experience. “What struck me most,” he said, “was the spiritual atmosphere that emerged from the very beginning. It was not simply a matter of correctly carrying out a series of procedures, but of seeking together, in prayer and attentive listening, the question the Lord wished to address to our Province today.
“I appreciated a discussion that was both serene and broad-ranging, as well as open and frank. At times, our perspectives differed, but it was precisely this diversity that made genuine dialogue possible and did not prevent us from recognising that we belong to the same body. The many wounds that mark our body are places we are called to inhabit, from which new apostolic horizons may emerge.
“For me, many of the words I heard were also an invitation to grow as Provincial: to refine my character, to become freer, more attentive and more willing to listen to everyone. I hope that throughout the year we can create more opportunities for dialogue like this, increasingly involving our communities, apostolic works and the different branches of the Ignatian family, so that together we may build a Province ever more attentive to the hunger of the many people who continue to knock at the door of the Church.
“I return to the question that ran through the various contributions and that I hope will continue to accompany us: Are we capable of living a happy and reconciled religious life, one that is not dominated by wounds, fears or a lack of freedom, but rather by seeking out our brothers and by building an authentic common apostolic project as one body?”
What is a Provincial Congregation?
A Provincial Congregation is an official body provided for in the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. It brings together the Provincial and representatives of the Province: most are elected, some are appointed directly by the Provincial, while others are members by virtue of their office. Its purpose is to address together important matters concerning the life, governance and mission of the Province.
It is also the body through which a Province may be called to elect its representatives to a General Congregation and to formulate what should be brought to the attention of the wider Society. The 2026 Provincial Congregation did not have this responsibility.
Beyond its institutional responsibilities, a Congregation expresses something deeply characteristic of the Ignatian way: seeking together.
What does the Procurator do?
The Procurator is the Jesuit elected by the Provincial Congregation to take part, on behalf of his Province, in the Congregation of Procurators.
His role is not simply to represent the Province in a formal sense. In preparation for the Congregation of Procurators, the Procurator is called to become familiar with and reflect more deeply on the situation of the Province by visiting Jesuits, communities and works, and gathering insights that can help provide a picture of the life and mission of his Province.
The Procurator therefore brings to the Congregation of Procurators what he has heard and observed in his Province, while at the same time taking part in the discernment together with representatives of other Provinces and circumscriptions.
The Congregation of Procurators does not include the Provincials themselves, allowing for a broader and more independent perspective.
