Provincials Look at Formation
JCEP General Assembly. Under perfect sunny and warm Spring weather, with beautifully serene undulating green covered slopes in front of us, on a hill outside Bologna just below the Saint Luke Sanctuary, in Villa San Giuseppe, a retreat house in Bologna – that’s where the JCEP Major Superiors met for the usual first annual Assembly in the week of April 28th to May 4th.
The context was bucolic and inviting contemplation, the mood was relaxed, allowing for moments of good fun, but the days were packed with action and serious work too. Formation was the main topic. One almost full day focused on ongoing formation of Jesuits and mission partners, reviewing what has been done at the Conference level according to Call 3 of the Apostolic Plan, especially ILP, the Ignatian Leadership Program (with the presence of Mr. Paul Yperman, its main facilitator). John Dardis, General Counsellor for Discernment and Apostolic Planning, informed about some projects being now promoted by the universal Society on the formation of our collaborators in mission and of facilitators of discernment in common for the service of the Church.
A second day’s work was dedicated to the continuation of discussions on co-responsibility for the Conference Formation Centres, including reports from Madrid, Paris, Rome (San Saba), Warsaw, and Krakow, followed by group reflections and a plenary discussion. Johan Verschueren, Delegate of Fr. General for the Roman Houses, followed with data about, and reflection on, the Interprovincial Formation Centre in Rome, now with three institutions aggregated in the Gregorian University.
Jenny Cafiso, coordinator of Xavier Network, was online to report on the challenges raised by the current geopolitical situation. Agnieszka Baran came to Bologna to inform about JECSE, the network of primary and secondary schools. JCAM Socius, John the Baptist Anyeh, connected through Zoom to offer a look at the history and graces of the JCAM-JCEP Commission Mixta, in preparation of a brief meeting of the two Conferences in Rome, next October.
The opening to other Conferences was underlined by the presence of Brian Paulson, JCCU President, who shared a brief presentation of the North American Conference followed by an interesting Q&A time.
The appointed new JCEP Socius, Gonzalo Villagran, was also already an observer participant. In an always evolving group. Ronny Allesio EUM experienced his first Assembly, while at the same time Petr Pradka BOH participated for the last time. Both events were celebrated, along with the friendly and humorous farewell of the outgoing JCEP Socius.
A final grateful recognition of the excellent hosting by the EUM, especially by the Jesuit Community and staff at Villa San Giuseppe.
Herminio Rico SJ – JCEP Socius
