[ CONTENTS ] Click on a title or a country to go immediately to that section

	From the President's Desk  … A mission and a vocation that is needed more than ever!
	Official Announcements  … Father General: Trip to East Asia - Change of Assistancy for Malta … Appointments
	EJIF's Corner  … Scholastics from Southern Polish Province in their regency program … Ordinations and Final Vows for February and March 2011
	OCIPE … JEOletter January … Focus on Hungary
	AFRICA … SOUTH AFRICA: Jesuit Refugee Service wins five awards … SUDAN: After the referendum
	JRS Europe reports … JRS Portugal Holds its First Volunteer Gathering
	Province Briefs  … Belgium: Hearings of the Parliamentary Abuse Commission … Germany: Appointments in the Colleges in the German Province - Benedikt    Lautenbacher appointed as new Rector of the “Germanicum” - Dismissal    at the School of Philosophy … Great Britain: Ordination to the diaconate - Amazon/JRS deal provides    vital bus passes - Notre Dame organist to give inaugural recital in Wimbledon … Ireland: New Co-Ordinator for Ecumenism - Moyross walks tall    - Young Scientists make an impact - Exploring culture and communication … Italy: CLC-league mission - Sharing the field in Africa - Tirana - Bronze    medallion in the Church of the Sacred Heart - Naples: mystery of the    Gesù Nuovo facade … Malta: Christmas mass with migrants - “Suspended Lives” … Poland: 350th anniversary of Lviv University - The Year of Cardinal Adam    Kozłowiecki SJ - The Baltic University in Gdynia … Portugal: Dialogue through Film … Spain: One year after Haiti … Aragon Province Spain): … Betica Province Spain): Vida Cine forum initiates year with a tribute to Blake    Ewards - Teaching and research activities around renewable energies and    sustainable development - Confessions and Spiritual Direction in Málaga … Castilla Province Spain): Comillas Library participates in virtual exhibition    "Written America" … Loyola Province (Spain): Ignatian Leadership
	Looking forward  … Agenda of Upcoming Events for February and March 2011 … Language Summer Courses
	Open Market  … Point and click: New or renewed Jesuit Internet Sites

[ FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK ]

A mission and a vocation that is needed more than ever!

Dear Friends,

We are working hard right now on the two Frontier issues identified by the European Provincials at our last General Assembly.  These are:
• The challenge of evangelisation in a time of great secularism
• How can we promote and deepen inter-religious dialogue, especially with Islam but also with other religious traditions?

Over the last few months Provincials and Province Consults as well as Ministries Commissions have been meeting to discuss these questions.  Reports have come in to the office here and at a special Consult in March I will be looking at how to go forward.  You can help in this process! The European Newsletter is received by almost 4,000 Jesuits and is a space where we can hear about our mission around Europe and gain an increasing sense of Jesuit unity. In future newsletters there will be a special section on the two Frontiers and also the European website (www.jesuits-europe.info/) will publish articles on these themes. So, if you are at a conference or if you feel that you hear a particularly good article on those issues, please send them to us for publication. We want to build up our resources and nourish our creativity on these matters. I will also be asking the various Euro groups to work with us on this.

Of course, besides these frontier issues, there will be other priorities for Europe. We will be discerning what these are and considering challenges such as migration, working with young people and other issues.
All of this is challenging and the Letter to the Hebrews which we have been reading at Mass over the last five or six weeks brings encouragement. It exhorts people to hold onto the faith that they have been given, and not to give up.  That letter was written to an early Christian community, most of whom had converted from Judaism. They were under pressure from relatives and friends who had remained Jews to come back to the original faith. In chapter 10, Hebrews exhorts them to stay with the new faith that they had entered into and not to lose heart or courage. ‘Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy’.

It is a good reminder for all in Europe at this time when there is so much pressure from outside and when faith is being questioned by new trends in society. So let us keep moving forward, deepen the faith and hope that we are called to live in this time of challenge and help the societies in which we live to grow in Christian commitment and love of Christ. It is a mission and a vocation that is needed more than ever.

Yours in Christ,

John Dardis sJ
President Conference European Provincials
rue des Trèvires 3, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32-2-738-7720
Mobile: +32-470-841021
Skype: johnd1907

[ OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS  ]

Father General:

• Trip to East Asia

From 20 to 28 January, 2010, Father General will visit various places in East Asia. His primary objective will be to participate in the regular meeting of the Major Superiors of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (of which he used to be President), to be held in Singapore from January 23 to 28. Taking advantage of the long trip from Rome to the East, Father General will also visit Bangkok, Thailand from January 20 to 21, to meet with Jesuits and our collaborators in the Dependent Region of Thailand. From January 21 to 22, he will make a brief visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he will meet with the Jesuit Community and our collaborators in Cambodia. While in Singapore, in addition to attending the sessions of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific, and receiving the manifestations of the Major Superiors, Father General will also spend some time with the Jesuits and collaborators of the Dependent Region of Malaysia-Singapore. Visits with the Archbishop of Bangkok, the Bishop of Phnom Penh, and the Archbishop of Singapore are also included in Father General's full schedule.

• Change of Assistancy for Malta

Father General transferred the Province of Malta from the Assistancy of West Europe to the Assistancy of South Europe. The change will be effective from the 1st of March. The reason for this change is the geographical location of Malta, its cultural context and the forms of collaboration already existing with Provinces of South Europe.

… Jesuits around the world, Rome, 20 January, 2011
 

Appointments:

Father General has named:

- Father Michael Weiler new Provincial of California, U.S.A. Father Michael, who was superior in Culver City and master of novices, was born in 1954, entered the Society of Jesus in 1975 and was ordained a priest in 1988.

- Father Xavier Soreng new Provincial of Ranchi, India. Father Xavier was born in 1959, entered the Society of Jesus in 1980 and was ordained a priest in 1998. He is a lawyer engaged in human rights' issues and is currently Vice President of the Minorities' Commission for the State of Jharkhand.

- Father Mark Raper, president of the Jesuit Conference of Asia-Pacific, new Regional Superior of Myanmar. 

… Jesuits around the world, Rome, 20 January 2011

[ EJIF'S CORNER  ]

Scholastics from Southern Polish Province in their regency program

Between 24th and 26th of November, there was a meeting of the scholastics from the Southern Polish Province who are making their regency in different places. This made a great opportunity for them to meet each other and to talk about their experience of some months of regency.

Let me tell you something more about their activities. We have in our province at this time twelve regents which is a great number. Five of them are in Poland and seven are abroad.

I will tell you first a little bit about these Polish regencies. Two scholastics are in Nowy Sącz where our province has two parishes. They work with youth from our pastoral groups. In Nowy Sącz, Jesuits run a high school and a dormitory for boys learning in this city. One scholastic works there as a teacher. Another scholastic has his regency in Stara Wieś (this is a place where is our novitiate, a sanctuary of the Virgin Mary and our parish). He is responsible for youth group and teaches religion at the school. Two of our scholastics are in Cracow where we have four communities. One of them is a vocation promoter and another one works in an internet portal DEON.pl.

Scholastics from our province who are doing their regencies abroad live in six countries. Two of them are doing their regency in Italy – in Rome in Radio Vaticana and in Palermo in the Centro Educativo Ignaziano. Other countries, where you can meet scholastics from Southern Polish Province, are: Ireland (Clongowes Wood College), Denmark (a Catholic parish in Arhus), Malta (Jesuit Refugee Service), France (our school in Marseille) and Chile (a Jesuit school in Antofagasta).

As you can see – for some Polish scholastics regency is a good possibility to gain international experience. On the other hand, regencies in Poland help in getting familiar with our own province and pastoral work which is quite diversified and complex.

… Reported by Wojtek Bojanowski (PME), Krakow
 

Ordinations and Final Vows for February and March 2011

You may find a more comprehensive and permanently updated chronological list with links to e-mail addresses at www.jesuits-europe.info/news/ordiv.html

	Sunday 13 February 2011 Salamanca, Spain: Alberto Plaza (CAS) will take final vows in the parish church at 1 pm.
	Saturday 19 February 2011 Fribourg, Switzerland: Beat Altenbach (HEL) will take final vows in the chapel of the retreat house Notre-Dame de la Route.
	Saturday 19 February 2011 La Coruña, Spain: Jorge Enríquez (CAS) will take final vows.
	Saturday 19 March 2011 Oviedo, Spain: Juan José Aguado (CAS) will take final vows.

[ OCIPE POST ]

JEOletter January

Just published:
JEOletter Nr. 12 / January 2011.
All the articles are available
clicking here.

 

Focus on Hungary

In his series of articles about important themes dealing with Europe and the work of OCIPE Hervé-Pierre Guillot (GAL), member of OCIPE, writes this month about Hungary.

JEO in Brussels could hardly be more tuned in to the political agenda of the EU as it received the visit of the new director of JEO Budapest, Mr. Gergely Ternovszky, from 16th until 19th January. At the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was presenting Hungary’s priorities for its six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. At the same time as well, our JEO Newsletter was published with a specific feature on Hungary: “From Budapest to Brussels”

This article presents the main topics dealt with by JEO Budapest and the main priorities of Hungary for the next six months

>> Read the complete article

… Submitted by the Jesuit European Office - Herve Pierre Guillot (GAL), Brussels

[ AFRICA ]

SOUTH AFRICA: Jesuit Refugee Service wins five awards

A public service announcement created for JRS South Africa by a student's team from the University of Pretoria has won five awards in M-NET Vuka! national competition. The prestigious social responsibility film competition (Vuka! means 'Wake up!' in the Nguni languages) provides a platform for talented media students and professionals to create public service announcements for charities of their choice. The Jesuit Refugee Service announcement, which was praised for its special animation, explained what a refugee is, using a unique perspective, that of the refugee himself, and focused on remembering his humanity. The announcement won the newcomer category, took awards for best editing, best sound design, best script, and shared the accolade of best animation. Winners will have their public service announcements broadcast on television, at no charge, into over one million homes in South Africa. In this way it will contribute in breaking down negative stereotypes of foreign nationals in South Africa.
 

SUDAN: After the referendum

On the 9th of January the referendum on the political future of the country took place in the whole of Sudan. The results are not yet known but everything points to provide a victory for the yes, that is South-Sudan (mostly Christian and animist) declaring independence from the Northern part, mostly Muslim. The turnout for the elections was massive and enthusiastic. We are waiting for the results, in case of "Yes" South Sudan will declare independence, if the "No" wins Sudan will continue to be one single country. The Society of Jesus is present in the North of the country with a community in Khartoum, where they take care of a center for Ignatian spirituality, and in the South with two communities in Rumbek and Wau. In this city it has opened recently the Loyola High School in the same building that was occupied by the army for many years. In Juba, the Southern capital, two Jesuits are working in the Catholic University and in the major seminary. In a letter sent to all Jesuits of Eastern Africa on December 20, the Provincial, Father Orobator, pointed out the tensions existing regarding the referendum and mentioned that many international organizations left the country for fear of riots. Then he wrote: "After reflection and consultation on this point, I informed our brethren living and working in Sudan about my desire that they remain in the country and continue their work before, during and after the referendum.  I am convinced that this option is part of our call to testify the mission received by the Lord and of our dedication to the people of God in southern Sudan." So the works goes on with the hope that everything goes well.

… Jesuits around the world, Rome, 20 January 2011

[ JRS EUROPE REPORTS ]

JRS Portugal Holds its First Volunteer Gathering

JRS Portugal will be holding its first Volunteer Gathering in Lisbon on January 19th and 20th. Due to strong volunteer recruitment strategies developed in 2010, JRS Portugal is now managing 45 volunteers who are actively contributing to the better integration of migrants into Portuguese society. The Volunteer Gathering will promote communication between the volunteers and the JRS Portugal team. It will also help the volunteers better understand the mission, services and projects developed by JRS Portugal.

The meeting’s program includes Fr. Paulo Teia SJ speaking on the framework of JRS and the organization's place in the Society of Jesus and André Costa Jorge, the director of JRS Portugal, speaking on the volunteers' role within the organization. António Romero will also instruct the volunteers on social tutorials, and Hermano do Carmo will lecture on integration. To complete the program, several members of the JRS Portugal team plan to present the work developed by JRS in areas of reception, social support, professional integration and
psychological and legal support.

… Progrès, January 2011

[ PROVINCE BRIEFS  ]

Belgium: Hearings of the Parliamentary Abuse Commission

26th October 2010, the Belgian Federal Parliament instituted a ‘Special Commission’ to investigate sexual abuse in relationships of authority.  Following the episcopal resignation relating to sexual abuse by the Bishop of Bruges, the Commission focused, understandably, first of all on cases within the Catholic Church. Former Archbishop Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the present Archbishop, André-Joseph Léonard, together with other Belgian bishops testified how they dealt with victims and perpetrators. They also proposed new ways for recognition, healing and recovery. The Special Commission equally invited the Major Superiors of some Religious Orders and Congregations to appear in front of the commissions.

In the hearing of 12th January, the Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Fons Swinnen, S.J., expressed shame and asked forgiveness from God and from all who are hurt. He told the commission about ten complaints of sexual abuse in the North Belgian Jesuit Province between 1966 and 1985. Five out of the nine offenders are deceased. Only one case led to a prosecution with conviction. ‘Recognition of the victims as victims is for me a priority’, the Provincial declared. Only a court can judge the gravity of a deed and stipulate the need for punishment and compensation. Besides that, the injured party may also be in search of other kinds of recognition, healing and recovery. Father Swinnen praised recent initiatives in the field of reparative justice and mediation. At the same time, he hoped for greater collaboration among citizens of different persuasion, in view of efficient measures in favour of the abused.

The Abuse Commission of the Belgian Parliament should submit its conclusions by April 2011.

… Submitted by Frans Mistiaen (BSE), Socius to the Provincial, Brussels

Germany: Appointments in the Colleges in the German Province - Benedikt Lautenbacher appointed as new Rector of the “Germanicum” - Dismissal at the School of Philosophy

• Father Provincial has appointed:

Klaus Mertes SJ (56) as new Rector of College St. Blasien.
Fr. Mertes was born in 1954 in Bonn-Bad Godesberg and entered the Society of Jesus in 1977. He was ordained a priest in 1986. He studied philosophy and Slavonic Studies in Bonn. He continued his studies of philosophy in Munich and Theology in Frankfort/Main. From 1990 until 1993 he taught religion and Latin at a school in Hamburg. In 1993 he became an instructor for religion and Latin at the Canisius-College in Berlin where he was named rector in 2000. On September 1, he will assume the post of rector at the Jesuit-run institution in St. Blasien in the Black Forest.

Johannes Siebner (49) as new rector of the Aloisiuskolleg in Bonn.
Fr. Siebner was born in 1961 in Berlin and entered the Society of Jesus in 1983. He was ordained a priest in 1992. After studying political science, philosophy and theology he worked for the Jesuit Refugee Service in the Pulau Bidong refugee camp in Malaysia. In 1993 he taught religion at a school in Hamburg and worked in youth spiritual care. Since September 2002 he has been the rector of College St. Blasien. He will assume his new duties starting July 17.

Tobias Zimmermann (43) as new rector of Canisius-Kolleg in Berlin.

Fr. Zimmermann was born 1967 in Munich and entered the Society of Jesus in 1990.
He was ordained a priest in 2009. He studied theology and philosophy and earned a master of fine arts degree. Since 2003 he has worked in school pastoral care at Canisius-Kolleg in Berlin.
 

• Benedikt Lautenbacher appointed as new Rector of the “Germanicum”

Father General has appointed Fr. Benedikt Lautenbacher (56) as new Rector of the “Pontificium Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum”.

Fr. Lautenbacher was born 1955 in Kochel am See and entered the Society of Jesus in 1988. He was ordained a priest in 1996. He worked in student ministry, pastoral care for priests and as superior of the Jesuit community in Göttingen. Fr. Lautenbacher will assume his new duties in Rome in August.

• Dismissal at the School of Philosophy

Fr. Johannes Müller (67) was removed from his post as professor of social sciences and development policies at the Munich School of Philosophy. Fr. Müller, who entered the Society of Jesus in 1963, is renowned for his work in the ethical and social-cultural dimension of policies in development and world order, religion and development in the Third World, mainly Indonesia. His work entailed research into the diversity of cultures and religions with respect to conflict and interaction. He has degrees in philosophy, theology, sociology and economics. The German Bishops Conference and business leaders have called on his expertise. Since 1990 he has been a member of several working groups in the German Section of Justicia et Pax. In 2005 he was appointed to the board of Misereor.

… Reported by Thomas Busch and Brigitte Schmitt, Munich

Great Britain: Ordination to the diaconate - Amazon/JRS deal provides vital bus passes - Notre Dame organist to give inaugural recital in Wimbledon

• Ordination to the diaconate

On Saturday 22 January John Enslin has received the ordination to the diaconate.

The ceremony took place at St Ignatius Church, Stamford Hill, North London, and the ordaining bishop was Bishop John Arnold, Auxiliary in the Archdiocese of Westminster.
 

   

• Amazon/JRS deal provides vital bus passes

JRS-UK has benefitted to the tune of over £100, due to an arrangement with Amazon. And from this month, it will be even easier to take part in the scheme.
>> Read the full story
 

• Notre Dame organist to give inaugural recital in Wimbledon

The restoration of the historic organ at Sacred Heart Church in Wimbledon is progressing well and is due for completion in time for Easter 2011. The inaugural recital will be given by Olivier Latry, organist of Notre-Dame de Paris. [Date and time to be confirmed.]
>> Read the full story

Ireland: New Co-Ordinator for Ecumenism - Moyross walks tall - Young Scientists make an impact - Exploring culture and communication

• New Co-Ordinator for Ecumenism

Brian O’Leary SJ has been appointed the new Province Co-ordinator for Ecumenism, replacing the now Provincial, Tom Layden. He says his role will be “to keep the ecumenical dimension of the Church’s life and Jesuit ministeries before the eyes of the Province during the weeks and months ahead”. One of his first tasks concerns the Week of Prayer for  Christian Unity, beginning  on 18 January. He wants to alert Jesuits and their colleagues to the importance of the event, provide them with agreed Inter-Church agreed for ecumenical services and ask them to reflect  on what they might do individually and  in their ministeries to promote ecumenical endeavour. Click here to listen to an interview he gave to Pat Coyle of the Jesuit Communication Centre, where he talks about his vision for the job at hand.

… AMDG Express, Dublin, 11 January 2011
 

• Moyross walks tall

The people of Moyross, Limerick, who celebrated the RTE Radio Mass for the last two Sundays, have been buoyed up by the many messages received from people around Ireland, England and even as far away as Spain, who found the liturgy uplifting.  The young man who read one bidding prayer had been shot in the head less than a year ago. He is recovering well, and this was, he said, ‘one of his ways of saying thanks to God’. The singers included the choir of the National School in Moyross, and a group of asylum seekers who sang in English and Yoruba. Acting PP Tony O’Riordan SJ called it a celebration of the spirit, talent and resilience of people who are used to negative media coverage, and endure a lot of unnecessary hardship and suffering. Both broadcasts can be found on the RTE website.
 

• Young Scientists make an impact

Of the seven Young Scientists from Jesuit schools who showed projects at the RDS this month, two were awarded first prizes in their sections. Gonzaga’s Rory D. Hughes (pictured here in his helmet) won first Prize in the Junior Technology Section for the second year running. In designing a sensor-controlled cycle helmet he employed both electronics and programming. This project also earned him the Analog Devices Travel Award which includes a trip to the US and €2,500 for school laboratory equipment. First prize in the Senior Technology section (and a special award from the Health Research Foundation) went to Belvedere’s Owen Killia n and Lucas Grange for designing an automated external heart defibrillator which could be lighter, cheaper, and easier to use than anything currently on the market. For details of these and five other intriguing projects:
>> Read more
 

• Exploring culture and communication

Irish Jesuit Fergus O’Donoghue, Editor of Studies, was one of the guest speakers when thirty-seven Jesuits in Formation, gathered for a residential weekend to consider media and communications. The event was held in the Emmaus Retreat Centre in Kent from 14-16 January, and the men came from two dozen provinces, including Ireland. Among the topics they discussed were the various Jesuit media initiatives in their own countries and the way their regional cultures affect communication of the Gospel. Fergus shared his thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of the written word, especially on the net. Other topics included film – led by Maggie Roux of Trini ty and All Saints College, Leeds; journalism (Sr Janet Fearns FMDM), and the use of drama, facilitated by Chrissie Poulter who, among other initiatives, has used the discipline in conflict resolution in Belfast.

… AMDG Express 25 January 2011

Italy: CLC-league mission - Sharing the field in Africa - Tirana - Bronze medallion in the Church of the Sacred Heart - Naples: mystery of the Gesù Nuovo facade

• CLC-league mission - Sharing the field in Africa

From 25 December to 6 January was held the first sharing experience in Africa organized by the LMS-CLC of Italy together with CLC of Nairobi. The presence of volunteers, led by chairman Leonardo Becchetti and fr. Massimo Nevola, focused on slum Karyobangi (the largest one in Africa) and Ongata Ronagai. 

In the latter place the CVX North of Rome, "Alberto Parisi" had already built a school in memory of a child – Giacomo Venuti -  son of one of the couples in the group, who died in a car accident. The field was attached to the valuable work of the Sisters of Mother Teresa and the local parish of SS. Trinità of the Combonian fathers which handles six popular primary schools . 

Great involvement for the 30 participants at this first camp, excited about the 'huge loads of vitality and hope sent by the extremely poor people, they have come in contact with. Extraordinary witness of faith received in the Eucharistic celebrations, real parties in the Spirit, which was almost palpable in the light of God shining on the faces of children and the poor. On Youtube already running some short extracts of this first field. 

>> Click here to see one of them
 

• Tirana - Bronze medallion in the Church of the Sacred Heart

In December 2010, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Tirana has been enhanced with a new sign of faith at the base of the altar of the Blessed Sacrament, a bronze medallion, one meter in diameter, depicting an open bread that let shine the body figure of the Lord Jesus, risen with the glorious wounds. 
The donor is an engineer converted from islam. Through this artistic work he wanted to express his inner experience of the rite of baptism, which coincided with him for the gift of communion.
 

• Naples: mystery of the Gesù Nuovo facade

The "Gesù Nuovo", the temple of popular faith and devotion of the heart of Naples, is a masterpiece of Baroque art and over the centuries has nourished myths and legends of the symbols carved on the bosses of its main facade. 
They insisted, unsuccessfully, in an esoteric, alchemical reading of the symbols assuming these cryptic messages transmitted by the artists who worked in the fifteenth century, commissioned by the architect Novello da San Lucano Sanseverino. 

The "New Jesus" is indeed unique in its kind because it was build on the noble palace confiscated in 1547 by the viceroy Pedro de Toledo as a result of the support granted by the Sanseverino popular revolt against the Inquisition. The complex, then donated to the Jesuits, endured a few changes and the facade in ashlar, preserved the mystery of the noble family, which, in the palace of Lauro di Nola, had musical symbols inscribed. 
And now the mystery finally has been revealed, after centuries: it doesn’t deal with alchemical symbols, but with musical notes. The discovery comes from an art historian, Vincent De Pasquale who brought together like mosaic tiles, the information of two Hungarians: Dors Csar, a Jesuit priest and Lorant Rez, a musicologist friend of his.

The ashlar of the "Gesù Nuovo" is a pentagram in the open sky and show an entire composition containing the score of a concerto for pluck string instruments. On that stones seven notes Aramaic are engraved. These notes should be read in sequence, from right to left. 

Today, thanks to those who love history and music, you can read from bottom to top, a melody that lasts nearly three-quarters of an hour. The concert was titled "Enigma" and has been transcribed for organ, rather than the ancient plucked string instruments. It 's a Renaissance music that follows the Gregorian canons and De Pasquale's dream is to play it in the "Gesù Nuovo" to return a fragment of our country's history. 

>> Click here if you want to listen a preview of the music.

… Reported by Gian Giacomo Rotelli (ITA) Socius to the Provincial, Rome

Malta: Christmas mass with migrants - “Suspended Lives”

• Christmas mass with migrants

Catholic migrants from different parts of Africa who have received protection in Malta came together for their special Christmas Mass, presided by Fr Beatus Mauki, in the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Floriana. After the Mass, the Eritrean community served home-made injera with ziginey sauce. Schol. Jarek Mikuczewski distributed bags of assorted cakes to each person from a large consignment which Br Salvu Mifsud had secured through our loyal donors P. Cutajar & Co. Ltd. Thanks to this abundant donation, on the previous two days, JRS staff could also distribute Christmas treats and snacks to all detained migrants during our visits. Food hampers were also distributed to a number of needy families with children and individuals.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, several members of staff continued to fulfill one of  JRS’ basic missions: to accompany forcibly displaced persons. Together with Fr Joseph Cassar and Fr Vinc Magri they celebrated Mass with Christian detainees and spent the morning keeping company to all, regardless of belief.
 

• “Suspended Lives”

A new documentary produced by Jesuit Refugee Service Malta, was screened for the first time to a full house at St James ’Cavalier, Valletta, on Sunday, 19th December 2010. The documentary shows the deep scars which asylum seekers carry all throughout their journey. The initial response from the audience at this first screening has been very positive. As a build up to the screening, a press launch was held on Friday 17th December at Darl-Ewropa, Valletta, to coincide with International Migrants’ Day on 18th December. Fr Joseph Cassar and Dr Roberta Buhagiar addressed the media on issues of destitution that migrants face in Malta.

These had been revealed in a report published in March 2010 as part of the “Advocacy Network for Destitute Forced Migrants” (ANDES) project and the documentary. The launch of the documentary is part of a six-month awareness raising campaign; the documentary will be screened on a regular basis until World Refugee Day on 20 June 2011. A special screening for Jesuits,possibly on a Monday evening, is also envisaged.

… THE MALTESE JESUIT, January, 2011

Poland: 350th anniversary of Lviv University - The Year of Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki SJ - The Baltic University in Gdynia

• 350th anniversary of Lviv University

A Symposium to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the foundation of Lviv University (Ukraine) took place in Krakow on 14-15 January 2011.
Lviv University grew up from the Jesuit College, founded in 1608.
In 1661 Polish King Jan Kazimierz issued a certificate of erection of The Lviv University and the anniversary celebrations refer to this date.
The meeting was  arranged by The Jagiellonian University, The Jesuit School of Philosophy and Education "Ignatianum”, The  Pontifical University of John Paul II and by The Polish Academy of Learning.

The first part of the session on 14 January 2011, which took place in the “Ignatianum”, was dedicated to a "Jesuit" period of The University.  Following papers were presented:  prof. Ludwik Grzebień SJ: Genesis and evolution of Jesuit education in Red Ruthenia up to the mid-seventeenth century, Dr Grzegorz Łuszczak SJ: Ways of teaching and the teaching staff of Lviv Jesuit schools in the years 1661-1773, Dr Stanislaw Cieslak SJ: Foundation of the University of Lviv and its erection documents.

… Submitted by Roman Darowski (PME), Krakow
 

• The Year of Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki SJ

The celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki SJ, the great missionary of Africa begun on January 6th. The ceremony in the Cathedral of Sandomierz gathered together the relatives of that great missionary, representatives of the Foundation of Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki "Heart Without Frontiers", representatives of the Jesuit Order, and many others. Bishop Krzysztof Nitkiewicz of Sandomierz mentioned that Cardinal Kozłowiecki was looking out for God's signs and was following them through all his life. "He was a sign for those who were seeking Christ as well in time of war as in peace, as well in Africa as in Poland". "We also want to see him as God's sign, seeking inspiration from the great heritage he left", he added.

Adam Kozłowiecki was born on 1 April 1911 in Huta Komorowska in the south east of Poland. In 1929 he joined the Jesuits, where he was ordained in 1937. In the beginning of the II World  War he was arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo, firstly in the concentration camp in Auschwitz and than in Dachau. After the liberation of the camp he stayed in Rome. Then he went to the mission of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). He worked very generously both  for the evangelization and the administrative foundation of many Zambian mission. He was ordained a bishop in 1955 and in 1959 he was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Lusaka. In 1988, Pope John Paul II nominated him a cardinal. He died on 28 September 2007, in Lusaka in Zambia.

… Submitted by KAI & Wojciech Morański (PME), Krakow
 

• The Baltic University in Gdynia

The Baltic University, co-organized by the Arupe Center in Gdynia starts for the sixth time in February this year. The Baltic University Program was established in Uppsala in Sweden in 1991.
Currently it  links nearly 220 universities and institutions from 14 countries from the Baltic Sea Region. Between 3000 and  6000 students participate in meetings every year.

The Arrupe Center in Gdynia is one of the Uppsala University Polish partners which runs this program. Meetings in Gdynia focus on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection of the Baltic Sea region. The first meeting pursued by the Arrupe Center for the Baltic University was on October 25, 2007. Since then, over 300 people attended the project (teachers, university students, high school students and others interested in the history of development of the Baltic Region).

>> For more information visit the wepbage (in polish)

… Reported by Wojciech Żmudziński (PMA), Gdynia

Portugal: Dialogue through Film

• Dialogue through Film

Cycle 'Things of Beauty' is upheld in Lisbon, in the University Center Padre Antonio Vieira (CUPAV), guided by the Jesuit Fathers.
The CUPAV affixed to the cinema, to stimulate dialogue and respect between people, get time for dialogue, listen to others, understand how they feel, hear stories of life, breaking taboos, being more enlightened. Stimulate the relationship between them.
The film session is intended to help "promote human life and justice", taking as its starting point a challenge left by Benedict XVI during his visit to Portugal in May 2010: "More than making beautiful things, their lives become places of beauty."
All sessions are open to the general public and include the presence of several directors, a way to encourage dialogue and interaction between audience members and authors of films.

… Submitted by João Caniço (POR), Lisbon

Spain:

• One year after Haiti

After a year of the terrible earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince and other nearby cities, the rains, cholera and the unstable political situation make Haiti continue in a situation of extreme vulnerability. Throughout the year we have been working at Entreculturas for the Haitian population to be able to return to normal life, both psychologically and helping them to generate small sources of income in order to allow them to slowly strengthen their economic system.

At Entreculturas we have started a programme of action for the next five years in order to guarantee access to a quality education for thousands of Haitians. This will enable them to face their future and become change agents for their country. For this purpose we have mobilized a total of 2.693.500 euros, of which over 977.300 have already been invested in organizing education activities at the refugee camps, building schools, start job skill training programmes and teacher training.

… News items submitted by Elena Rodriguez-Avial, Madrid

Betica Province (Spain): Vida Cine forum initiates year with a tribute to Blake Ewards - Teaching and research activities around renewable energies and sustainable development - Confessions and Spiritual Direction in Málaga

• Vida Cine forum initiates year with a tribute to Blake Ewards

The Vida cine club, promoted by Fr. Manuel Alcalá, has been offering its cultural program to the Seville society during 50 years, and it is being financed by the Cajasol Foundation. Father Alcalá has chosen three classics of Blake Edwards for the showings of this month: Breakfast with diamonds, with Audrey Hepburn in the lead in one of her most meaningful roles; The Party (1968), a very popular film in its première, with music of Henry Mancini and the acting of Peter Sellers, an actor who collaborated several times with Blake Edwards in the well known saga The  Pink Panther. The last one of the month was Victor or Victoria (1982), a third remake of the film by the German director Reinhold Schünzel. With Mancini’s  unforgettable music.
 

• Teaching and research activities around renewable energies and sustainable development

Abengoa and the University Loyola Andalusia Foundation have put forward the Loyola-Abengoa Research Centre for Investigation, which comes forth with the aim of promoting the development of teaching  and research activities around the renewable energies and the sustainable development.
The Centre of Investigation will be, in addition, a common space for the formation of professionals oriented to the activities of I+D+i, and a scientific and technological forum of high level,  capable of offering answers to the future in the areas of the renewable energies and a sustainable development.

The new Centre, fruit of a signed agreement between both institutions, makes it clear the common commitment to knowledge, its generation and its transmission, as well as its application to the industrial and managerial reality.
At the presentation of the agreement, held at the Palmas Altas campus (Seville), corporate headquarter of Abengoa, in Seville, have taken part Ildefonso Camacho Laraña, president of the University Loyola Andalusia Foundation and president of ETEA; Gabriel Pérez Alcalá, vice-president of the University Loyola Andalusia Foundation and director of ETEA, and José Domínguez Abascal, technical general secretary of Abengoa.
 

• Confessions and Spiritual Direction in Málaga

The Jesuit community “Sacred Heart” of Málaga, on the occasion of the restoration of the SAGRADO CORAZÓN DE JESÚS church, intends to give a new impulse to what has always been very much appreciated by all persons frequenting this church: the attention to the confessions and the spiritual direction.
For this, starting from the 1st of February a new space called “Hall of Welcome and Consultations” will be available, so that during the opening hours of the church - from 9am to 1.30 pm and from 18 to 20 pm - a priest of the community will be attending.

As objectives of this Room of Information some themes on religious-theological issues, or on any other aspects of the Church, or of the Society of Jesus on which questions may be asked deliberately have been scheduled. Likewise personal consultations will be facilitated, which the visitors may want to propose; also more time will be given to confessions, which may require more communication and dialogue. The Room will facilitate as well the recurrent conversations required for the practice of the Spiritual Exercises in the Current Life.

… Reported by Wenceslao Soto (BET), Socius to the Provincial, Seville, Spain

Castilla Province (Spain): Comillas Library participates in virtual exhibition "Written America"

• Comillas Library participates in virtual exhibition "Written America"

Comillas is one of the 15 universities in the Working Group for Bibliographical Patrimony, in the University Libraries of the CRUE (Rebiun), which have organised the virtual exhibition "Written America". At the exhibition participate the "Archivo General de Indias" (General Archives of the Indies) and it is sponsored by the "Agencia Española de Cooperación para el Desarrollo (AECID)", the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation, and EBSCO. It will commemorate the Two-Hundredth Anniversary of the Independence of the Ibero-American Republics through the American book reserves of Spanish University Libraries.

… Submitted by Elena Rodriguez-Avial, Madrid

Loyola Province (Spain):

• Ignatian Leadership

A new course began in January intended for leaders of Jesuit Institutions.  It is a course in Ignatian Leadership that comprises four modules and it is organized in four short retirements in the Sanctuary of Loyola:

· Self knowledge (four days)
· Building a body (four days)
· Promoting a vision(four days)
· Personal project (two days)

The main Directors and leaders of Jesuit Institutions in Loyola Province took part in the first module in January.
The course intends to combine basic issues of leadership and ignatian spirituality, in order to boost a leadership that depends upon commitment for mission.

… Submitted by Xabier Riezu, Comms. Officer, Bilbao

[ LOOKING FORWARD ]

Agenda of Upcoming Events for February and March 2011

[A permanently updated Agenda of Upcoming Jesuit Events is available on the Intranet]

	Wednesday 9 - Saturday 12 February 2011 Loyola, Spain Jesuit European Committee for Secondary Education (JECSE): Congress: Pastoral Coordinators and Chaplains Chairman: Marie-Thérèse Michel, Paris, France Fernando de la Puente (Spain), Peter Knapen (Belgium), Brian Flannery, Bert ten Berge (NER). Web Site: www.jecse.net
	Wednesday 30 March - Friday 1 April 2011 Drongen, Belgium Jesuit European Committee for Secondary Education (JECSE): Seminar: formation personnel Chairman: Marie-Thérèse Michel, Paris, France Fernando de la Puente (Spain), Peter Knapen (Belgium), Brian Flannery, Bert ten Berge (NER). Web Site: www.jecse.net
	Jesuit Alumni/ae in Budapest From March 24 till March 27 Jesuit Alumni/ae from all over Europe will gather in Budapest for their next congress. The theme of the congress is “Priorities of the Society of Jesus – Priorities of the Alumni/ae – Priorities in their Collaboration”. Considering the priorities chosen by the Society of Jesus in the last General Congregations, Alumni will open the dialogue about the role they can play in assisting the Jesuits in their work, inside and outside the field of education. During the congress some well known speakers will take the floor, amongst them Father John Dardis, Father Giampaolo Salvini (Civilta Cattolica), Father Michael Schöpf (JRS-Europe) and others. >> Click to get more practical information
	Thursday 31 March - Tuesday 5 April 2011 Padua, Italy Meeting Formation Delegates Coordination Committee: Andrzej Majewski (PMA), Alessandro Manaresi (ITA), Kevin O'Rourke (HIB)
	International Conference on the History of the Society of Jesus MADRID, Universidad Pontificia Comillas. June 20-22, 2011. “Jesuitas: Religión, Política, Educación. (siglos XVI-SVIII)” is the title of this International Conference organized by The Institute “Solo Madrid es corte” (Autónoma University - UAM) and Comillas University (Madrid). The Conference will take place at the main Campus of Comillas (Alberto Aguilera St.) and will gather most of researchers and students working on different topics related to the Society of Jesus from the very beginnings till XVIII century, all over the world. Professors José Martínez Millán (UAM) and Henar Pizarro (Comillas) are the main coordinators of the Conference. You will find the program in www.iulce.es ↗ “congresos”, or, once inside the web, click on the picture of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at the right side of the screen. We will offer more information in our next bulletins.

Language Summer Courses

• German Language Course

Berchmanskolleg in Munich offers a German Language Course for Jesuit scholastics,  young priests and brothers during this summer. It will take place from August 2 to 26, 2011.

Attached you find the invitation letter in german and english.

For more information, see
www.formation-centre-munich.de or email Quang-Minh Bui

[ OPEN MARKET ]

Point and click: New or renewed Jesuit Internet Sites

	The Society of Jesus in Spain on Facebook Since a few weeks the Society of Jesus in Spain has its own Facebook page. It is an instrument of communication and pastoral care to promote activities, events and news of the Spanish Jesuits and to share links, videos, and photos with those who want to join us. >> You can find it here  The Jesuits are present on Facebook with this new page to give an overview of the company in Spain in this network. For the Society of Jesus there are many reasons to be present on Facebook: · Because it is one of the world “borders”, where the Pope urged them to go, since in the border area the religious world is still very present. · Because it's a great tool for ministry and communication. · Because the Society of Jesus, following its dynamic foundation must adapt to the times and change with them, and it has done throughout its 400 year history. · Because the Society has an extensive global presence on Facebook, and Spain should have it.
	Visit news about Magis 2011 in the website and social networks: · Reflexion about the "12 Steps” · You can be a volunteer. We need volunteers for animation, music and liturgy. · For those of you who go on holiday or travel we encourage to take photos with the logo MAG+S. Send us your photo and we will put it on the web and facebook. · How do you say WITH CHRIST AT THE HEART OF THE WORLD in your language? Spread # magis2011! WYD # # # jmj madrid11 on Twitter.
	New in SJWEB - A podcast (in Spanish) with Father Jorge Eduardo Serrano-Ordoñez (51°) from Columbia Province . He has worked for 40 years in pastoral and social work, in various regions of his country. In meanwhile he has obtained a Master in Development. In 2010 he accepted Father General's invitation to work at the General Curia of Rome as Assistant to the General Treasurer, for Development Resources (ATDR). Some humour - or a little bit of theatre - he is convinced that no one is so poor as to be incapable of helping someone. >> Click here to listen.

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