Jesuits called to lead new evangelisation of Europe

Source: Jesuit Communications Office, London

The President of the Conference of European Jesuit Provincials (CEP) has called on Jesuits to be at the forefront of the evangelisation of Europe in the third millennium.

Speaking at the opening of the 9th CEP General Assembly in Czestochowa, Poland, on Sunday, Mark Rotsaert SJ said: "One of our most important concerns has to be the future of Christian belief in the Europe of today and tomorrow. It is a challenge to look for a new understanding of faith and culture and of the relationship between them."

Forty-five Jesuit Provincials, including David Smolira SJ from Britain, are attending the General Assembly at which items on the agenda include the Jesuits' new "task force" on the Movement of Peoples, the presentation of a new education project for Kosovo, and participation at the World Youth Day 2005 in Cologne.

The CEP President told delegates: "Christian faith leads to a world where justice is a high priority. More and more countries in Europe are confronted with the problem of migration. It is one of the preferential apostolic concerns in the Society of Jesus." Fr Rotsaert also looked forward to the "historical event" of 1 May 2004, when eight new member states of Central and Eastern Europe, together with two states of Southern Europe, will join the European Union.

"We can be proud as Jesuits that from the very beginning of the CEP there was no division between Provinces who belonged to the European Union and others who did not. This does not mean that there are no differences between us, but we will continue to foster in our midst a unity in diversity," he said.