DAVID STEWART SJ HAS RECENTLY TAKEN OVER FROM FR JOHN-GRUMMITT AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH PROVINCE JESU1T ALUMNI/AE PROGRAMME. HERE MARTIN McCLUSKEY, Who HAS RECENTLY LEFT ST ATOYSIUS COLLEGE, GLASGOW, GIVES AN ACCOUNT of THE EASTER GET-TOGETHER AT SOUTHWELL HOUSE YOUTH PROJECT,LONDON, AND THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NEW DIRECTOR.
‘By the end of their time in a Jesuit School it is hop ed that young people are seen to have a generosity of spirit and a readiness to place their talents at the disposal of others, especially the most needy'
Extract from the profile of a Jesuit School Leaver.
With a name that imm ed iately inspires mystery and a location (Hampstead) that suggests more of a celebrity gathering than spiritual retreat; the annual gathering of the Young British Jesuit Alumni (YBJA) took place at Southwell House, London during Holy Week.
The YBJA takes its members from the five Jesuit secondary schools in the UK and offers participants the chance to spend a year abroad in the service of others. However, unlike other organisations in the burgeoning GAP year market, the YBJA offers a long-term commitment to its members, and also allows the continuation of a Jesuit connection beyond their secondary ed ucation; a link that all those at the meeting wish ed to maintain.
In previous years, the YBJA had been coordinat ed by Fr John Grumitt . He has l ed the group since the former Superior General, P ed ro Arrupe SJ, challeng ed Jesuit provinces worldwide to establish organisations that would use the great reservoir of talent available to them, through their alumni to live up to the lgnatian ideal of ‘men and women for others' through a variety of service activities. However, this year the Gathering saw a transfer of the directorship of the organisation to another Jesuit, Fr David Stewart.
This change did not impinge on the tremendous success of the week, as a number of guest speakers shar ed their experiences of foreign climes - from Accra to Zanzibar. I was personally amaz ed by the choices on offer and overwhelm ed by the enthusiasm of those who spoke about their placements. The old cliche of, ‘it was a life-changing experience' is so often bandi ed around in this ‘new age' spirituality. It was obvious, when listening to these talks, that these placements were truly ‘life-changing experiences' in a way that I think I will only fully grasp once I have experienc ed it for myself.
The change of leadership in the YBJA has inevitably l ed many to question the future of the YBJA. Central to this process, of course, are the group members. They were consult ed over possible changes during a meeting chair ed by Fr Dave. It became clear that the future of the YBJA lay both in the strengthening of links with other Jesuit organisations worldwide and, conversely, in looking closer to home. As was point ed out many times over the week, ‘it doesn't take a flight on a 747 to find the world's poor'. To this end, Rachel Saum, a representative from the Jesuit Volunteer Communities (JVC), spoke about the possibility of placing YBjA members in projects locat ed in inner-city areas around the UK; an idea that was greet ed with interest by the group.
In addition to the numerous talks and workshops, the week allow ed time for both the ‘worldly and the spiritual' (as Fr Grumitt once put it); the spiritual element pervad ed the entire week. Masses were celebrat ed in the inimitable Southwell House style, along with daily night prayer and reflection, when Fr Dave introduc ed us to the Examen along with many other elements of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, which allow ed the group to consider the events of the day and, perhaps, even ponder on where they may be heading on their own GAP placement. The Holy Week liturgies we celebrat ed were particularly powerful. The emphasis was certainly on getting everyone involv ed . This was done in many ways - whether it be in the communal feet washing on Holy Thursday, the unique Way of the Cross (which involv ed multi-m ed ia presentations and a ‘graffiti wall' on which to scribble our thoughts on the crucifi ed Christ) on Go od Friday, or the torchlight procession at the Easter Vigil. The ‘worldly' element was fulfill ed in equal proportions with the (now infamous) YBJA ‘Pop Stars' and a visit to the Dominion Theatre on Holy Saturday for ‘We will rock you', the new production by Ben Elton a tribute to the legendary rock band ‘Queen:
As the YBJA moves into a new and exciting phase, change to the group is not only inevitable, but necessary. What struck me during the week I spent with fellow members was the sheer generosity of spirit and, as I mention ed earlier, the enthusiasm of all concern ed for placements they had been on, or those they were about to go on. As the YBJA continues to grow and develop over the years, one thing is certain: that the organisation will not lack the talent, skills or generosity ne ed ed to ensure that it goes from strength to strength, to develop into a cornerstone for the leavers of Jesuit schools across Britain
‘By the end of their time in a Jesuit School it is hop ed that young people are seen to have a generosity of spirit and a readiness to place their talents at the disposal of others, especially the most needy'
Extract from the profile of a Jesuit School Leaver.
With a name that imm ed iately inspires mystery and a location (Hampstead) that suggests more of a celebrity gathering than spiritual retreat; the annual gathering of the Young British Jesuit Alumni (YBJA) took place at Southwell House, London during Holy Week.
The YBJA takes its members from the five Jesuit secondary schools in the UK and offers participants the chance to spend a year abroad in the service of others. However, unlike other organisations in the burgeoning GAP year market, the YBJA offers a long-term commitment to its members, and also allows the continuation of a Jesuit connection beyond their secondary ed ucation; a link that all those at the meeting wish ed to maintain.
In previous years, the YBJA had been coordinat ed by Fr John Grumitt . He has l ed the group since the former Superior General, P ed ro Arrupe SJ, challeng ed Jesuit provinces worldwide to establish organisations that would use the great reservoir of talent available to them, through their alumni to live up to the lgnatian ideal of ‘men and women for others' through a variety of service activities. However, this year the Gathering saw a transfer of the directorship of the organisation to another Jesuit, Fr David Stewart.
This change did not impinge on the tremendous success of the week, as a number of guest speakers shar ed their experiences of foreign climes - from Accra to Zanzibar. I was personally amaz ed by the choices on offer and overwhelm ed by the enthusiasm of those who spoke about their placements. The old cliche of, ‘it was a life-changing experience' is so often bandi ed around in this ‘new age' spirituality. It was obvious, when listening to these talks, that these placements were truly ‘life-changing experiences' in a way that I think I will only fully grasp once I have experienc ed it for myself.
The change of leadership in the YBJA has inevitably l ed many to question the future of the YBJA. Central to this process, of course, are the group members. They were consult ed over possible changes during a meeting chair ed by Fr Dave. It became clear that the future of the YBJA lay both in the strengthening of links with other Jesuit organisations worldwide and, conversely, in looking closer to home. As was point ed out many times over the week, ‘it doesn't take a flight on a 747 to find the world's poor'. To this end, Rachel Saum, a representative from the Jesuit Volunteer Communities (JVC), spoke about the possibility of placing YBjA members in projects locat ed in inner-city areas around the UK; an idea that was greet ed with interest by the group.
In addition to the numerous talks and workshops, the week allow ed time for both the ‘worldly and the spiritual' (as Fr Grumitt once put it); the spiritual element pervad ed the entire week. Masses were celebrat ed in the inimitable Southwell House style, along with daily night prayer and reflection, when Fr Dave introduc ed us to the Examen along with many other elements of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, which allow ed the group to consider the events of the day and, perhaps, even ponder on where they may be heading on their own GAP placement. The Holy Week liturgies we celebrat ed were particularly powerful. The emphasis was certainly on getting everyone involv ed . This was done in many ways - whether it be in the communal feet washing on Holy Thursday, the unique Way of the Cross (which involv ed multi-m ed ia presentations and a ‘graffiti wall' on which to scribble our thoughts on the crucifi ed Christ) on Go od Friday, or the torchlight procession at the Easter Vigil. The ‘worldly' element was fulfill ed in equal proportions with the (now infamous) YBJA ‘Pop Stars' and a visit to the Dominion Theatre on Holy Saturday for ‘We will rock you', the new production by Ben Elton a tribute to the legendary rock band ‘Queen:
As the YBJA moves into a new and exciting phase, change to the group is not only inevitable, but necessary. What struck me during the week I spent with fellow members was the sheer generosity of spirit and, as I mention ed earlier, the enthusiasm of all concern ed for placements they had been on, or those they were about to go on. As the YBJA continues to grow and develop over the years, one thing is certain: that the organisation will not lack the talent, skills or generosity ne ed ed to ensure that it goes from strength to strength, to develop into a cornerstone for the leavers of Jesuit schools across Britain