Challenging chaplaincy

November 9, 2011 in General, News

maltacamp_01‘Spirituality in Action: Chaplaincy in a Challenging Context’ was the theme of the second meeting of JUPC.eu (Jesuit University Pastoral Care, Europe), Mount St. Joseph’s Spirituality Centre, Malta, 3-6 November. Twenty-two chaplains attended, including, from Ireland, John Dardis, Terry Howard, Brendan Carmody and Leon O Giolláin. “Our objective was to reflect on how to engage university students in a faith that does justice, within the Church,” explained Leon, “so we first immersed ourselves in the refugee reality by visiting Hal Far refugee camp [pictured here], listening to their harrowing stories, and learning  about JRS’s pastoral outreach to them.” This formed the backdrop to their prayer and reflection about European chaplaincy, which was enriched by facilitiator James Hanvey SJ’s reflections on the Church in Europe and John Dardis’ overview of Jesuit initiatives and evangelising possibilities across Europe, including the Camino walk.