Presidents of European associations of alumni/ae of Jesuit colleges and educational institutions from 11 countries, including the association of former students of St Aloysius College in Birkirkara, last month held their two-day biannual meeting at St Joseph Retreat Home in Rabat. Enrique Rebes, president of the European Confederation of Jesuit Alumni, and Alain Deneef, president of the World Union of Jesuit Alumni, also attended the meeting.

Enrique Rebes, president of the European Confederation of Jesuit Alumni.

The meeting discussed ways of promoting the ‘Mercy in Motion’ campaign launched by the Jesuit Refugee Service (visit www.mercy-in-motion.org/en/home for more information). The campaign, which started on December 8, 2015 together with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, aims to provide access to education for over 100,000 migrants and refugees by 2020.

The Maltese association invited Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola and JRS Malta director Katrine Camilleri to explain to the delegates their efforts to tackle the huge migration problem in Europe caused by ever increasing numbers of people fleeing their countries because of war and other major problems.

The Maltese association organised a number of activities for the European delegates, including a Christian-Muslim meeting of reflection on the theme ‘Mary, a bridge for dialogue’. This was held, as it has been for some years now, at the Aurora Hall of Balzan parish, which is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady.

The meeting was addressed by Fr Joseph Ellul, OP, and by Imam Mohammed El Sadi. The former spoke on ‘Mary, the Woman chosen by God’, while the Imam’s address was inspired by the Surah Mariam found in the Koran.

Delegates also attended a Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral celebrated by the Vicar-General, Mgr Joseph Galea Curmi, and were later shown round the Cathedral by Philip Farrugia Randon, president of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation.

A tour of Valletta and a visit to Verdala Palace in Buskett was also organised for wives of delegates.

The next meeting of presidents of European Jesuit Alumni Associations will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in October.