The event brought together archivists, contributors, Jesuits and guests for an evening of talks, discussion and an accompanying exhibition drawn from the archival material behind the book.
This video captures highlights from the evening, including reflections from contributors on the archival material presented.
Held in the Aula Magna, the event was introduced by Maria Fernanda López, Head of Communications for Jesuits in Britain. Among those attending was Fr Peter Gallagher SJ, Provincial Superior of Jesuits in Britain.
The evening featured a talk by Revd Dr Brian Mac Cuarta SJ, who reflected on the contrasting experiences of Jesuits across Europe during the Second World War. He explored how war and occupation profoundly disrupted Jesuit life in some countries, while in others formation and community life continued relatively uninterrupted. Drawing on examples preserved in Jesuit archives, including accounts of imprisonment and persecution, he highlighted the importance of archival records in recovering the lived experiences of Jesuits during the conflict.
This was followed by a panel discussion featuring several of the book's contributing archivists: Rebecca Somerset (British Jesuit Archives), Damien Burke (Irish Jesuit Archives), Barbara Baudry (French Jesuit Archives), and Jo Luyten (KADOC, representing the former Belgian and Dutch Jesuit Provinces). Led by Dr Camilla Russell of the Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu (IHSI), the conversation explored both the rich historical content of the publication and the process behind its creation.
Reflecting on the international character of the project, Rebecca Somerset, co-editor and Archivist for the British Jesuit Archives, said: “What struck me most is that some of the resources we hold in the British Province archives might be of interest to someone researching the experience of Jesuits in other provinces.
"I feel that we have succeeded in our aim to produce an introductory, informative, and attractive guide to showcase material held by European Jesuit archives relating to the period 1939-45, and I am excited to see what research is done as a result of this guide.”
The accompanying exhibition showcased archival documents from Jesuit collections across Europe, highlighting both shared experiences and the very different realities faced by Jesuit communities during the war.
You can view an online exhibition on the Jesuit Collections website here.
A video of the book launch, including the talks and panel discussion is available here.
The Second World War through Jesuit Archives: The Case of Europe (1939–1945) is available to purchase via The Way Ignatian Book Service and on the Fondazione Polanco website.
