The regional meetings will take place in Edinburgh (20 September), London (27 September), and Stonyhurst in the north (4 October), bringing together parishioners and their priests from these areas to consider how they can live and share their faith while supporting one another and their wider communities.
These gatherings follow local parish workshops earlier this year and lead up to the Jesuit Parishes Conference 2025 in November.
Earlier this year, parishioners took part in workshops in their own parishes. These workshops helped them think about their role as Pilgrims of Hope: how they live their faith, support one another, and reach out to others. eld between May and June, the sessions introduced the conference theme and encouraged reflection on parish mission.
Each parish received reflection cards, a group session outline to explore the theme, and the Adventurous Accompaniment six-session video formation programme for use in small groups or larger parish meetings.
Participants at the parish workshops highlighted the personal impact of the sessions. Lavina, a parishioner at Stamford Hill, reflected on the power of listening: “When you wait and listen, actually you come to know more about other person and more about yourself as well.”
It was the Jesuit, Pope Francis, who initiated the process of Synodality, originally advocated by the Second Vatican Council. Pope Leo has now picked up the baton, encouraging communities to continue the process.
“It will take many years before we operate in a truly Synodal manner. However, we have started and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us on our way,” said Ken Vance SJ, Delegate of Pastoral Ministries for the Jesuits in Britain, who facilitated the workshops alongside community organiser Danny Curtin.
“Each of the gatherings in our eight Jesuit parishes has been unique in its own particular way but have been met with the same enthusiasm and interest. All participants were given a small pack suggesting easy ways of exploring the concept of accompaniment. Many of the parishes are using these to hold their own workshops, thereby involving as many people as possible in the preparatory process”, he added.
The upcoming regional meetings will build on these parish reflections. Saturday workshops will focus more closely on the parish mission to be a Pilgrim of Hope in the world, building on the theology of accompaniment and exploring practical ways to live and share faith as a community.
Jesuit parish communities in the region will gather to explore how they can develop practical ways to live and share our faith as a parish community, asking questions like: “What does this mean for us as individuals?” and “how can our parish accompany others in hope?”
This journey will culminate in the Jesuit Parishes Conference 2025 on 12–14 November, when ten parishioners from each parish, along with their parish priests, will gather to discern their parish mission and discover a variety of practical ways to help them live their faith and accompany in hope.
Scotland
Saturday 20th September, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Lauriston Halls, Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart, Edinburgh
London
Saturday 27th September, 10.30am – 3.30pm
London Jesuit Centre, Mount Street.
North
Saturday 4th October, 10.30am – 3.30pm
Preston and Stonyhurst Parish, Stonyhurst.
The eight Jesuit parishes in the UK are: Farm Street in Mayfair, St Anselm’s in Southall, St Ignatius in Stamford Hill, the polish residence and parish at Walm Lane, St Wilfrid’s in Preston, St Peter’s and St Joseph’s at Stonyhurst, Sacred Heart in Edinburgh, and St Aloysius in Glasgow. You can find out more about our parishes and outreach here.
