This year, for the “Lent experience”, the 2nd year Novices were sent to the three territories of the “Euro-Mediterranean” province (made up of Italy, Albania and Malta). We asked some of them to tell us their experiences.

From Albania

In the movie “Welcome to the South”, when the protagonist has to leave for Naples, he prepares to wear a bulletproof jacket and other precautions. When I knew I would spend forty days in Scutari, northern Albania, my reaction was almost identical. When my parents searched on the internet where Scutari was, the first reaction was denialism: “No, it must be a mistake!”

Yet, as the protagonist of the film, I too had to swing round soon: myself and Mirko, my partner in this adventure, were catapulted at the Scutari College, attended by teenagers in the city and surrounding areas, who did their best to welcome us. With them we shared many activities: spiritual retreats, MEG meetings (that in Albania are called LER), trips, but also, more simply, some talk during break moments. There was a mutual curiosity: the students wanted to know about our lives, the places we came from, our activities; as for ourselves we were interested in learning some Albanian words, customs and traditions of a country So Close but So Different. A great opportunity was also to visit some families, mountain villages, tourist resorts and the capital, Tirana: many opportunities to see the nuances of a very complex reality like the Albanian one.

On April 17 at the Tirana airport, as we were waiting at the gate fot the boarding to Genoa to start, the rainy rain and the flickering wind mirrored the inner climate: part of me wanted to stay there. In the novitiate, the experiences I have gone through in this lent continue to resonate in my mind and heart, recalling the people I have encountered and arousing so many desires for my Jesuit future.

From Italy

For the second year, Turin was the meeting point of the two provinces of Italy and Malta, ie for the second year, a Maltese was sent to the Social Institute for the Lenten experiment.

“There is no need to do much with young people, just be with them simply as you are, listen to them and welcome them as they are.” It was precisely this my daily experience with high school kids: to meet them in the “Hours of formation” where I introduced myself and talked about my personal story and my novitiate journey, and to accompany them in various exits and retreats. It was nice to put into play everything I had learned in Genoa to organize the “spaces of reflection” where every class in the high school had the opportunity to live a time of silence and reflection. I also had fun with middle school kids and primary school because my presentations in class were often fun games; So it was great to play with them during the breaks or greet them when the school ended!

Beyond the school, two very strong experiences that I will bring in the heart are two important moments: the “Kairos” (a 4 day retirement for the 4th year of the high school of Torino and Milan) and the “Effata” (3 days of biblical dramas). Twice a week, I accompanied a Jesuit father following two groups of young people at Chieri: a group reading the story of Peter in the Bible and another dealing with life choices. The opportunity to be close to Jesuits with so many years of experience was indeed a grace to learn closely what the apostolate demands.

One sentence accompanying me was, “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.'” (Mt 25: 31-46). I think Turin has been a very rich experience because I’ve been able to meet so many people and share the joys and the labors that young people live in their daily lives – the studies, the family, and the relationships. Being young too, this was fundamental, because it gave me the opportunity to share the same human experiences that I also experience, live and try to deepen through my path.

From Malta

During Lent I was sent to Malta, together with Ivan. There we lived in the community of Saint Aloysius College. Our main task was to help the chaplain of the Primary School with the Lenten activities for the students from 4 to 10 years old.

So we did catechism with the students who were preparing for the First Communion, we did “Lenten exercises” with some classes – in which we presented a theme about Lent and Faith in general, Ivan presented to some of the teachers a Workshop called “Imagination and feelings in prayer” and many other things including retreats with students of the college, where we could share some of our experiences during the novitiate.

It was for the first time that I worked in a school of the Society of Jesus: and this was a great challenge. Another one was the English language, since I don’t have perfect command of it yet. At the same time I don’t know much about English culture and I don’t have any teaching experience. Little by little I threw myself into this new experience that, even though not always easy, helped me to know myself and the Society better.

An important aspect of my experience was the diversity in our community: we were 11 members, from 5 different countries and 3 continents. It was beautiful to share part of this experience with a Jesuit scholastic from Tanzania and with a Jesuit priest from Malaysia who, after 15 years in the Society, was still doing the same experience of us novices. In addition it was wonderful to meet the Maltese Jesuits who shared with us their time and part of their interesting experiences. This is a richness that characterizes the Society of Jesus and that has enriched me a lot.