Report on “Discernment in Common”: Charting Our Spirit-Led Journey Towards the Magis
21 November 2025
JRS Europe is pleased to announce the publication of our new document, “The Spirit-Led Journey of Discernment in Common at JRS Today.” This report explores “Discernment in Common” (DC) as the spiritual and strategic core of JRS in our mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for forcibly displaced people worldwide.
Rooted deeply in the Ignatian tradition, DC is presented as far more than just a decision-making methodology; it is a transformative way of life. Within JRS, DC reminds us that our work is about walking together—as colleagues, companions, and people of faith—seeking divine guidance to discern the greater good (magis) in a rapidly changing world. The practice of DC requires cultivating humility, vulnerability, and trust to find the will of God. This tradition has been foundational to JRS from its inception.
This document was prepared and written by Alberto Ares, SJ, our regional director, based on JRS’s experience in common discernment, as recorded in various published documents, as well as a survey conducted in recent months among JRS colleagues, Jesuits, and mission collaborators worldwide. Thirty-one Jesuits and lay people with leadership responsibilities across JRS globally participated in this survey, sharing their unique, lived experiences.
The final version of this document received valued contributions from Ximena Vidal, Eric Goeh-Akue, SJ, Matt Ippel SJ, and we would like to thank everyone from the JRS family who participated in the survey.
Lights, Shadows, and the Path Ahead
The report synthesizes the foundational vision of the Society of Jesus with the reality of DC at JRS today, detailing both the “Lights” (moments of grace) and “Shadows” (challenges).
When discernment is practiced with sincerity, it becomes a transformative experience, leading to a profound sense of unity and spiritual clarity. The most crucial positive insight, or “light,” reported is the transformation that occurs when refugee voices genuinely shape decisions. Genuine inclusion of refugee voices is the single most crucial condition for effective DC in our context.
However, the practice of DC is hindered by significant practical obstacles, including the nearly universal challenge of time constraints and heavy workloads, and the difficulty of operating in war areas or facing hostile political environments, among others.
The goal of this work is to advocate for DC as both a spiritual journey and a practical tool for organizational conversion. We recognize that deepening Ignatian roots among JRS is a critical need to ensure JRS remains faithful, inclusive, and effective in serving the world’s most vulnerable. By embracing DC we can ensure our accompaniment is a profound encounter with the Spirit, our source of life, leading to greater fidelity and effectiveness for the greater glory of God.
Ignite the Way: Training of Facilitators in Discernment in Common
Our director, Alberto Ares, will be part of the JRS team that will participate in a historic meeting entitled ‘Ignite the Way: Training of Facilitators in Discernment in Common’ in Salamanca, Spain, from 23 November to 3 December 2025. This event will bring together 100 participants, including Jesuits, lay collaborators, religious sisters and brothers, and diocesan priests. It represents a significant step in the Society of Jesus’ contribution to the global Synod on Synodality. Rooted in the Ignatian tradition of discernment, the meeting will develop formators who will then train facilitators to guide communities in shared spiritual decision making, deep listening, and collaborative leadership.
Access the Report
To facilitate the sharing of this work, the document is being presented in three formats:
3. A summary document with a brief methodological guide detailing lessons learned from DC at JRS.
We invite all members of the JRS Europe family to engage with this material as we continue to embrace the spirituality of walking together.