Rooted in Hospitality: JRS Europe gathers in Madrid for its Regional Coordination Meeting

This year, the JRS Europe Regional Coordination Meeting took place in Madrid, centered on the theme of hospitality. Directors and colleagues from across the network gathered to reconnect with our shared mission and reflect on how hospitality continues to shape our work across contexts.

The opening session was led by Alberto Ares SJ, Dalibor Reniç SJ, Filipe Martins SJ, and Bianca Albu. Through this panel, participants were invited to reconnect with the common identity that unites JRS across Europe, highlighting how the mission is lived within the wider Jesuit context and how this shared vision continues to evolve. 

This focus on mission continued throughout the morning with the next session facilitated by the Mission and Identity Team. It brought together reflections and shared results from participants, encouraging dialogue across contexts and experiences. 

Building on this, the following workshop, also led by the Mission and Identity Team, created a space for deeper exchange on the realities faced across the network. Participants were divided into smaller groups to openly discuss challenges encountered in their work, share lessons learned, and identify practical ways forward. The session concluded with a collective wrap-up, allowing insights from each group to be brought together and shared with the wider assembly. 

In the afternoon, the focus shifted from reflection to direct encounter with the local context. Participants moved to the La Ventilla neighborhood, where they were welcomed at Casa San Ignacio. Participants were introduced by Luis Arancibia to the evolving reality of the social apostolate in Spain, gaining firsthand insight into how Jesuit works are responding to current challenges and opportunities in accompanying migrants and refugees. 

It represented an important bridge between the morning’s reflections on shared identity and the lived experience of mission on the ground. This continued through the exploration of the neighborhood: participants were guided through different Jesuit works present in the area. 

This journey showed how mission takes shape through daily presence, relationships, and services offered to migrants and refugees. 

The following day began with a walk to Entreculturas headquarters, a Jesuit organization in Spain focused on education, social justice, and international cooperation, and a key partner for JRS.  The morning session was led by Salvo from the JRS International Office, offering insights into how stronger coordination can reinforce the mission.

Next, led by Mariza Koronioti, a panel brought together four country directors from Croatia, Greece, Ireland, and Poland to share innovative initiatives developed across their contexts. 

The exchange highlighted concrete ways in which JRS continues to respond to emerging needs, offering a space for dialogue and inspiration while showing how diverse approaches contribute to a shared mission grounded in service and solidarity.

The following exchange focused on the One Proposal, with the presentation of the latest Annual Report, offering an overview of the progress achieved across countries and the continued impact of the coordinated response. 

Inga, Director of JRS Ukraine, contributed with a perspective from the field, sharing insights on the current realities and challenges faced, grounding the discussion in lived experience. The Family Help Center also took part in this moment, marking their first participation in the Regional Coordination Meeting and sharing their work within the framework of the One Proposal. Closely connected to the JRS network and mission, their presence represented an important step in strengthening collaboration and further integrating their work within the shared response. The session was further enriched by the contribution of Xavier Network, which presented its report alongside the results of an external evaluation, providing an additional layer of reflection on the project’s effectiveness and future direction.

The final part of the meeting was structured around two distinct moments. The first focused on shared projects and future opportunities, highlighting ongoing collaboration across countries, upcoming funding possibilities, and the importance of aligning efforts to strengthen collective impact. 

The second turned to advocacy and communication, reflecting on how JRS Europe engages in awareness raising and policy work, and exploring future priorities to ensure these efforts remain firmly rooted in its values. 

Grounded in the theme of hospitality, the gathering highlighted not only what JRS does, but how it does it: through presence, collaboration, and a constant effort to respond to evolving realities with dignity and care. Carrying forward the insights and connections built in Madrid, the network moves ahead strengthened in its commitment to accompany, serve, and advocate together.