It might have been another weekend for many, but 31 October was a special night of encounter for us who chose to spend it in companionship with old and new friends.
When we had our Magis gathering, a blue moon presided over the sky. Like the idiom, “Once in a blue moon”, we were reminded of how precious the chance is for us from different countries to gather together.
We were delighted to be able to host this gathering with participants from Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Myanmar, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, and Cambodia. It was also the eve of the Solemnity of All Saints, Halloween for those in other parts of the world. When we finalised the date, however, we had none of these things in mind.
Unlike a typical Magis Circle where personal encounter is encouraged and inevitable, this gathering was held virtually amid Covid-19. Some say the pandemic is a curse, some are more optimistic and say it made them aware of opportunities they never would have realised. One thing is for sure, had it not been for the pandemic, there would not have been any keen memories forged among us that evening.
It all started with our last meetings three months back. We were already excited for the next gathering. A survey was sent out to Magis members asking for feedback on how to move forward with the next meeting. We remembered how we felt during the Magis Circle and we were keen about sharing this feeling to more members.
However, we also worried that participants new to Magis might not understand the Magis spirit. Let’s be clear, there is only the Holy Spirit. One has to be part of Magis to understand what the Magis spirit is. If it doesn’t make any sense to you right now, don’t worry. Join us in our next gathering and you will find out.
We further questioned whether communication would be a problem amongst us. Much to our relief, none of the worries we anticipated surfaced on the day of encounter.
That evening, Fr Alberto Irenus SJ asked us, “Who are you?” Are you working? Are you studying? Are you a follower of Christ? Are you serving the community? Just, who are you?
If you have ever pondered this question, you are on the right track. It is through self-reflection and the imitation of the saints that we are reminded of our status as children of God and the goal of our earthly journey, which is to receive the reward of eternal life.
But, worry not, we did not spend the whole two hours on self-reflection. There were icebreakers and breakout sessions, too. One representative from each breakout group presented the outcome of their small group discussion. You would be surprised at what young people are capable of doing when they are pressured into a one-minute presentation. We ended with a prayer and blessing by Fr Vincentius Haryanto SJ.
If you are a young person and feel moved to be part of the next virtual gathering, please contact your regional Magis priest. We hope to see you in the next online meeting. Until then, remember to be magis!
Magis is a Jesuit-organised international meeting of young people to accompany them in the way of St Ignatius Loyola, which is marked by cura personalis (personal care), discernment, and magis (more). In Asia Pacific, the Magis formation programmes are coordinated by the JCAP Youth Ministry
