The Magis gathering was celebrated in Portugal from 22 to 31 July, then continued with World Youth Day until 6 August. The event saw participation from more than 80 countries worldwide, with nearly 2,000 participants. The main venue was the Magis Villa, located on the campus of Sao Jao De Brito in Lisbon, supplemented by various locations across Portugal and Spain.
This year, Magis offered five distinct experiences: art and culture; ecology and environment; spiritual faith; pilgrimage and journey; and solidarity and service. Prior to our arrival at the Magis Villa, we were already informed about the location and the specific experiences we would engage in.
Magis invites young people to create a hope-filled future. Each activity was designed to align with the passions of young people while maintaining a focus on discerning their roles in shaping the future. Joining this event felt like hiking to the mountain of hope, where each step was guided by discussions to help us find our life purpose. The experience consisted of an introduction, problems, solutions, and actions. Some of the global issues we discussed were the environment, economy, society, and refugee crisis, with the aim of finding God in all aspects of life. Every day, I gained deeper insights into the issues I currently face, drawing from perspectives shared by participants from various countries, and what role I can play in helping address these issues.
Magis opened with a welcoming Mass on 22 July in the Sao Jao De Brito field led by Fr Miguel Almeida SJ, with all the priests who came to Magis from around the world concelebrating. The Mass was solemn yet lively. It opened with Comment ne pa te louer as the priests processed to the altar and ended with the official Magis 2023 hymn. It continued with the grand opening which featured a Portuguese theatrical dance that narrated a story centred on finding God in all things. Then it ended with an examen and evening prayer together.
The next day, after stretching exercises and morning prayers, we listened to Mike Martinez SJ, a Jesuit from the US who uses rap as a way of communicating with young people. His songs featured original lyrics that resonated deeply with our generation, one of which was the song Time-Killer. The underlying message of the song is that we live in a world full of distractions— from social media, technologies, online shopping, news, and videos. We often grow weary of these distractions and inadvertently neglect our inner selves, but only a handful of young people truly recognise this. Consequently, we start to feel an emptiness and attempt to find answers externally rather than embarking on an introspective journey within our hearts.
Mike invited us to return to the principle and foundation, to discover who we were created for. Praise, Reverence, and Serve emerged as keywords, signifying that we are an extension of God’s hands, co-creating a hope-filled future using all our gifts. This entails getting out of our comfort zones and offering our time generously to others and the environment.
After that, the MAGIS Circle convened, allowing the PT-33 ecological experience group to share their experiences from the past two days. Later in the afternoon, we gathered for Sunday Mass with the Gospel reading on the mustard seed. The day ended with an acoustic concert by the Jesuits in Portugal.
On Monday, we went to Santo Tirso, a four-hour bus ride from Lisbon, with friends from the ecology and art experience. We stayed at the Instituto Nun’Alvres Santo Tirso school for six days. We took a room tour when we arrived, got to know each other, had dinner, and did laughing yoga. It was the first time for me to try laughing yoga, and it was so much fun. Even before we began the actual exercise, everyone was already laughing wholeheartedly. Over the course of six days, we delved into various ecological experiences in the vicinity to increase our awareness of the environment. In addition, we had examen sessions, group discussions in the Magis circle, contemplation, and daily Mass held on the rooftop in the evening.
On our second day in Santo Tirso, we watched the film Laudato sí and were invited to discuss with the group the encyclical, specifically numbers 20 to 26, about pollution and climate change. Our discussion flowed smoothly, and we were able to express what was in our hearts. What struck me personally was Laudato si No 25, emphasising the domino effects of climate change. One of these consequences is the increase in climate-induced refugees.
In today’s world, we already witness countless refugees due to war, tribal conflicts, and religious persecution. If we don’t prioritise environmental concerns, many more people could lose their homes due to climate change, further exacerbating the refugee crisis. Unfortunately, there are no laws to protect refugees in the countries they transit. This, coupled with the challenges they face in securing employment, food, and shelter, intensified my apprehension about the far-reaching impacts of climate change.
In the next few days, we contemplated the story of Cain and Abel and were invited to draw closer to nature by creating something, such as pottery, origami, dance, and drawings. We also watched a documentary called “Bigger than Us,” which made me think about what I could do to help prevent climate change. If not us, who else will do it? Our discussions about the film and environmental activism gave me insights into what I could do in Indonesia. We then got together to do experiments, such as dance, theatre, counting footprints, distributing food, and collecting trash, before concluding the day with a Magis circle.
On our fifth day, we embarked on a silent contemplative walk from the school to the church, reflecting on Laudato sí numbers 233-237 on sacramental signs and the celebration of rest. We stopped at a park for lunch and Magis circle, during which we discussed Laudato sí, and the ecology activism in Portugal. Our conversation encouraged me to become a more ecologically conscious and sustainable person, starting at that very moment. We then bought Jesuitas, an original pastry from Santo Tirso, which turned out to be quite delightful! After dinner, we were treated to captivating dance performances by delegates from various countries.
On our last day in Santo Tirso, we were invited to make a commitment to be more mindful and concerned about the environment. Afterwards, we concluded the event with a Mass presided over by Fr Koko and Fr Antonio. I felt a deep connection with all the people who had shared in this transformative experience over the past week.
The next day, we joined the rest of the delegates from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific for the JCAP Magis meeting led by the Philippine delegation. The Chinese Province facilitated an engaging ice breaker activity, which involved participants moving based on specific cues. It was a great source of enjoyment for all. We finished the gathering by taking pictures of JCAP Magis members.
Afterwards, we continued our preparations for the festival of nations, which showcased performances from each country, each one presenting something unique, excellent, and beautiful.
Our last day at the Magis Villa started with morning prayers, followed by a panel discussion with Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ, Mike Martinez SJ, and six young people representing various parts of the continent to discuss current issues and the perspective of the church. It felt like confirmation day, a culmination of all the reflections and experiences that had transpired throughout the Magis gathering, leading us to a deeper understanding of our purpose in this world. Fr Sosa said every human being is loved by the Lord. This understanding forms the basis for how we cultivate relationships and shape our perspectives. The event also marked the launch of Magis Futures, an advanced platform for youth movements associated with the Society of Jesus. It serves as an initiative to unite people worldwide towards more meaningful actions in the areas of the environment, politics, and humanity.
Magis 2023 officially closed with a Mass presided over by Father General with all present Jesuit priests concelebrating. Despite the scorching sun that day, the enthusiasm and solemnity of the Mass were palpable. Father General encouraged us to continue to dream big, build lasting bonds, and put our whole being and the excellent training we have received in the service of a better and more reconciled world—a world for all.
Though the MAGIS gathering had concluded, its spirit seamlessly transitioned into the celebration of World Youth Day on 31 July. We carried this spirit forward, sharing it with those around us. I believe it was not just knowledge about the church, the Spiritual Exercises, and the world that we gained, but also a spirit that will guide us in co-creating a future brimming with hope in this world.
Linda Mahadita is a member of Magis Indonesia.