Connecting young people: Jesuit-provided social hubs for adolescents
Jesuit Initiatives Transform Spaces for Young People Across the Globe
In a series of inspiring developments, Jesuit institutions are creating welcoming spaces for young people, students, and workers worldwide. These initiatives, primarily focused on the Jubilee of Youth in 2025, are designed to foster socialization, spiritual care, education, and service.
In Rome, three emblematic Jesuit churches – the Church of the Gesù, the Church of St. Ignatius, and the Church of San Luigi Gonzaga – have become hubs for spiritual care and community gatherings, catering to pilgrims and youth participants. The Centro San Lorenzo, situated next to St. Peter’s Basilica, serves as a base for numerous activities during the Jubilee, offering opportunities for confession, Eucharistic adoration, street evangelization, and exhibits on saints connected to youth spirituality.
Beyond Italy, young people from countries such as Tanzania have been actively mobilized by Jesuit-related and Catholic institutions to participate in the Jubilee, fostering global community and solidarity among youth. Jesuit-affiliated projects, like the U.S.-based John Paul II Project, involve young adult alumni serving as missionaries in multiple locations, offering assistance to the homeless, aiding pilgrims, and organizing free public events that combine talks, worship, and social outreach.
The San Frediano university chapel in Pisa is another shining example, frequented by hundreds of young people and offering a choir, Sunday dinners, study spaces, and spiritual accompaniment. The Maltese Jesuits' house also boasts a student center, providing a reading room, outdoor area, library, parking, and fast Wi-Fi for students.
Across the continent in Coimbra, Portugal, a farm owned by the Jesuits hosts six young artists each year for a community life experience of three months. In Ljubljana, Slovenia, a Jesuit house transformed into a university residence in 2017, providing 25 places for young university students. The university residence in Ljubljana also offers spacious and welcoming spaces for leisure, interests, questions, and research, and opens once a month to host friends and relatives of the students.
In Genoa, the youth center "Inigo" was inaugurated on March 7, offering 400 square meters for young people. In Tirana, Albania, a room adjacent to the Sacred Heart parish offers spaces for young people, including a library and classrooms for pastoral activities.
The Magis House in Paris, France, welcomes 100 young people daily and is a place of meeting and involvement for students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and asylum seekers. The Centro Poggeschi in Bologna has been transformed into a welcoming place for university students, young adults, and others seeking community, offering opportunities for sharing, including parties, hikes, meetings, spiritual formation, and volunteer services.
In the heart of Coimbra, artists share spaces with the Ignatian youth pastoral community, culminating in an exhibition. The renovation of "Inigo" in Bologna began in January 2024, with the community moving to the top floor to make room for the youth center on the fourth floor.
These initiatives, rooted in the Jesuit tradition, emphasize the importance of listening to young people and helping them understand their inner dynamics. Father Giuseppe Trotta, from San Frediano, underscores this sentiment, stating, "Young people seek listeners and help in understanding their inner dynamics."
As these initiatives continue to grow and evolve, they serve as beacons of hope and community for young people around the world. The Jesuit network's commitment to fostering spiritual growth, education, and social engagement is evident in these transformative spaces, creating a global network of support for the next generation.
In the spirit of the Jubilee of Youth in 2025, Jesuit institutions are expanding their reach on social media platforms, sharing updates about their initiatives and creating a digital community for young people worldwide. This virtual home-and-garden, overflowing with lifestyle content, includes vlogs, interviews, and articles on entertainment, spiritual care, and education.
Young adults who are unable to physically attend events can still engage with these initiatives by following the dedicated home-and-garden section on the Centro San Lorenzo's website, which provides live streams, webinars, and opportunities for virtual Q&As with speakers and spiritual advisors. This extended digital reach enables the Jubilee’s transformative messages to resonate in homes and gardens across the globe.
