The Biggest Summer Adventure

On July 24, the biggest summer adventure began! Around 370 young people from around Europe participated in 29 Magis experiments in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. Between July 29th and 31st, all the participants gathered in Split for the final event.  

This was the 8th edition of this summer event, which gathers young people from all over Europe and Middle East. It consists of two parts: Ignatian experiments in smaller groups (15-25 people) and the Festival at the end, which unites all MAGIS participants. The program is organized by the Jesuits in collaboration with female Ignatian congregations. The motto of this year’s program was sentir y gustar. 

Throughout the Magis week, some participants rode bikes and kayaks, while others went hiking and sailing along the Adriatic coast. Some lived their summer simply at the sea, while others discovered their great talents through various social, environmental, and art experiments. Some worked and prayed with the Benedictines, while others engaged in interreligious dialogue and discovering the beauty of art, food, and customs of Islam. All of this and much more! 

In the final days, in Split, the participants enjoyed fellowship and shared what they experienced during their experiments. They participated in the Eucharistic adoration and consecrated themselves to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Moreover, they went sightseeing in Salona and Split. They also went swimming, played basketball, laughed, sang, and danced. MAGIS 2022 ended on July 31 with the Holy Mass in Solin, presided over by Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Dalibor Renić.  

At the end of the Mass, Fr. Tomislav Špiranec, the responsible for this year’s event, thanked everyone who helped in the preparation and implementation of MAGIS. He also encouraged all participants to take responsibility for their lives and, with the help of God, discover their vocation - whether in marriage or religious life. 

In short, during this year’s MAGIS, young people from around Europe enjoyed fellowship with their peers and intimately felt and relished (sentir y gustar) God’s goodness, beauty, and love. 

Luka Ilić, SJ (edited)