Fond farewell to Magis Ireland

May 2, 2014 in News
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Magis Ireland, the Jesuit Outreach to Young Adults was wound up on 30 April. All involved down the years until now, have touched the lives of many young people, channelling them into service, challenging them in justice issues, and nourishing them spiritually. In his parting newsletter Director Padraig Swan says, ” We pray that the seeds sown will continue to be nourished wherever they lie.”

Magis Ireland received news of its pending closure ten months ago. Padraig says that understandably there are many emotions associated with such a time as this. “There are feelings of great joy, laughter, tears, pain, celebration, and thanksgiving all wrapped up in this ministry” because, as he noted, “Magis Ireland, and formerly Sli Eile, has a very rich history in its short 14 years of existence.”

So Magis has captured a snapshot of what has happened in a Sli Eile / Magis Ireland Legacy Book. Since last Autumn they have been collecting a series of articles that capture the heart and spirit of what Sli Eile and Magis Ireland stood for. Quite a number of people took the time to write about their experiences with Magis; there are over 60 articles in the Legacy book, which will be launched on Wed. 25 June at 6.30pm in Boston College Ireland by Fr Tom Layden SJ, Provincial of the Irish Jesuits.

Padraig Swan concluded his newsletter with a grace typical of the disposition Magis staff brought to their ministery to young adults. “We are very grateful for all we have achieved together. We have no doubt that the values of Ignatian Spirituality; of finding God in all things, of connecting faith and social justice, of being contemplatives in action, are all still alive and well far beyond the yellow (and now green) door of Sli Eile / Magis. The fruit of this ministry is spread all across the country, and indeed beyond Irish shores. We give thanks to God for it all and pray that the seeds sown will continue to be nourished wherever they lie.”

You can read the full newsletter here along with notices about World Youth Day and the Magis Experiece in Dublin in August, both of which have Magis Ireland involvement.