The Green Transition at Heart

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JESC
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The Green Transition at Heart

Europe@Heart 2025 weekend

19th to 21st September 2025, Jesuit retreat centre La Pairelle (Namur)

Concept

This weekend is for people who care deeply about Europe, think about its future – and may disagree on important matters. Our disagreements reveal values, experiences, bitter and hopeful perspectives. If we can find a place where we can share our views, we may take a step towards understanding, maybe even transcending, these divisions. Democracy will work, if we all share hope about the future. Following the Jesuit tradition, we invite you to use slow time to take a long view. From Friday dinner to Sunday lunch, with engaging discussions led by invited speakers, in an open, curious, trustworthy community, Europe@Heart is a weekend hosted in the La Pairelle Jesuit retreat centre (Namur) by the Jesuits in Brussels, and offered to a size-limited group of people who share our curiosity and dedication towards the future. In 2025 our questions will revolve around the green transition, that is both necessary and utopic.

Program

Friday evening: Welcoming

  • Introduction of the weekend and of the participants
  • The Climate Change Wine Tasting

Saturday morning: Conversation 1 “What does science say, and why aren’t we all equally worried?” – The researcher, the politician and the NGO expert

Saturday afternoon: Conversation 2 “Should the green transition be forced?” – The civil society specialist, the conservative thinker and the businessperson

  • Erica Hope, Director of Climate Governance of the European Climate Foundation
  • Sigrid Marz, President of UNIAPAC – Federation of Christian Business Leaders Associations
  • Peter Hefele, Director of Studies of the Wilfried Martens Centre

Saturday evening: Music in the Sunset

Sunday morning: Conversation 3 “Does the green transition need (a) spirituality?” – The eco-jesuit, the systems changer and the practitioner

A detailed program with the reference hours is available here.

Participation, registration and contacts

The participation fee will be 250 € per participant, which covers the costs of organisation and the full boarding in the house (single rooms, all meals included). Participants from Eastern European countries can apply for a limited Renovabis-funded grant that covers the fee and part of the trip.

The registration is confirmed on a first-come first-serve basis until the limit of the available places, by filling the registration form here and once a non-refundable advancement of 50 € is deposited in JESC’s bank account. Upon demand of the house, the remaining value of 200 € is to be paid by Friday 5th September. The bank details are:
Bank account: Jesuit European Social Centre
IBAN: BE11 7350 3100 7248
BIC: KREDBEBB
Communication: Europe at Heart 2025 – FirstName FamilyName 

To reach La Pairelle by car or public transportation, please refer to the indications on La Pairelle’s website: https://csilapairelle.be/acces/

For further information or any other question, please contact europeatheart@jesc.eu. Many thanks for your interest, and see you at La Pairelle!

Filipe Martins SJ, Botond Feledy, Béla Kuslits, Benoit Willemaers SJ,
and Europe@Heart organising team

Ps. If the program interests you but you really cannot attend the entire weekend, please contact us at europeatheart@jesc.eu, some day-attendees will be allowed to join the main group.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photos: Passion for Europe 2023 Edition)

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