From 1 to 3 May 2026, the meeting of the formandi of the Circumscription of Europe took place. On this occasion, most of them were juniores, together with one pre-novice, one postulant and one aspirant. A total of 34 people took part: the formandi, accompanied by their formators, coming from six of the eight European Demarcations and from six countries in Europe (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Italy and Spain), as well as from three other countries on different continents (from the houses of formation of the Provinces of Betania and Emmaus).
The Province of Emmaus welcomed us warmly and fraternally at the Saint Teresa House of Spirituality in Zaragoza. We are very grateful to the Saint Teresa community and, in a special way, for the support and kindness of Fr Ion Aranguren.
In his introduction, Fr Jacek Wolan, General Assistant for Europe, mentioned some historical facts. Calasanz was closely linked to the church of the Discalced Carmelites of the Scala, in Trastevere, which in his time spread in Rome the ideas of the reform of Saint Teresa of Ávila. He was a member of the Oratory of Saint Teresa created in that church and perhaps took part in the events connected with her solemn beatification in 1614. He himself kept throughout his life, among the few books he had in his room, one written in her honour. Just as in the time of Calasanz the Oratory was a school of spirituality, so today for the Province of Emmaus the Saint Teresa House in Zaragoza is as well.
As a guide for the meeting, we were accompanied by the key words of this house: listening, community and sobriety. Fr Juan Ruiz deepened the theme of listening, drawing from Gospel texts, the Church and the Calasanctian tradition. Lara Pérez shared her experience as a member of the Fraternity of the Pious Schools. Frs Ion Aranguren and Eloy Fernándezspoke about sobriety as a sustainable, simple, service-minded and joyful way of life.
The formandi were able to deepen these themes both in personal reflection and in sharing within small groups or in the forum. For this kind of activity and for spiritual exercises, the very welcoming spaces were fully used: a variety of chapels, a very pleasant garden and also walks through the farming area where the house is located, on the outskirts of the city.
The young men were able to spend some time with the elderly Piarists of the Betania Residence, listening to stories full of Piarist experience. Fr José Pascual Burgués showed us the treasures of the provincial archive.
There were also other recreational and sporting activities at Cristo Rey School, as well as the possibility of a sightseeing visit to the old quarter, somewhat hampered by the spring rain.
The programme of prayers and the Eucharist was prepared by the juniores themselves, and the homilies were given by the formators. The team of formators present at the meeting consisted of Frs Alejandro Vázquez, Javier San Martín, Ion Aranguren, Grzegorz Musiura, Łukasz Czub and Ádám Szakál Márton.
The meeting concluded with the Mass presided over by Fr Carles Gil, Superior General, in the church of the Escuelas Pías school, the Piarist presence in that city. In his homily, he stressed that Jesus does not say: “I teach the truth, I explain the way”, but rather: “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Fr Jesús Elizari, Provincial of Emmaus, shared the sad and moving news from the mission of Minheuene, in Mozambique. At the end, the children venerated the Servant of God, Fr Pedro Díez, a Piarist from Zaragoza, who is buried in that church.
This annual meeting is already a tradition. The most recent ones were held in Kraków (Province of Poland), Budapest(Province of Hungary), Rome (Province of Italy) and now in Zaragoza (Province of Emmaus). All the participants expressed great interest in continuing them.
Jacek Wolan, Sch. P.
