[MAGiS] worldwide

Since [MAGiS'05] in Germany and [MAGiS'08] in Sydney, local MAGiS projects and initiatives have sprung up in many places worldwide.

MAGiS:

MAGiS means 'more' and the 'greater', a term St Ignatius of Loyola used to inspire others to love and to serve in all things.

You can also learn more about [MAGiS] around the world by searching on Facebook, where there are now many groups.

Those at MAGiS 09 Africa and those connected to MAGiS in Australia are part of a global community of young adults (18-30) living Ignatian Spirituality, a people for God, a people for others, all for God's greater glory.

The goal of an Ignatian Experiment is:

* - To deepen our relationship with God (MAGiS!)
* - To encounter individuals from other cultures and to grow together in faith
* - To form habits of reaching out to the disadvantaged

Philippines immersion, January 8 - January 22, 2010

So in some way when we in Australia gather for our MAGiS National Retreat at Sevenhill in December, or when Australian pilgrims go on the Philippines immersion in January, or when our communities gather in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane fortnightly, our hearts and minds are in union with friends and companions all around the world.

If you do not know what MAGiS is about yet, now's the time to start. This is not only a community; this is an attitude towards life. In every moment of our lives it is our aim and effort to live MAGiS.

Companions together for faith and justice

We try to bring our contemplation into action by serving others. Being aware of the socio-economic-cultural and political weakness existing in our society, we try to light a little lamp of hope, especially among the weakest and marginalised in our society.

While a MAGiS experiment helps you step out of your daily life; out of your comfort zone; encouraging you to be more, our daily lives are places we can listen, finding God in our hearts and in our lives, whispering about service, about love. We find that by being with others in community we come to learn more about ourselves, the world we live in and God, that we may move together in the freedom of God's loving presence.

In MAGiS we always try to reach something more. We seek more and we journey together, seeking God in our everyday work and activities, in prayer, in contemplation, in silence, in noise, in work, indeed in all things. This is MAGiS in words, but the way we live MAGiS is beyond words, it truly is a 'greater' way to live!

So let us join together in prayer for all the MAGiS'09 pilgrims, that their pilgrimage may be for God's greater glory, and that we may all grow together as friends and companions of Jesus.
Always seeking the 'greater' the 'magis'

You can also learn more about [MAGiS] around the world by searching on Facebook, where there are now many groups.

If you have information about a project that you'd like to share, send us the details via the Contact page or add a Comment.

New-look structure for MAGiS Australia

MAGiS, the Ignatian young adult ministry, has renewed its goals for a strong young adult ministry with the appointment of a more youthful board, greater coordination and support and increased activity with young adults. MAGiS Australia's new Board The outlining of the new MAGiS structure follows the release of a comprehensive review of the World Youth Day program, MAGiS08, which found that the event had a strong impact on young adults' spiritual formation.

The newly-appointed board will be chaired by young adult and former Loreto Mandeville Hall student Prue Gilbert. Two other young adults will also sit on the board: Rachel McLoughlin of CLC Adelaide and James O'Brien of MAGiS Sydney. 'Not only did we want a younger chair, we wanted younger members on the board as well', said Fr Richard Leonard SJ, Delegate for Mission Formation.

MAGiS is the first-ever jointly owned and governed work of the five Australian Ignatian families: Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Loreto Sisters), Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ), Sisters of Charity (RSC), Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ) and Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Representatives from the five Ignatian Congregations include Diana Hayes RSCJ, Maureen Burke IBVM, Maureen Merlo FCJ, Anne Taylor RSC and Richard Leonard SJ.

At a function held to launch MAGiS into 2010, Richard said it was important that the ministry have 'a shared vision, a unified purpose and a structured organisation'.

MAGiS will start advertising shortly for a national coordinator as well as four part-time state coordinators. 'We want a sophisticated structure to do the job as well as we can', said Richard.

Reflecting on her own experience as a MAGiS member, young adult and new board member Emma Easton said the experience had enabled her to 'grow and to teach people about my passion, which is learning about the Catholic faith through liturgy'.

Seeing the diversity of nationalities at the MAGiS08 gathering, said Emma, 'was when the meaning of the universal church hit me.'

Australian Provincial Fr Steve Curtin SJ said that MAGiS08 was the beginning of a significant outreach to help young adults deepen their faith. 'We know that young people have enormous potential and it's a great privilege to work with them.'

Fr Curtin thanked the outgoing National Director of MAGiS, Fr Edward Dooley SJ, and the Ignatian schools for their ongoing support of the program. He also reinforced the importance of the role played by each of the five Ignatian congregations in the MAGiS partnership.

MAGiS 2010

In the closing days of the MAGiS’09 Africa program, the Hungarian delegation announced their plans for an international MAGiS project in their country, in 2010. They have since shared news of the dates and venue!

Main Venue: Miskolc, Hungary

Experiment locations: Miskolc, Nyíregyháza, Budapest

Date: 2010. July 27. – 2010. August 8.

Arrival: July 27.

First gathering date: July 28-31.

Celebration of the Feat of St. Ignatius … July 31 (with the Jesuit community in Miskolc)

Experiments: August 1 – August 6.

Final Gathering date: August 6-8.

Our Hungarian friends will soon be setting up a website. In the meantime, join the ['magis] 2010, Hungary, Miskol face book group for updates!