Magis Ireland, the Jesuit outreach to young adults, will close next
year due to financial pressures, leading to the loss of six jobs.Following an evaluation of all the ministries of the Irish Jesuit Province, the Provincial, Fr Tom Layden SJ, said that "after much thought and consultation, I have decided to close Magis Ireland by June 2014”.
“In the light of the dedicated and imaginative work of those who work, and have worked at Magis [and Sli Eile], this has been an extremely difficult decision to make, but a necessary one,” he said.
The Director of Magis Ireland, Padraig Swan told The Irish Catholic the announcement was a “big surprise”.
“It presents a number of challenges that we will seek to address over the coming year, for example how does the Jesuit Province continue to find ways to offer Ignatian spirituality to young adults?
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“It is a sad time but a reality that the Irish Church has to face - not just the Jesuits - and it raises a general concern about how the Irish Church responds to a growing need for youth ministry,” he said. |
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Magis Ireland will continue to offer a full range of programmes this year, including the immersion programme for Rio in Dublin later this month.
The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir Mass will also continue through the parish.
Magis Ireland was established in the year 2000 under the name Sli Eile to offer Ignatian spirituality to young people in a practical and accessible way.