Jesuits quitting Liege after 450 years. Ecological transition more important to them than Christ
The Jesuits in Liège: Departure and Thanksgiving
Present in Liège since the time of Saint Ignatius, the Jesuits will bid farewell to the "Fiery City" on June 13th. A look back at the history and unique influence of the Jesuit community in Liège.
The first Jesuits arrived in Liège a few decades after the founding of the Society of Jesus (1540). Peter Canisius, a Dutch religious and one of the first members of the Society of Jesus, stayed there for a time. In Liège, the Jesuits founded two colleges during the 16th century: the Collège en Isle (or Walloon Jesuit College) and the English College. In 1828, a few years after the restoration of the Society, the Collège Saint-Servais was founded clandestinely by a diocesan priest. Ten years later, upon becoming a Jesuit, this priest entrusted the Collège Saint-Servais to the Society of Jesus. The institution quickly moved to Rue Saint-Gilles and flourished there.
Other institutions in Liège were founded by the Society of Jesus. For example, the Collège Saint-Louis (named after Saint Aloysius Gonzaga) was founded by the Jesuits on the other side of the Meuse River at the end of the 19th century, before being entrusted to the Diocese of Liège in 1949. It was in the Saint-Louis building that the Jesuits founded, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Institut Gramme, a school of industrial engineering, which is still in operation and is now part of HELMo (Haute École Libre Mosane).
In recent years, the Jesuit educational tradition has permeated the city through four types of apostolates:
An educational mission, both within the Saint-Benoît-Saint-Servais School Center and HELMo. The result of a 1992 merger between the Collège Saint-Servais and the Paix-Notre-Dame Abbey School, the Jesuit Saint-Benoît-Saint-Servais school group educates more than 2,000 students from age two and a half to eighteen.
A spiritual mission through the Saint-Joseph Chapel, which can accommodate more than 50 people. For several years, the Croatian community of Liège has celebrated Sunday Mass there. Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the Eucharist is celebrated by members of the community; about a dozen faithful.
A social commitment. Over the years, and in response to calls, the Jesuits of Liège have dedicated themselves to serving the poorest members of society. The group "Les Catacombes" (The Catacombs) takes its name from the cellar where, originally, former prisoners who were in contact with a member of the community would meet. The organization continues its activities discreetly; every first Sunday of the month, they gather for Mass at 92 rue Saint-Gilles, where the community resides. "Les Sentinelles de la Nuit" (The Sentinels of the Night) is an association supported by the community and composed of volunteers. In pairs, they circulate through the city in the evenings, providing blankets and food to those sleeping rough.
Espace Loyola (Loyola Space). With its flexible layout, Espace Loyola has allowed several associations to hold regular meetings. These include: the Christian Life Communities (CLC) for monthly meetings or larger assemblies; Les Catacombes; the Eucharistic Youth Movement; ATD Fourth World; three Christian student groups; and even a theater group.
At the end of the 2025–2026 school year, the Jesuit community in Liège, on Rue Saint-Gilles, will close its doors, bringing to a close more than four and a half centuries of history, education, pastoral care, and social commitment in service to the Church and the Liège community. Without a resident Jesuit, the Jesuit educational tradition will nevertheless continue to permeate the city through the Saint-Benoît-Saint-Servais Jesuit school group, which educates more than 2,000 students from age two and a half to eighteen, within the network of the Coordination of Jesuit Colleges (Cocéjé).
On June 13, 2026, students, alumni, faculty members, regulars at the Loyola space, and parishioners of the Saint-Joseph chapel will gather to thank the Jesuit community and give thanks for their decades of service. A thanksgiving mass will be held at 6 p.m. in the Saint-Christophe church in Liège. It will be followed by an academic session on the Jesuits' involvement in education in Liège throughout the centuries, and a social gathering at the Collège Saint-Benoît-Saint-Servais.
More detail about the departing community
In the heart of the "Fiery City" – an expression revived by Henry Carton de Wiart's book in 1905 – the Jesuits of Liège respond to new calls. Fr. André Moreau, SJ, Superior, presents this community.
Our community is composed of nine Jesuits, seven of whom reside in the city center. The other two live in retirement homes and provide valuable service there.
The Jesuits have been present in Liège since the time of Saint Ignatius of Loyola; Pierre Canisius resided there for a time, and a college was operating in 1582. In 1616, exiled English Jesuits founded the "College of the English" there. Saint Servatius, the first bishop of the Principality of Liège, was chosen as the patron saint of a college, which the Jesuits took over in 1838. In 1892, the Collège Saint-Louis was established, with a church richly adorned with frescoes of Jesuit saints.
The education of young people has been and remains the cornerstone of our presence in Liège. In the 20th century, Liège experienced significant industrial development. The Jesuits, keen to be present in this community, founded the Gramme Institute – now HELMo Gramme – in 1906 for the training of technical engineers. At the secondary level, several Jesuits work in collaboration with the Saint-Benoît-Saint-Servais School Center, a joint project with the Benedictine Abbey of Paix Notre-Dame. A member of the community works part-time at the Matteo Ricci College, opened in 2018 in Anderlecht (Brussels), which has 750 students, the majority of whom are Muslim.
Social commitment
Over the years, and in response to appeals, the Liège Jesuits have dedicated themselves to serving the poorest members of society. The "Catacombs" group takes its name from the cellar where, initially, former prisoners who were in contact with a member of the community would gather. The work continues its activities discreetly. Every first Sunday of the month, they gather for Mass at 92 rue Saint-Gilles, where the community resides.
"The Sentinels of the Night" is an association supported by the community and composed of volunteers. In pairs, they circulate through the city in the evenings, providing blankets and food to those sleeping rough.
A member of the community is involved with the ATD Fourth World movement and SAPPEL, a Christian association that supports the poorest families. He also collaborates with the diocesan chaplaincy for refugees detained at the closed center in Liège.
Welcoming the Ignatian Family
At the same address, but accessible through a separate entrance, "Espace Loyola" offers space for various activities. It is open to all who request it.
On the ground floor, two large rooms can be combined to create a spacious area accommodating up to 100 people. Various groups gather here: Christian students, college alumni, youth groups, etc. In the basement, two smaller, more comfortable rooms are particularly well-suited for engaging discussions; a kitchen allows for a full day of spiritual or cultural exploration.
The primary goal is to promote the Ignatian family in Liège. Local communities of the Christian Life Community (CLC) and groups from the Eucharistic Youth Movement (MEJ) regularly meet here. The director of Espace Loyola organizes twice-yearly meetings to present Ignatian spirituality and encourage the emergence of new CLC communities that will help those who wish to develop their personal and communal spiritual discernment. Several Jesuits from Liège serve as CLC leaders or mentors.
The pastoral service
Espace Loyola also includes the Saint Joseph Chapel, which can accommodate more than 50 people. For several years, the Croatian community of Liège celebrated Sunday Mass there. Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the Eucharist is celebrated by members of the community; about a dozen faithful participate.
The ecological transition
One of us is participating in our community's ecological transition with a vegetable garden that allows us to enjoy nettle soup, elderflower jam, green beans, tomatoes, and other good fruits of the earth (see Jesuit Echoes No. 2020-4, pp. 4-5).
.jpeg)
Comments