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Delegate of the Jesuits of Europe for the Ecological Transition, Priest and Project Manager at the Châtelard Spiritual Eco-Center in Lyon, he is Co-Author with Cécile Renouard of the Ecological Transition Campus of the Book “Reopen the Horizon – Manifesto of committed hope in the face of collapses”, Editions Emmanuel, 2023. Invited by the General, Agricultural and Forestry High School Le Nivot, France, overview in his company, with free and direct words. |
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1. What is the Ecological Transition Campus on which you lived for two years?
“It is an Eco-Site and an Eco-Campus that operates as an Eco-Network. It develops a Pedagogy linking the Head, the Body and the Heart to explore questions of Ecological and Social Transition by welcoming Researchers and Students, particularly from Major Schools. It is located in Forges, in Seine-et-Marne, between Ile-de-France and Burgundy, in a property lent by the Nuns of the Assumption, a Congregation to which Cécile Renouard belongs, who is one of the Pioneers to the original of the Campus. Finally, it is a University and Secular Campus which came to fruition in two years. On site, everyone’s beliefs are experienced in the Private Sphere.
2. This Eco-Campus has been operating for 5 years, what is your Assessment?
What has clearly stood out since the opening in 2018 is the importance of experience in actually trying to lead a sober and happy life, both with hands in the Vegetable Garden and during times of Indoor Weather and Reflection. There is a Great Expectation about this and the good discernment that took place at the beginning is now bearing fruit that exceeds expectations. For example, one year after the opening of this Eco – Campus, Frédérique Vidal, Minister of Higher Education and Research at the time, commissioned the collective of Researchers to write a White Paper intended to become the Common basis for Licenses in Ecological Transition.
3. Why are the Jesuits involved in this area of Ecological Transition?
Looking at the situation in the World, following the Pope’s Text “Laudato si” and the Orientations defined by the Society, we wanted to move towards places where we can work with others to safeguard the Common Home, in combining Experience and Education on relevant grounds.
4. What has this experience changed concretely in your way of life?
I discovered the flavor of Vegetarian Cuisine! I’m not 100% Vegan but we can eat Good, Healthy and varied this way. And we had a Cook who made and taught how to make Wonderful Meals! The other deep treasure is that the Transition Campus remains my Ecological Hive with contacts, Great Friendships and an Ecosystem. It is a very precious heart.
“This Ecological and Social Crisis is putting many people in the West in an Existential Crisis.”
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5. In the Book “Reopen the Horizon” you believe that Today is the Right Time to Act, Why? We all feel, following the various events experienced directly in our Daily lives in recent times – Fires, Storms, Shortage of Water Resources, Frequency of Climatic Events, etc. – that now is the Time to Act to Change this State of Affairs before the consequences become too serious. This is precisely what Pope Francis emphasizes in Laudate deum – the continuation of Laudato si – and we can act! From a Christian point of view, we are living in a Special Moment. This Ecological and Social Crisis is putting many people in the West into an Existential Crisis. for whom the Spiritual Dimension of existence had disappeared in the Ambient Materialism. Life was going pretty well for some and this new situation raises questions about the meaning of their passage on this Earth. The Good News in a Christian Reading of Events is that the Spirit works in Hearts in a much broader way than just Christian Circles. Two questions then arise: how do we get started and how do we reach people on these paths? 6. The Church is also experiencing a situation of Transition, how are you experiencing this Evolution? We are clearly in a change of era, as if we were moving from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. In other words, we have to express the Treasure of the Church in new ways, to rediscover it, to offer it differently.
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“Do we know where we are going? For the most part no, but we have to move forward together” underlines Xavier de Bénazé, sj
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7. We have been talking about a Vocation Crisis for 50 years, what does this inspire you today at this moment in History? In fact, the Crisis is lasting and the Catholic collapse is a reality in the West. In relation to the number of Practitioners and Christians, the low percentage of Vocations is quite consistent with these figures. To be obsessed with the number of Priests and Religious is to fight the wrong battle. Yes, we need Vocations, but they are born especially from committed Christians. Of course, it is important to us to have Vocations, this is linked to our way of living the Church, that is to say of Being Missionaries to the people around us. Vocations are firstly linked to this. 8. You are in contact with Young People and Young Adults, what do you want to tell them and what do you expect from them about the Ecological Transition? I do not first expect something from young people but from people in responsibility so that they work to change the Economic System of Production. We are experiencing the Crisis today and it is not when young people are in charge that we will have to act, it is now! Naturally, I have a lot of Hope in young people but above all I expect the Generation in Power to allow young people to invent a future which will not consist of managing a Lack of Resources. As for the young people, I am waiting that they commit without delay and that they are ready to practice a simplicity of life and a way of being in relationship to embody this World to be built. In the Church, I expect young people to structure their words and organize themselves to participate in the Synodal Path, that is to say, to walk together. In our Aging Society there is a Fascination with youth. As soon as some of them speak out it can quickly become Gospel. Let us know how to keep measure and help them to structure themselves to speak out. They will be listened to much more this way. And they already have the tools in hand: for example, with the Ecological Awakening Movement, Advocacy for the Forest, Action Struggle and Contemplation, the Movement of Scouts and Guides of France welcoming the diversity of Environments and so many other Initiatives! I have a lot of hope in this accompanied word. » |
“I have a lot of hope in young people but above all I expect the Generation in Power to allow young people to invent a future which will not consist of managing a Lack of Resources.”
Collected by Michel Tanguy
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Discover your 2022 life journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng_o0JVV9x8 Eco-Spi advice from Xavier de Bénazé on France 2 Day of the Lord |
