Jesuits offer young people a contact point in the city of Innsbruck
Vienna/Innsbruck, January 9th, 2023 (KAP) The Jesuits in Innsbruck offer a contact point with their “Future Workshop” for young people who are looking for orientation and the right path in life given the abundance of opportunities. In the latest episode of the “Orden on Air” podcast series, its director, P. Felix Schaich SJ, spoke of a “resonance room where young people can consciously take a break from their everyday lives in order to realign themselves”. Interested parties are offered a wide range of retreats and silent events, the program ranges from classic Ignatian individual retreats to mountain weekends to spiritually oriented group trips – e.g. to Taizé – or event visits.
The team of the Zukunftswerkstatt Innsbruck, formed by religious men and women, is based in the Jesuit College at Sillgasse 6, and also operates a website (www.zukunftswerkstatt-innsbruck.org). The demand is great, P. Schaich reported. Many offers – such as “Mountain New Year’s Eve 2022/23”, which instructs self-reflection – are fully booked. “80 percent of the guests come by word of mouth, so there’s no need for a lot of advertising,” says the Jesuit. Together with Sr. Nathanja Maria, Sister of Mercy from Zams, he takes care of the mental and spiritual well-being of the guests.
Freedom can also become a burden
“It’s not easy to be a young adult today, with this freedom and abundance of opportunities, which are not always positive,” P. Schaich pointed out in the podcast, because: “People in their early 20s have their whole life open to them , but they don’t know what to choose, or are afraid of making the wrong decision or that of their parents, of not doing justice to their environment.” Sr. Nathanja Maria also sees the core problem here: “You can’t constantly keep all doors open but needs the courage to jump in and make a decision.”
For the spiritual support of the young people, the team also uses the “wonderful mountain landscape right in front of our doorstep”, which, in the words of P. Schaich, vividly shows the ups and downs of life. Sometimes he gives the guests a thought to take with them on their hikes, for example: Where is there too much or too little in your life? In the evening after the hike, we will talk about it.
“Mountain New Year’s Eve” with key questions
The realignment on New Year’s Eve, led by the future workshop team, prompted questions to look back at the past year: “Which encounters have enriched me? Where did I feel fulfilled? Where did I feel a freedom, a vitality?” If you keep such things in mind, it will be easier for you to do what you want for the year 2023.
Sr. Nathanja added that the common and structured everyday life is also important. The day begins with a joint prayer before breakfast, “in the evening we meet again for dinner and night prayer.” The team stays in contact with many participants. “Meanwhile we are a real future workshop family,” said the nun happily. It’s nice to see how some people are doing.
In March 2022, the Austrian religious orders launched a new media channel with the podcast “Orden on air”. The podcast brings religious in front of the curtain or in front of the microphone. The aim is to present interesting personalities and special talents as well as to show the commitment of religious in the relevant areas of life. The podcast can be heard on all major audio platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, Amazon Music, Deezer, iHeart, JioSaavn, Listen Notes, Player FM, Podcast Addict, Podchaser and RadioPublic.