The Society of Jesus has brought an end to nearly five centuries of continuous ministry in the Belgian city of Liège, marking another significant chapter in the ongoing decline of religious vocations across Western Europe.
A Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated on June 13 at Saint-Christophe Church in Liège, where local Catholics gathered to bid farewell to the Jesuit community that had served the city since 1569. According to LifeSiteNews, approximately 600 people attended the liturgy, including clergy, religious, educators, former students, and lay faithful.
The farewell Mass was led by Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville of Liège, who reflected on the significance of the Jesuits’ departure and the challenges facing religious life today.
“If the Jesuits are withdrawing from Liège because they are no longer numerous enough, is it because we have not prayed enough?” Bishop Delville asked during his homily, according to Tribune Chrétienne, as cited by LifeSiteNews.
The withdrawal comes as the Jesuit order continues restructuring communities throughout Western Europe due to declining membership and an aging population of priests and religious brothers. According to LifeSiteNews, similar closures have occurred elsewhere, including in Spain, where the Society recently closed its final religious community in the Diocese of Cartagena after more than 150 years of ministry.
Liège holds a special place in Jesuit history. The order established itself there in 1569, only a few decades after its founding by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Over the centuries, Jesuits became deeply involved in Catholic education, evangelization, sacramental ministry, and spiritual formation throughout the region.
Among the notable figures associated with the city’s early Jesuit history was St. Peter Canisius, one of the great leaders of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. According to LifeSiteNews, his efforts helped strengthen Catholic life in several parts of Europe during the turbulent religious conflicts of the sixteenth century.
While the Jesuits are leaving Liège, institutions founded by the order are expected to continue operating. Saint-Benoît Saint-Servais College, established by the Jesuits in 1838, will remain part of the region’s educational landscape.
The closure reflects broader demographic challenges confronting many religious communities across Europe. Numerous congregations have consolidated or withdrawn from long-standing ministries due to a shortage of new vocations and aging memberships.
Yet signs of spiritual renewal are also emerging.
According to figures reported by The Pillar and cited by LifeSiteNews, several European countries have seen notable increases in adult conversions and receptions into the Catholic Church. In the Netherlands, the number of adults entering the Church rose from 455 in 2023 to 630 in 2024, an increase of roughly 40 percent.
Belgium has also witnessed growth in adult Catholic initiations. According to statistics cited by LifeSiteNews, adult baptisms increased from 186 in 2014 to 362 in 2024. Belgian bishops have likewise reported a modest rise in Sunday Mass attendance, with participation increasing by approximately four percent.
The departure of the Jesuits from Liège therefore comes at a moment of contrast for the Church in Europe: traditional religious communities continue to shrink, while growing numbers of adults are seeking entry into the Catholic faith.
For the faithful of Liège, the farewell marks the end of a remarkable 456-year legacy of Jesuit ministry—one that survived wars, political upheavals, and dramatic cultural change, and whose influence on Catholic education and spiritual life will continue long after the order’s departure.
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