Berkley Center

Background: As part of the Education and Social Justice Project, in May 2016 undergraduate student Sarah Jannarone interviewed Petra Zaviršek, an undergraduate student at the University of Maribor and a resident of the Jesuit College Magis. In this interview, Zaviršek discusses the community at Jesuit College Magis and her experience as a young Catholic living in a secular society.

So, let’s begin by you telling me a bit about yourself. Such as what you are studying, your year in school, and anything else you want to share?

I’m Petra Zaviršek. I’m from a village next to Grosuplja, which is a small town to the southeast of Ljubljana. I’m in my first year of studying to become a mechanical engineer. I used to study conservation and restoration of fine arts in Ljubljana, but now I live in Maribor at the Jesuit College Magis.

Where did you live when you were in Ljubljana?

At home—I used to commute to university.

How did you hear about Magis?

From a Jesuit in Ljubljana who runs a monthly club for married couples. He told my mother because he found out that I was coming to Maribor.

So, who chose Magis? Was it you or your parents?

I chose it, though I wouldn’t have known about it if my mother wouldn’t have told me about it. She was all for me going there because she wanted me to be in a Catholic student community. I was a little reluctant at first, but now I really like it because it is not Ortho-Catholic. It is very relaxed. I think it is less strict than the other Catholic student dorms in Maribor.

In what way?

Well, in the girls' dormitory, boys can’t go in their rooms at all, even during the day. It’s much different than Magis, which is co-ed.

Is the community aspect more present at Magis than the academic side?

I don’t think so. I think it’s both. It just has to be promoted correctly.

What do you think is the mission of Magis?

I suppose it’s that students live in a community. There are Catholic student homes, but because Magis is so much smaller you work more on community, as well as education. The mission is that we learn something outside of our university studies. For instance, we had lectures where we talked about entrepreneurship. We also have to take care of the house; we cook and clean ourselves. We learn about a lot of things that will help us in the future. I think the purpose is to prepare us for the future, to fulfill our potential. We have academic tutors who help us with that.

Tell me about your academic tutor.

He’s a doctor of chemistry, and he was a professor at Oxford University.

Do you pay for that in your expenses at Magis?

The tutors aren’t paid; they just want to do it.

How often do you meet?

We meet once a month, but we stay in touch through e-mail because he travels a lot.

Are you involved with the group Sinaj?

Yes, a little bit. I am not very involved, but I do participate in the choir and I go to the weekly student Mass offered by Sinaj. After Mass we usually have conversations, such as discussions about chastity. We are able to talk about things like that, and just hang out. Once a month we talk with people that have done missions abroad through Pota, a Jesuit organization [that provides international volunteer opportunities for Slovenian young people]. I do not participate every week because I have to study.

And are there organizations like Sinaj and Magis where you’re from?

No, we used to have a youth group in Grosuplja. But I never participated in that group because the people in the group did not really discuss mature subject matter. Sinaj is not in Ljubljana because the city is too big. I don’t think it would function in Ljubljana.

Why not?

There are too many students here. The University of Ljubljana is much bigger than the University of Maribor. It could also be that there isn’t a leader here for this type of organization.

How is being Catholic viewed in Slovenia?

Well, currently the left-wing party—which is not exactly communist but sort-of communist—are very liberal. They act like being Catholic means that you’re really stupid and conservative. For instance, we had a referendum about gay couples being able to adopt children, which is a topic where the left-wing party and the conservative party do not agree. Before the referendum, the divide between Catholicism and liberalism became even bigger. The left-wing party thinks that everyone who is Catholic is uneducated. It didn’t help that during debates on TV, Catholic people seemed like people who can’t think; they looked uneducated. Everyone was arguing.

I think in Slovenia, it is really divided because of World War II. The conservatives—the Catholics—sided with the Germans because they didn’t want communism to come to the country. And the liberal party sided with the Allies. Villages ended up killing each other because they were so divided. This division is still prominent in Slovenia, and why Catholics are perceived negatively.

Have you felt this division in your daily life?

Yes, I have. I used to work in art, where most people are liberal. It is hard to be Catholic in that world. I used to work in a conservation workshop in the National Library, and one of my colleagues was pretty outspoken about how much he hated everything Catholic. I don’t need them to believe in God, but I would like them to accept that I believe in God.

How are organizations like Magis and Sinai important for Catholic students?

They are quite important because if you study something like medicine or psychology, you really experience the lack of acceptance for Catholicism. At Magis and Sinaj, the students see that it’s okay to be Catholic, even though they hear at university that they are stupid for believing. My friends Tadeja and Maja, who study medicine and psychology, are sad because their colleagues do not accept them for being Catholic. It’s easier for me in my field of study, but it is also important for me to go to these sort of groups because if I didn’t I would lose contact with my faith.

How is being a student an important time for the development of one’s faith?

I think it’s important because we learn so many new things. We can completely lose ourselves in student life. If you aren’t doing as well in school and if you don’t have faith, you can give up and just stop studying because you just can’t do it anymore. We are still growing up. It’s also easier to accept some things now, rather than later. We have a lot of questions now; later on in life we won’t have time to question ourselves.

If you could change one thing about Magis, what would you change?

It would help if there were more boys. We’ve talked a lot about why there are more girls than boys. It’s probably because we promote the community, but for instance, at the Jesuit Residence College in Budapest, they have many more boys because they promote the academic side of the colloquium. I guess that girls prefer the community aspect to the academic side.

A more selective application and acceptance process would also be good—some people don’t want to be in the community and are in their rooms a lot. I don’t mind that, but it isn’t good for the community.

What are the limitations of the model that Magis operates on?

Sometimes it’s difficult to participate in the community and in the events offered by Magis, and to also do well in school. Our weekly meetings are optional, but when you have exams on a Tuesday, it is difficult to attend the meeting on Monday night.

If the definition of social justice is making society a place where all different types of individuals are treated fairly and are valued, how do you think that Jesuit institutions in Maribor like Magis and Sinaj promote social justice in Slovenia?

By accepting everyone’s faith.

As in Jesuits accept everyone’s faith?

They accept everyone, even if they aren’t Catholic or if they don’t believe in God. I think they’re really starting to change the old Catholicism; it’s not so conservative anymore.

Why is that important?

The world is changing. Some older Catholic ideas were good, but because people are different, we have to go with the flow. However, we cannot lose our priorities. We still need to change some things about the Church.

What appealed to you about Magis?

That there is a community. I didn’t know anyone in Maribor before I came here, and I would just be alone in an apartment if not for Magis. I really like the community.

Do you do any other activities, or are you a part of other groups?

No, not in Maribor. I went to a group where you learn how to give speeches before. I only went once; it wasn’t really for me. I’m not really good at public speaking. It was my first meeting, and they told me to give a speech. That was my first and last meeting. I’m just not good at improvising speeches.