Gratuitousness is a virtue that is perhaps more valued today than ever before. At the Jesuit Refugee Service, we are blessed with many people who live out this virtue — and it is what brought them to us. We are speaking about our volunteers. They are the second lung of our mission: the warmth, closeness, and every technical support they share with our beneficiaries fills the sails of our mission with wind. We are in this mission together.

At the beginning of this September, we decided to reward them with a trip to Split. To do something free of charge for them. It was a weekend of rest and connection, in freedom and simplicity. Many of us hadn’t known each other deeply until this moment; some met for the first time there — and it was an opportunity for spontaneous and closer bonding. We stayed at the Jesuit Residence in Split, and this closeness to the Jesuits was especially important to us due to the Jesuit foundation of our mission.

We can truly say that during those three days, we were able to enjoy, without worry, the beauty offered by Croatia’s second-largest city. In addition to swimming and relaxing on the beaches in the last breaths of summer, we also had an organized tour of the old city center, guided by professional tourist guide Anita Plazibat. There, a different Split revealed itself to us — one of layered and long history: Roman, pre-Christian, Christian, and Croatian.

Opportunities like these — to offer something freely to our volunteers — mean a lot to us. Not only to show them how much we appreciate and admire their selfless contribution, but also because they give us a chance to peacefully spend time together, far from any tasks or obligations, in complete gratuitousness. Strengthened by this experience, we continue our shared service to those on the journey of finding a new home, a new community, and new strength for life. How? By living and spreading the Gospel spirit of gratuitousness.