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St. Mary's Seminary & University

Vocational Synthesis: Accompaniment

Accompaniment Is the Foundation
accompaniment: a spiritual discipline

In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis challenges the entire Church to learn again the importance of “walking with” each other:

The Church will have to initiate everyone—priests, religious and laity—into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other. (§ 169)

Christ with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Rembrandt (c. 1655)
Christ with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Rembrandt (c. 1655)

The “art of accompaniment” is the hallmark of the pastor-supervisor in the Vocational Synthesis stage. The practice of accompaniment is spiritual practice and pastoral skill. It is grounded in the pastor-supervisors’ experience of being accompanied by Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. This experience has been fostered by spiritual directors and mentors over the years. When a pastor is invited to supervise a deacon during the Vocational Synthesis stage, he is being asked by Christ and the Church to accompany these men through the power of the Holy Spirit. This requires prayer and discernment to discover how the Lord wants the pastor to be with the deacon. It also requires a set of skills that include the ability to listen, ask questions, encourage, challenge, support, and offer insight when needed

Forming Supervisors for Vocational Synthesis offers pastors an opportunity to understand the need for and power of accompaniment in the formation of transitional deacons. They will also be given the support needed to develop, practice, and grow the skills a pastor-supervisor needs to accompany and form transitional deacons in their new ministry.