As we prepare for the new school year I encourage everyone to consider the ministry to which we are called, namely that of the education of young people in the fullness of Catholic Education. This is done a primary way through teaching, especially through classroom teaching. However, in addition to that essential work there is also the importance of one on one ministry to young people. While it has been called many things – mentoring, discipleship, etc. our late Holy Father Pope Francis called it the Art of Accompaniment as he described in Evangelium Gadium:
“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 (cf. Ex 3:5). The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.” (EG 169)
Accompaniment requires an investment of time in young people as well as patience due to their youthfulness. Sometimes we as adults can get frustrated with the immaturity of youth and forget how we once were. We are invited to humble ourselves before them and seek to help them to grow in a faithfulness over time and in a gradual way as Pope Francis notes:
“Someone who accompanies others has to realize that each person’s situation before God and their life in grace are mysteries which no one can fully know from without. The Gospel tells us to correct others and to help them to grow on the basis of a recognition of the objective evil of their actions, but without making judgments about their responsibility and guilt.” (EG 172)
May the Lord continue to bless our mission for his Kingdom.
Chaplain