20 The Art of Accompaniment
Formation for Evangelization
True accompaniment strengthens a bond with the Church. This bond both
allows the person accompanied to identify more intimately with the com-
munity of faith, but also inspires them to share personally in the mission
of the Church. After participating in fruitful accompaniment, the per-
son accompanied is properly formed to carry out their baptismal mission of
evangelization.
Reading the Signs of the Times
The dimensions and objectives of accompaniment encourage the men-
tor and the one accompanied towards growth in holiness. Accompaniment
is a relationship that allows participation in the relational nature of God,
who is the fullness of love and justice. However, cultural, ecclesial, and
sociological factors sometimes hinder a culture of healing and loving re-
lationships. An assessment of our current social and ecclesial environment
reveals possible impediments to fruitful spiritual accompaniment. Aware-
ness of these impediments is important for those who seek to carry out the
apostolate of spiritual accompaniment.
The Multitude of Spiritual and Religious Choices
The recent Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discern-
ment discussed the presence of pluralism in the lives of young people. Tech-
nology, education, and the advance of social media allow access to many
decisions and new information. The multitude of choices that a person faces
in contemporary life because of these advances - who to date, where to
worship, what kind of job to have, and where in the world to live, to name
a few examples - can be intimidating. In prioritizing spiritual growth, the
number of decisions about doctrine and faith can complicate the lives of
young people and adults, making their choice of religion and spirituality
one choice among many others.
Problem of Isolation
Another impediment to authentic spiritual accompaniment is isolation.
Isolation deprives a person of a communal or individual encounter. For
many, especially young people who espouse a “spiritual, not religious” mode