The Art of Accompaniment Book | Page 108

98 The Art of Accompaniment by name, sharing the kerygma, and accompanying them on a jour- ney of lifelong missionary discipleship in a spiritual family (Synod Intervention at the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Auditor Jonathan Lewis). Young people need the support of clergy and lay people who affirm, “We want to walk with you, ‘hearing [your] expectations, even those that are unmet, and [your] hopes, even those that are paltry.’” (Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, 5) Rather than be unwilling to answer the enthusiasm of the young or ex- hausted by the challenges that a new generation raises, Catholic institutions and networks can be revitalized by their energy, joy, and hope. Young peo- ple can become protagonists both in the creation of their own opportunities of community and formation, and in the renewal of the entire universal Church, as Pope Francis affirms: “Dear young people, my joyful hope is to see you keep running the race before you, outstripping all those who are slow or fearful. Keep running, “attracted by the face of Christ, whom we love so much, whom we adore in the Holy Eucharist and acknowledge in the flesh of our suffering brothers and sisters. May the Holy Spirit urge you on as you run this race. The Church needs your momentum, your intuitions, your faith. We need them! And when you arrive where we have not yet reached, have the patience to wait for us” (Christus Vivit, 299). Administrative Distractions Catholic institutions can become cluttered with excessive administra- tive work which distracts from service of the people of God. Many Fathers pointed out that the burden of administrative duties absorbs the energy of many pastors in an excessive and sometimes suffocating way; this is one of the reasons why it can be difficult to encounter and accompany the young. To highlight the priority of pastoral and spiritual duties, the Synod Fathers insist on the need to rethink the concrete ways in which the ministry is exercised. (Final Document of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment, 17) Leaders of Catholic institutions must discern what tasks are distracting from the overall mission of spiritual accompaniment and eliminate those