(ANS - Santiago de Compostela) - The fourth seminar on spiritual accompaniment from a Salesian perspective took place from 15 to 17 November in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The seminar was organized by the Department for Youth Ministry. There were twenty participants, including Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians involved in the formation of spiritual directors.

This seminar provided the participants with a space for reflection and debate on various challenges and proposals for the formation of Salesian Spiritual Directors. They looked first at the challenges of postmodernism and post- Christianity, with the help of a written paper by Fr Jack Finnegan.  They went on then to consider issues arising from a multi-religious and multi-cultural context, presented in an address given by Fr Joe Mannath. Finally, there was a contribution from Fr Adrián López, SJ, who spoke on topics relating to religious life as encountered by Salesian Spiritual Directors.

"Among Salesians, accompaniment is much appreciated and recommended but hard to implement in practice,” said Fr Miguel Ángel García of the Department for Youth Ministry. “This series of seminars has demonstrated the perennial relevance of spiritual accompaniment and its importance in the present context, as one of the principal elements of pastoral ministry."

In their sharing, the participants agreed on the value of spiritual accompaniment.  It presupposes that people who seek spiritual accompaniment are in search of a personal sense of belief. They are looking for truth, clarity and authenticity, but above all they are searching for Jesus. They want a faith capable of giving overall responses to life and at the same time shedding light on particular aspects of their lives, such as study, work, love and sexuality.

"We realize more and more the importance of and the need for formation of consecrated persons and of the laity. On the other hand, if we are to invest pastorally in this issue, it will involve a whole series of consequences in terms of priorities, age and the pace of life, and balance with other urgent needs," concluded Fr García.

The papers given by the various experts and the conclusions of these four seminars will be published in 2014 to ensure that they reach many other people, especially Salesian vocation directors and educators in the faith.

Published 19/11/2013