(ANS – Lisbon) – Between 25 and 29 June in Lisbon there was a Seminar on spiritual accompaniment, aimed at the coordinators of youth ministry and the  psychologists who are working in the Salesian houses in the Province of Portugal. It was led by Fr Miguel Angel García, from the Youth Ministry Department.

Those taking part came away convinced about the urgent  need to develop spiritual direction in the context of Salesian Youth Ministry, and to promote a better theoretical-practical understanding of the subject and to acquire the skills to be able to provide the young people with spiritual help.

Through various activities and group work some issues connected with spiritual accompaniment were examined: psychological and theological questions; biblical examples of spiritual accompaniment; the qualities needed by a spiritual guide who accompanies the young with a Salesian heart following Don Bosco’s example.

Using a knowledge of and examples from psychology, issues considered in particular included help and support for the young, the traditional interview techniques, spiritual development and vocational discernment.

At the end of the Seminar the Provincial of Portugal Fr Artur Pereira, said: “The current situation in the Province is a demanding challenge. We need to help the younger generations to have a deeper experience of God and of Jesus. We need evangelisers who are equipped with a new mentality, with different evangelising strategies and who know how to foster a style of life which enables  us to present an  alternative in the world of the young and society in general.”

Published 05/07/2012