The call to accompany is timeless. With the Church seeking ways to respond to the increasing challenges of today, a focus on genuine accompaniment is especially timely. Pope Francis envisages everyone being initiated into this ‘art of accompaniment’.
Our communities can extend God’s love to all and walk shoulder-to-shoulder with each other. More than living in solidarity, this is about enabling the flourishing of each person’s human dignity, where they can be fully themselves, belong and be deeply listened to.
We need a Church capable of walking at people's side... a church which accompanies them on their journey.
Pope Francis
Responding to the call of Pope Francis from the Synod of Youth for the Church to accompany young people, Million Minutes have launched The Adventurous Accompaniment Project. This has now developed into a wider collaboration, supporting accompaniment throughout the Church.
Adventurous Accompaniment seeks to encourage, develop and promote a culture of accompaniment within Catholic communities in England and Wales.
Million Minutes, supported by The Benedictines, The Jesuits in Britain, and Synod Fruits, alongside friends, including David Wells, Amy Cameron, Phil Callaghan, and Aseel Gilbert, have been exploring how the Church might be initiated into the ‘art of accompaniment’. Over two years, through professional research and practical workshops, we have involved nearly 300 people, helping to develop our learning in accompaniment. It has helped us to distill five guiding principles, which are at the core of this project.