Anita delivered a day of reflection entitled Accompaniment within Catechesis and Children's Liturgy, for catechists and children's liturgists across the South Buckinghamshire Pastoral Area. The group reflected on sections of Pope Francis' letter on the Institution of the Ministry of Catechist and how accompaniment is cultivated through the wide range of formation and sacramental preparation activities being delivered throughout the pastoral area. The group were invited to recall and share their motivations behind wanting to be a catechist, and consider 'who' is being accompanied within and beyond moments of formation and sacramental preparation.

By reflecting together on both highlights and challenges of formation and sacramental preparation, the group were offered words of encouragement taken from Pope Francis to catechists: to live lives centred in Christ, the source of love, and with that be 'happy and full of joy always and despite everything' (Pope Francis, To Participants in the Third International Congress of Catechists, September 2022).

To find and focus on joy within any catechetical programme, whatever the attendance, number of volunteers or retention rate may be, is a key part of this important ministry.

We look forward to hearing more about their journey and the joy they find in accompanying young people in their parishes and we wish them every success along the way.