PROXIMITY
“WE NEED A CHURCH CAPABLE OF WALKING AT PEOPLE’S SIDE… A CHURCH WHICH ACCOMPANIES THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY.” - Pope Francis.
PROXIMITY is a process of learning, development and support in the art of accompaniment
ACCOMPANIMENT DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS
The call to accompany young people is timeless. But in a world which will be undeniably changed by COVID-19, and with a generation of young people facing all sorts of challenges of identity that previous generations might not have imagined, the need for genuine accompaniment is greater than ever. Our Catholic communities possess an incredible capacity to extend God’s love to young people and walk shoulder to shoulder with them.
Million Minutes is convening a process - called ‘Proximity’, with support from the Benedictines, the Jesuits in Britain, Synod Fruits and others. It will help us all to encourage and support a culture of of genuine accompaniment of our young people. As part of this project we’ve been researching how those working with young people understand accompaniment. We’ve already reflected on our learning with nearly 100 people.
We now wish to further test our understanding of some of the central aspects of accompaniment. The three development sessions are three opportunities to join the same workshop (they will all feature the same content and process). The sessions will assist us to generate ideas of how we can develop resources, training and pathways to equip others in the ‘art of accompaniment’.
The session will
- Bring you up to date with our developing insights into our understanding around accompaniment
- Generate concrete ideas and potential next steps of how we can develop resources, training and pathways to equip others working in the ‘art of accompaniment’
Who are the workshops for?
This session is for those who attended the workshop in February with David Wells and Susie Mullen. (If you did not attend and would like to take part in this event, please contact us first).
Register by clicking the images above
*Please note that the workshops will be recorded. We may anonymise and use the experience, examples and ideas shared to help develop our work in collaboration with other partners across the Church.
We are always looking for other people to join us on this journey as we seek to inspire, equip and support people in the ‘art of accompaniment’. If you want to know more please get in touch.
We are looking for partners:
we are delighted to work with:
- The Jesuits in Britain
- The English Benedictine Congregation
- Synod Fruits.
We seek to include anyone who wishes to join with us, with whatever capacity they have. We invite a conversation.
Contact Us
THE VISION
Proximity is a process to hear anew and explore the call from Pope Francis & the Synod for Youth:
To offer genuine time to accompany young people in the midst of their lives. We are called to come alongside them, in real proximity to them and, with a heart of mercy, to accept and love them with no expectation in return.
Through this we seek to incarnate the kerygma, echoing the proclamation of the Gospel to our young people, ‘Christus vivit!’, Christ is alive and loves you. Through this we show young people that the Church is for them and with them.
The reasons for developing this practice of accompaniment are twofold. Firstly, it is the basis needed to build relationships and offer young people community. Secondly, this type of accompaniment leads to discernment. With a listening heart we can help young people to discern their place in the world - their mission in life.
