Collaboration Between the Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary to Build a Culture of Accompaniment
Pope Francis calls us in the Jubilee Year to be signs of hope for peace, for life, for prisoners, for the sick, for the young, for migrants, for the elderly, and for the poor (cf. Spes Non Confundit 8-15). That hope comes through drawing close to them and accompanying them so as to overcome exclusion, indifference and individualism, knowing that we all “aspire to a happiness that is definitively found in the one thing that can bring us fulfillment, which is love” (Spes Non Confundit 21). What is envisioned for this pilgrimage of hope is a culture of accompaniment.
“The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5)” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel 169). Inspired by this exhortation, the Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary has dedicated considerable resources to helping individuals, parishes, organizations, and dioceses to build a culture of accompaniment. Evangelization and catechesis are both dependent on effective accompaniment. The Church considers accompaniment to be foundational for the reception of the Gospel, for genuine spiritual encounter, for growth in holiness, and for the development of the Christian community (cf. The Joy of the Gospel 169-173), in other words for providing a sign of hope.
After decades of collaboration with Saint Vincent Seminary for the formation of many priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, the Diocese of Pittsburgh will begin a collaboration with the Seminary’s Institute for Ministry Formation during the Jubilee Year 2025 for the formation of priests and laity in the art of accompaniment. Starting with the pastoral staff in January 2025, the IMF will accompany the Diocese of Pittsburgh by offering workshops, courses and individual accompaniment for anyone in the diocese, including pastoral leaders and lay ministers and extending to “every mom and dad,… daughter and son, woman and man, deacon and priest” who seeks to learn the art of accompaniment (The Church Forward 54). This will help us become “a harmonious chorus of clergy and the faithful, working together to make Christ known, loved and served in every time and space” (The Church Forward 54). Fostering this vital work as good neighbors is a sign of hope and an expression of the Church Alive!
The Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent Seminary created a six-step plan to help the Diocese of Pittsburgh build a culture of accompaniment over the next year.
This plan aims to weave accompaniment into the very fabric of the diocese – from diocesan and parish leadership teams to individual parishioners. As the 2020 Vatican Directory on Catechesis points out, accompaniment is key for effective evangelization and catechesis.
Steps 1-4:
To begin the six-part plan, the IMF is excited to offer four 1.5-hour workshops tailored to different groups within the diocese. Led by Fr. Boniface, Dr. Helene Paharik, and Kristin Molitor, these workshops will provide motivation, foundational principles, and initial formation in accompaniment.
Feb 18: Curia Meeting – Calihan, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Feb 26: Diocesan Staff – Great Hall, 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Mar 13: Lay Ecclesial Ministers – Zoom, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Mar 18: Lay of the Diocese – Zoom, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Click here to join our Mighty Networks Space dedicated to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In this space, you can access formation Zoom links, materials, and connect with others growing in the art of accompaniment in the Diocese of Pittsburgh!
Step 5:
Step five will be a dynamic, all-day diocesan-wide workshop held in Pittsburgh. This 6-hour intensive will delve deeper into the principles and skills of accompaniment, featuring experiential learning, small group discussions, and opportunities for ongoing support and collaboration among parishes
Apr 12: All Participants – Great Hall, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Click here to register for April 12th.
Step 6:
For those seeking to deepen their skills in accompaniment, the IMF offers an advanced formation opportunity through the 5-day SD1: Art of Accompaniment (2-credit) course, held in person at St. Vincent Seminary. In this course, students are formed with deployable skills in accompaniment using the Spiritual Inventory developed by Fr. Boniface.
SD1: The Art of Accompaniment – Latrobe (scheduled for May 19-23, 2025)