DIREZIONE GENERALE OPERE DON BOSCO
Via della Pisana, 1111 P. 18333 - 00163 ROMA
Department for Formation
Rome, 15 July 2011
“CRITERIA AND NORMS
FOR SALESIAN PERSONAL ACCOMPANIMENT”
Personal accompaniment is one of the fundamental means for ensuring the personalization of formation. In this regard our “Ratio” provides some essential indications (FSDB 258 - 267; 291 - 299). These are already being put into practice, but there are still some questions that are open and under discussion.
In recent years, especially listening to formation delegates, young confreres and formation personnel, and reflecting on current formation praxis in the Congregation, we have become aware of the need to offer “Criteria and norms for Salesian personal accompaniment.” It is a question of examining further, developing and if necessary revising what the “Ratio” says in the numbers mentioned above.
The Rector Major and the General Council have judged it necessary to offer some indications regarding personal accompaniment in formation; for this reason, in the Project of animation and government for the six-year period they have asked our Department to begin a process which will lead to common perspectives and guidelines for the whole Congregation. The drawing up of the “Criteria and norms for Salesian personal accompaniment,” after the appropriate consultations with the Provinces and with some experts, will be approved by the Rector Major with the General Council.
In these notes some of the more frequently asked questions regarding personal accompaniment are presented; they deal with issues which need to be examined further. I would ask the Delegates for Formation to offer their suggestions in the meeting of the Regional Commission. If they wish, the Delegates could make use of these questions with those in formation, with formation personnel and their Formation Commission so as to involve them in the process from the beginning.
On the basis of these questions the Department for Formation will draw up a draft text. The titles of the various topics proposed could constitute the index of “Criteria and norms for Salesian personal accompaniment”; these will be developed, then offered to the Provinces for any possible further modifications; in the end they will be examined, discussed and approved by the Rector Major and the General Council.
INITIAL FORMATION
Before going into the question of personal accompaniment, it would be
well to make some reference to community accompaniment and group
accompaniment. In fact the three kinds of accompaniment need to be
integrated so as to become formation processes with a common
approach, thus facilitating the growth of the one in formation, of
the group and of the community.
1. FRIENDLY TALK WITH THE RECTOR
What is the purpose of the talk with the Rector?
What are the topics to be dealt with in the talk with the Rector?
Is the talk with the Rector limited just to matters of the “external forum”?
Is there any difference between the talk in initial formation and in ongoing formation?
Is the subject matter of the talk strictly confidential?
2. SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT
Do the terms “spiritual accompaniment” and “spiritual direction”, “spiritual guide” and “spiritual director” have the same meaning?
What is the purpose of spiritual accompaniment?
In what does the Salesian style of spiritual accompaniment consist?
What methods are to be used and what topics dealt with in spiritual accompaniment?
How is the personal plan of life to be used in spiritual accompaniment?
How can the continuity of spiritual accompaniment be ensured through the various stages of formation?
Why is the Rector proposed to all those in formation as the spiritual guide?
In what does the confidentiality of spiritual accompaniment consist? Does it have limits?
If the Rector is the spiritual guide of those in formation, is he not perhaps conditioned at the time of admissions?
3. SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION
In what sense does confession offer elements of spiritual accompaniment?
Can confession take the place of personal accompaniment?
Is it appropriate to indicate one or more confessors from among the formation personnel in a formation community?
If the Rector is asked by someone to be his ordinary confessor, is it appropriate for him to accept the request?
Can the confessor be a member of the council of the community?
Is it appropriate for the confessor to take part in meetings of the formation personnel? And in the scrutinies?
4. COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP
In what does counselling consist? What is its purpose and value?
What is the difference between psychological counselling and spiritual accompaniment?
In addition to counselling, can there be other kinds of psychological help?
How can a psychologist help a team of formation personnel?
In what does confidentiality in counselling consist? Does it have limits?
5. SCRUTINY
What is the purpose of the scrutiny? In what sense is it different from the judgement passed in admissions?
What methods are to be used in carrying out the scrutiny? Does it require the involvement of the one in formation?
Should the scrutinies be kept in the archives of the community and of the Province?
How can the fear regarding the scrutiny be overcome?
How can the scrutiny be made use of in spiritual accompaniment and in the talk with the Rector?
6. OTHER FORMS OF PERSONAL ACCOMPANIMENT
In addition to the friendly talk, spiritual accompaniment, confession and counselling, are there other forms of personal accompaniment?
In what does intellectual, liturgical and pastoral accompaniment consist and who sees to it?
With these different forms and people involved in personal accompaniment, how is it possible to ensure the consistency and unity of what is proposed and the life orientation that is given?
ONGOING FORMATION
How to encourage the friendly talk with the Rector?
Is spiritual accompaniment necessary during the time of ongoing formation?
In what ways does this accompaniment take place?
