Being a companion of the poor is intrinsic to the Franciscan vocation. It is our desire at Capuchin Mobile Ministries to send forth people with a Franciscan heart to accompany those who live at the peripheries.

We listened to and learned from each other when friars and volunteers gathered for a retreat in Jamaica Plain, Mass., on May 2 to discover a spirituality of accompaniment rooted in Scripture, the Franciscan tradition, and our own experience.

Keri Hughes, our volunteer coordinator, got us ready to think about accompaniment with an icebreaker activity that gave retreatants an opportunity to greet each other with inspirational quotations from leading religious and spiritual leaders. From those quotations we identified some initial characteristics of accompaniment helpful to our understanding of the practice.

Drawing on the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, Br. Paul Fesefeldt helped us see what accompaniment is in the Abrahamic traditions and why it is a core practice integral to our work at CMM. In small groups we reflected further on the challenges of practicing accompaniment faithfully.

Next, Br. Anthony Zuba offered St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed Solanus Casey as models of a virtuous practice of accompaniment. A few retreatants later told Brother Anthony that they appreciated learning about Blessed Solanus and were impressed with his life story. They were eager to imitate the example of the humble porter who found holiness simply by listening to people’s stories and offering them his simple empathy and prayers.

After a hearty lunch prepared by Br. Francisco Serrano, we split into pairs for an Emmaus Walk. An Emmaus Walk is a spiritual exercise in holy conversation and active listening. We got to practice accompaniment on the Emmaus Walk as each partner took a turn to speak from the heart while the other partner listened attentively and in complete silence. It was challenging not only to refrain from responding during the other partner’s sharing but also to speak continually from the heart during our own turn!

We regrouped with Brother Paul for a series of role-playing exercises that simulated challenging pastoral encounters we may have on the streets. Each person got a turn to be an accompanier, the one being accompanied, and an observer of the encounter. We offered one another constructive, supportive feedback. To conclude the day, Fr. Bruce Teague celebrated the Eucharist in the chapel at San Lorenzo Friary.

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