Accompaniment – Praying for the Dead

Accompaniment is the act of walking with someone on their journey. It is how we, as followers of Christ, show support and love for others. We are called to accompany others on their journey of faith, both in good times and in bad, just as the Holy Spirit watches over each of us in our own lives.

November is traditionally the month dedicated to praying specifically for the dead. This presents us with the opportunity to reflect on a beautiful Catholic teaching, the teaching on Purgatory, which is really the mercy of God in action and our ability, through prayer, to accompany those that have passed, on their way to Heaven.
Think about the people who walk with you in life. Take time this week
to tell them how much they mean to you and to thank them.

Day 1 – Start with scripture

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

Read this Gospel passage.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Mark
R. Glory to You O Lord

 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbour as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The Gospel of the Lord
R. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Mark 12:28-34

Spend some time in pairs or threes and talk about the questions below. When you’re finished share them with the whole form and see where the dialogue takes you.

Discussion Questions:

Can you remember any examples of someone being with you when you needed support?

Are there people who support you in your struggles that you might take for granted?

Click below to “Add Comment” and capture some of what has been said in your form for others to see.

Let us pray together:

Almighty Father, you are with us on our journey through life. Loving us, laughing and crying with us. May we be attentive to the needs of others as we walk beside them, giving comfort and hope, a listening ear and an open heart. In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us.

Amen.

Day 2 – Is listening the same as ‘fixing’?

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

How many times have we had a problem, something we are upset about? We have then started to share it with someone else, just to ‘get it out’, only to have them jump in and offer a way ‘to fix it’?

The difference between listening and waiting for your turn to speak is Accompaniment.

Play the following clip based on Pope Francis’ words.

Let us pray together and ask our Blessed Mother to walk with us:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us.

Amen.

Day 3 – Chaplaincy – Walking with you

We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.

A chaplain is someone who will walk with you on journey. The heart of chaplaincy is Accompaniment. When you are in what seems like a very dark place, a chaplain will sit with you in that space and listen. You don’t even need to talk. No judgement. No opinions. No easy fixes. Just sit with you, holding space. Regardless of your faith or beliefs, a chaplain is there, to be with you.

We are all called, through Christ, to walk with and support each other. One of Bishop Patrick’s core themes is ‘Missionary Discipleship’. To walk with and help each other, on our journey. This is at the heart of Chaplaincy.

Take some time now to be a student chaplain with the person beside you. Ask them about last night, and how they are. If you feel comfortable, share something while the chaplain really listens.

Try to:

  • Not judge
  • Really listen to their words, you’re not waiting for your turn to speak
  • Not offer advice or comment. Just listen

The school chaplaincy team will be relaunching soon. If you’re interested in learning more, keep an eye out for details.

Let us invite God into our lives and the lives of each other:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and every shall be, world without end.

Amen.

Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us

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21 comments

comments user
10BC

family and friends can help you with troubles and help you navigate those problems
Teachers in school
God can help guide you through the bible
People you don’t know might be able to offer some support
Reply
comments user
10API

Can you remember any examples of someone being with you when you needed support?
– Friends can be there for you when you need support
– Family members can be there for you
– Teachers can offer support
– Pets can help

Are there people who support you in your struggles that you might take for granted?

– Friends you might take for granted – you might not listen to your friends properly
– Family members – might not realise how much they do
Reply
comments user
7HLE

We think that we need support when we are learning because maths can be hard. We need help when being bullied, or when we are cyberbullied. We will need help if someone is being racist to us.
We often take our parents and grandparents for granted because we expect them to always help us in our struggles. We sometimes take teachers for granted and expect them to sort out everything. We expect our friends to always take our side, even when we are in the wrong.
Reply
comments user
7Eta

People that support us are our mums and dads because they look after us when we are scared and need support. Also, our friends because they are there for us when others let us down in school. Teachers are helpful because we have to stay with them all year and they put up with students when they are being difficult (e.g. Y7 asking millions of questions). Our sixth form mentors are also supportive.
We take our parents for granted when we want things and the love of our siblings when we argue and lose sight of what is important. Friends can be taken for granted at times.
Reply
comments user
11KG

Teachers support us in school, my family and friends. People who we trust and who are loyal to us are our biggest support network.
We can take our family for granted because we are used to them, when we move out they won’t be with us to support us that much. Sometimes we can take our friends for granted, we will notice this when one day they are not there. We are used to having that companionship in school everyday.
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    comments user
    liturgyspace

    Well said. Good work.
    Reply
comments user
12FSM

Our friends and families help us through hard times and support us.

We can take our families for granted, our teachers.
Reply
comments user
13LT

Family and friends help and support us in times of need. We may not show our support and love for them as much as we should. Make sure this week we tell people how much we appreciate them. Try to do this all the time.
Reply
comments user
11mf

friends and family. Teachers, pets, church community, take parents for granted,
Reply
comments user
8EOY

Family support when a family member died
friends support us by listening
Reply
comments user
9ACA

Family and friends support us and we can sometimes take these people for granted because we know them too when and become too comfortable around them.
Reply
comments user
8JHO

When a family member dies we need to go through it together with your family. When you feel down, you should always try and find support at home and at school. If someone is sad, you have to support them, such as they lose their job. We should take all help that we can get seriously. If someone loses their wallet, you should give it back straight away..
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comments user
10GH

It is very important that we always listen to other so that we can understand and empathise with their perspective only then can we help them. Whether that be to find a solution, sympathise or ‘distinguish the truth from their illusions or excuses’.
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    comments user
    liturgyspace

    Well put. Thank you.
    Reply
comments user
9NH

– my work family were extremely supportive when I went through my divorce

– friends who ‘check in’ on the anniversary of difficult moments in life are very kind, thoughtful and compassionate

– parents are often very supportive when we have lost grandparents

– church families can be very supportive of each other through tough times
Reply
    comments user
    liturgyspace

    Thank you for sharing.
    Reply
comments user
8NH

Work, colleagues, Family, friends all being there in troubled times to be with you.
Reply
comments user
Carol Gilbert

Can you remember any examples of someone being with you when you needed support?

My friends support me.
My mum helps me with stages like when I am sad or with school – she always supports me.
Friends help me when I don’t understand things at school.
My cousins.
My mum and dads are there when I need support.
My parents supported me during my SATs.m
Mr Stevens and Mrs Evans because of my ADHD.

Are there people who support you in your struggles that you might take for granted?
My parents.
My sister.
I think I take my brother for granted – now I don’t see him as often because he’s at University.
Reply
    comments user
    liturgyspace

    Well done.
    Reply
comments user
10-LF

Asking teachers for help if you don’t get something.

Parents. Teachers trying to help you. Friends.
Reply
comments user
8ETo

Can you remember any examples of someone being with you when you needed support?
Our TAs ,
My family,
Our teachers and form tutors.

Are there people who support you in your struggles that you might take for granted?
Your friends.
Reply

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