The Antequera archpriesthood has completed its first pastoral accompaniment course, an initiative that has trained nearly 50 parishioners in active listening skills and emotional support.
The Antequera archpriesthood has successfully concluded its first pastoral accompaniment course, a pilot experience that brought together nearly 50 parishioners from different parishes and ecclesial groups. The initiative, developed between October 2025 and June 2026, aimed to promote a culture of listening and strengthen support within the Christian communities of the region.
A pioneering course in the training of companions
Driven by archpriest Antonio Jiménez, the course was taught by vocationist priest Salvatore Musella, a psychologist, psychotherapist, and coach specialised in accompaniment and helping relationships. According to José Ignacio Postigo, a priest of the archpriesthood, the initiative has exceeded all expectations for participation, demonstrating the growing interest in specific training in active listening skills within pastoral care.
The training itinerary has been structured around three main axes: the anthropological and spiritual foundation of the helping relationship; the management of emotions, vulnerability, and growth through crisis; and the art of care along with the ethics of counselling. "All of this aimed at providing concrete tools to accompany people facing emotional, social, or psychological difficulties in everyday life," Postigo points out.
Personal and community transformation
Participants have particularly valued the development of active listening, discernment on when and how to offer advice, as well as an increased ability to interpret non-verbal language. The training process has also fostered a profound journey of self-knowledge, leading many to recognise that learning to care for and accept oneself is the first step to authentically accompany the lives of others.
The final evaluation highlighted a significant change in the understanding of pastoral accompaniment. Participants discovered that this mission is not limited to caring for the elderly or sick, but constitutes a service directed at anyone and applicable to all areas of church life.
Practical training for everyday life
Alongside theoretical sessions, the course included an intense practical dimension through listening exercises, accompaniment simulations, group dynamics, and breathing techniques. These tools are designed to be put at the service of parishes and the various ecclesial realities of Antequera and its surroundings.
For the residents of Antequera, this initiative represents an additional resource for emotional and spiritual support within the community. The trained parishioners will now be able to apply these skills in their parishes, offering closer and more professional accompaniment to those facing difficulties. The archpriesthood is already considering the possibility of repeating the course next year, given the high demand and the results obtained.
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