When I was in the Seminary of Bogota, I was sent every year to a different parish in the city. I was sent to rich, middle-class, poor, and rural parishes. That understanding of different contexts and ways of life helped to shape the way I offer pastoral care, a way that does not judge, but simply wants to help people where they are at.
8. Consultation and critiques
The verbatims and weekly reflections are great opportunities to receive and give feedback. I think this is very important in order to understand what I am doing well and what I need to work more on. In my seminary life, I have been always receiving feedback, especially in the seminary where each year I receive feedback from teachers and peers. I am very grateful for the feedback that my peers …show more content…
Therefore, I prefer to leave that job for a superior. In the case there is something urgent and very important that has to be said, I would offer feedback to the person who needs to hear it. In a context like CPE, where we are meant to offer and receive feedback, I am able to offer it. This is a context where giving or receiving feedback is not considered as inappropriate. On the contrary, it is very helpful for the personal and professional future of the person.
10. Integrating didactics
The didactics offer important tools for self-reflection and pastoral care. One of the most important didactics for me was the one about grief, especially what to say and not to say at those moments. It was very important for me because I had many ideas and pre-established phrases at how to act and what to say when somebody dies. However, those phrases were put in my head by my culture, television shows, and the Internet. Even though today I know what not to say, I have to continue to work on what to say and how to move on the conversation or the situation when somebody passes away.
11. Relational