Pastoral experience as a driver of encounter with God

Abstract

This research focuses on the experience of God in the pastoral experience of the seminarians of the Society of Mary Montfort (SMM). The research material is a reflection on the personal experience of God. This research aims to explain that the experience of God is a daily experience through simple events. This research uses a qualitative approach. The research material is a reflection on the personal experience of God. This research aims to explain that the experience of God is an everyday experience through simple events. We collected data through face-to-face interviews. The main exploration was personal reflection through pastoral experience. We used Georg Kirchberger's thinking to analyze the data. This research came to the finding that God is experienced in daily events when pastoring, including a) the experience of the Eucharist, b) the experience of brotherhood and cooperation in the pastoral community, c) the experience of encountering the people and pastoring the sick; and d) the experience of mentoring children and Catholic Youth (OMK). These experiences lead to different conclusions about who God is: formator, guide, mobilizer, protector, companion, source and bearer of joy, and many others. The pastoral experience is thus a very rich and complex one. God goes on pilgrimage and history with His people. No matter how simple the daily experience during pastoral care, God is never absent. He is the one who is always there and always with us.