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Read on for a report on the 2009 Children's
Pilgrimage
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 AN
AMAZING WEEKEND!
Janet
Marshall - our Education Officer - writes about the 2009 Children's
Pilgrimage
Yet again with
Spring sprung upon us we welcomed just under 200 7-11 year olds and
their leaders to Walsingham for the annual children’s pilgrimage
weekend at the end of March 2009.
‘Amaze’ was the
title and amazed we were as usual by the enthusiasm,
spiritual awareness and commitment of these young pilgrims.
Throughout the weekend we explored different aspects of this theme
…God’s AMAZING love for us shown by the cross, The AMAZING news
received and accepted by Mary at the Annunciation, and AMAZING power
given to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit available to each
one of us as we continue our every day journey.
As usual it was non
stop fun and action starting with some amazing action singing in our
First Visit led by ‘Ish’ of Ishmael fame. Ish had us all dancing in
the aisles with his own dynamic children’s worship songs. Again he
led us off on our Holy Mile walk on Saturday morning from the
Slipper Chapel with gusto.
This was Bishop
Lindsay Urwin’s first Children’s Pilgrimage here and he vibrantly
led the teaching ministry throughout and even took to the floor for
the Saturday night Disco! Other highlights of the weekend were our
fabulous worship band led by Deacon Rachel Gouldthorpe, not
forgetting our very own teen star on the drums, Greg Gallagher, and
some stunning I.T. and animation on screen produced by Fr Simon
Rundell and his daughter Emma.
 There’s
too much to mention really from snakes and giant creepy crawlies
brought by ‘Kate’s Mini Monsters’, the inspiring ‘Costa’s Fire’
theatre presentation in the shrine, awesome silence, praise and
prayer as the children gathered for Benediction after being soaked
on their mile walk! Lots of art and craft workshops and a giant
assault course in the shrine grounds and finally truly amazing Mass
on Sunday when we ‘lifted high the cross’ as the church was decked
overhead from pillar to pillar by over 200 brightly coloured crosses
from around the world bearing all our names and our written prayers
for the world.
Their verdict…..’ It
rocked. What date is it next year?’
Ours ‘Let’s get over
this one first!’
But huge Thanks
to all our volunteer team who helped us stage it, all shrine staff
and to the leaders who brought these children. You were AMAZING!
| Education Department - on the Road! |
Can't Afford a Coach to Walsingham ? ? ? Well what about the Education Department - On the Road!
We can spend a whole day or half day in your school with exciting
activities - artefacts- a nun (!!) -assembly - drama- music.
Contact us for details of prices and date availability.
A Christianity/History Roadshow in your school!
|
For further information on any of the special events please
contact
us or use the
request form. |
