This is an action-packed weekend with all the usual pilgrimages favourites such -   The Holy Mile Walk Children's Mass Fun Workshops Games & Inflatables Disco! and the opportunity to make friends with children from all over Britain.   Please telephone the Shrine Hospitality/Accommodation Office (01328 820239) to check on availability and to request a booking form.   Ideal for Sunday Clubs, After-School Clubs and Parish Uniformed Organisations   See below for a report on what happened in 2008

Children's Pilgrimage - Tree of Life 2008

Janet Marshall, Education Officer writes…

This year we played at home!

The weekend of 4^th-6^th April heralded in yet again our annual Children’s Pilgrimage and for the first time ever we created our activity village in the Shrine gardens!

Our theme this year focused on the cross turned from tree of death to tree of life/glory and our part as proclaimers of this message in our lives as the branches bearing fruit for Jesus – the true vine. Throughout the weekend the Pilgrim church was gradually transformed into a vineyard as the children’s prayers were intertwined around the church as a massive hanging vine!

As the enormous marquee went up on the main lawn it really did feel like we were building a little community. Nearly  200 descended on us Friday evening from all over the country as we all waited with baited breath to see if the weather fore cast would be kind to us!

Saturday dawned with brilliant sunshine for our Holy Mile walk which was undertaken with the usual excitement and enthusiasm. Many children had made huge colourful banners to wave with pride and four children carried a specially made ‘child size’ cross all the way in relays.

Arriving at the shrine it was a privilege to witness these young pilgrims aged 7-11 sitting in total prayerful silence as we prepared for Benediction in the shrine. Their ability to turn from joyful praise and laughter to prayerfulness was certainly an example to us all!

Coming on pilgrimage is about so many things and for the children it’s no different; from the fun and laughter on Saturday afternoon, as they indulged in loads of arts, crafts, dancing, bouncy castle, assault course and sumo wrestling, bopping to the disco in the evening, to prayerfulness and wild praise.

Sunday morning brought snow showers but this did not deter us from managing to create the longest conga you ever saw! Another first this year as we streamed around the garden to end Mass by the outdoor altar of the mysteries of light – fantastic to hear the children’s dismissal Alleluias ringing out across the garden!

It felt good to be offering all this within our walls and the verdict for the garden……thumbs up from the gardener!!! The lawn survived so we very much hope that we can stay at home next year too!

For further information on any of the special events please contact us or use the request form.