Peter’s Pilgrims…..

Sixth form students from St Peter’s represented the school on 20th June at the invitation of Bishop Declan to take
part in a Pilgrimage walk around the beautiful Woodchester park. They joined Students and teachers from many
schools in the Diocese in this day of reflection and mini-retreat. The St Peter’s students were joined by Miss Baker,
our chaplain and Mrs Eakin from the RE Department.
We met together in the pouring rain at the Marist Convent at Nympsfield where Mass was celebrated by Bishop
Declan in the chapel. He spoke about how it may seem that we live in a time when God speaks rarely, but the
problem is that we don’t listen. He said that creation tells us something of God, and asked of the young people that
they be attentive on their pilgrimage walk to listen to the voice of God in creation and in one another. With that in
mind, we set off. By now, the sun had come out and the earlier rain was forgotten.
The St Peter’s pilgrims cadged lifts from various school minibuses to the start of what must be one of the most
beautiful walking areas in the country. The trail took the pilgrims through a breathtaking panorama of natural
wonder, of woodland, pasture, and the historic Woodchester Mansion itself.
Reputedly haunted, the 19th century structure was abandoned before it was
ever completed, and its presence on the route gave a suitably Bunyanesque
touch to the occasion.
We all met new people on the trail, and to ensure that this happened, each
of us was given a form to fill in with questions such as “ Find someone who
can name three characters from “The Apprentice”. Towards the end of the 4
mile walk, some of us were flagging. This was an ideal opportunity for the
more able to wait and walk with the stragglers. Some sympathetic sixth
formers from Bristol who took pity on Mrs Eakin and waited for her, initiated a
discussion about a journey through purgatory and the ways that we can help
each other to reach heaven ! Although it was heaven to reach the minibus and school, at last, the walk was a very
spiritual experience and it was good to be part of the Diocesan year for Catholic Education in this way.