The sun shone brightly on Aylesford Priory during Southwark Archdiocese’s Festival of Hope. Organised by Southwark’s Education Department, with contributions from Missio’s children’s branch – Mission Together – the event drew together over a thousand pupils from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese.
The festival combined fun activities and prayerful reflections. Pupils had the opportunity to visit a Silent Disco, learn circus skills, join a singing workshop and stop off at one of the five Prayer Stations. The Prayer Stations were hands-on activities that helped children open their hearts and minds to God, and to the world around them.
A global tradition of pilgrimage
Mission Together created three Prayer Stations for the Festival of Hope. At our Global Pilgrims station, pupils learned about global Catholic pilgrimage sites and how their presence at Aylesford Priory continued this important Jubilee tradition. They were also pilgrims, just like millions of our sisters and brothers around the world!
At our Rosary Pilgrims station, pupils reflected on the virtues shown by Mary through the Rosary mysteries, and how by practicing the same they can be signs of hope. And at our Lifeline of Hope station, pupils were asked to recognise which fruits of the Spirit they employ in their daily lives, and how these offer hope to the people around them.
Gathering for the Word
After lunch, all the schools gathered in the Priory Shrine for a Celebration of the Word, led by Bishop Paul Hendrix. For the Gospel, which was the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Mission Together created a short drama, which pupils from St Matthew’s Academy, Blackheath did a wonderful job of bringing to life.
Thank you!
The Festival of Hope was a great success and Mission Together was grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the day. Thank you to Southwark Archdiocese Education team for all their hard work, and for Alvaro Garcia for allowing us to use some wonderful images.