The Last Day: YML Pilgrimage 2017

It is hard to believe that we're at the last day. It has been a jam-packed, highly enjoyable and eventful week for us all as you will have seen from our reports online. Today has three purposes: to bring together the threads of the week, to see what has emerged and to determine what Mercy is calling the pilgrims to be and to do. Today's is a big task and it needs a big working space so all activity other than prayer and ritual will be centred in the school hall.

Following morning prayer the pilgrims headed to the hall for the first session where Trish Walsh rsm, Facilitator, reflected on and summarised the last three days. The pilgrims reassembled into their original workshop groups and worked with the questions Sr Trish posed which were crafted from the pilgrimage elements.

• 'What does the example of Catherine call you to be?'
• 'Mercy turns power into love and service' (Sr Michele). What does that mean in my life as a Young Mercy Leader and in my role in our school/college?
• 'How do I further develop my sense of hope, my critical thinking skills and a merciful heart' (Sr Angela) so as to lead locally as a Young Mercy Leader?
• How do we choose to exercise our Mercy leadership in our school?

Report back from one of the workshop groups addressing the question: 'What is Mercy calling us to today?'	Report back from one of the workshop groups addressing the question: 'What is Mercy calling us to today?'

Groups then formed into school delegations to create their actions plans. The task Sr Trish gave them was clear:

• As a result of this pilgrimage, what do you as a group from your school want to commit to doing?
• What Action plan is needed? Be specific.
• How do you wish to communicate your Action plan. Be as concrete as possible.

The reporting of action plans took place after lunch. We captured only some of these presentations.

This was followed by the closing process. Pilgrims were asked to reflect on key moments of the pilgrimage and write in their journals what they were now personally committed to as a result of experiencing the pilgrimage. They were then asked to write themselves a letter addressing what they would be putting into practice. Their final task was to write on a card a wish, blessing or praye for someone else. These blessing cards were collected as part of the preparation for the celebration of Eucharist.

The pilgrimage evaluation and votes of thanks followed.

The pilgrimage concluded with Eucharist in the Chapel which incorporated a blessing of each other and a 'sending forth'. Students took with them a stone from the cairn that was created in the ritual on the first day and a blessing card.

Then the pilgrims were free to depart but they were in no rush to leave.

 Did we tell you? We had beautiful weather today. Warm and sunny!