Spiritual Retreat

It was a wonderful start to my first week as ‘Head of Spiritual Life’ that I had the privilege to take a group of 34 pupils on a long planned trip to the Nottingham Diocesan Youth retreat centre in Crich called The Briars. A weekend there gives pupils an opportunity to spend time with their friends and reflect on their faith in an atmosphere of kindness, fun and care. The centre is run by ‘the team’ who are a group of young people who are either taking a gap year before university or are wanting to do full time chaplaincy work in the future all led by very capable team director.

During our stay we played games, reflected on how we are all unique, helped to plan Mass for the Saturday evening Pentecost service when we were joined by the local parish. We also all went on a walk in the beautiful Countryside around the village of Crich. We enjoyed the singing practice and music in Mass and the girls were still humming the tunes back at school the next week. Despite the disappointing weather for June we all had a fabulous weekend and I was accompanied by four helpful and supportive members of staff who all enjoyed the weekend as much as the pupils.

Mrs Smith