Stepping out in gratitude and hope

By Wendy Shaw

The seventh annual grade 6 pilgrimage gave students from Sacred Heath Catholic School in Launceston time to reflect on their primary school years with gratitude and look forward to the future with hope.

Nearly 50 students took part in the pilgrimage around Launceston’s Cataract Gorge on 20 November.

Principal Brent Wilson said the pilgrimage has become an important tradition, with students joined by staff, alumni students from St Patrick’s College and parents.

“The purpose of our pilgrimage is to celebrate our grade 6 leavers’ years at Sacred Heart and look forward to the next phase of their lives,” Mr Wilson said.

“The children are challenged to a long and difficult walk where they are able to reflect on their journey at Sacred Heart.

“Guided by questions and conversations from adults and St Pat’s students, the children spend time reflecting.

“Our school views this experience as an opportunity to reflect on the lives that the young adults had lived.

“We challenge them to acknowledge those that had contributed to their experiences and ask them to ponder what lies ahead.”

 Mr Wilson added that life is always filled with challenges, even for students provided with ‘a great start in life, friends, loving families, and a school that espouses and lives true gospel values’. It is how students choose to respond to those challenges that will make a difference in their lives.

However, he added that there is much to look forward to for the primary school leavers as they move on to the next phase of their lives.