St. John the Baptist Boys' Primary School - Transition Retreat

Last week we had the boys from St. John the Baptist Primary School here for their transition retreat.  They had loads of memories of their time at primary school and shared many of them with us.  They decorated footprints to represent their journey in life so far and took time to meditate on the people they have met and been friendly with during their time at primary school.

On the top of everyone's list of hopes for the new school was the desire to make new friends.  Friendships are so important to human beings.  We reflected that some of the people we meet for the first time at our new schools will turn out to be friends for life.  That's an amazing thought and really exciting.

The boys wrote some lovely prayers and reflections for their prayer services and they decorated the chapel with beautiful focuses on both days.  One was a path with footprints on it and the other had paths going in many different directions to represent all the different schools that the boys will be going to.

You can read some of the prayers and reflections in print and in the photos below and see the beautiful art work that was done to accompany the scripture reading.

Dear God,

We pray for the people doing exams this year.

Give them your strength and courage to guide them

to do their best and to be pleased with the marks they get.

Lord hear us.

 

Dear God,

Let us pray for the poor and give us courage to help them to get all what they need.

Lord hear us.

Dear God,

Please help all the dead people.

Take care of them in heaven. 

Help keep their families strong so they won't

be as hurt as they were when they died.

Lord hear us.

Dear God,

Please help the homeless.

Keep the homeless well fed and safe.

Please do your best to help them get a home.

Lord hear us.

Dear God,

Help the poor and give them strength, and encourage others to help them.

Please let them have a better life and friends.

Amen.

We wish the boys from St. John the Baptist the best of luck in their new schools in September.  Each of them will be an asset to their new school. A great bunch of lads.