Six form students from Saint Francis of Assisi are set to embark on a first of its kind pilgrimage across the North West.
As part of a collaboration with Chester Cathedral, ‘The Pilgrimage into Adult Life’ is aimed at providing support and guidance for 16-18-year-olds.
It will address themes such as separation from childhood and parents, hopes and expectations, work, relationships and vocations.
All of these themes will be explored through day-long retreats at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Chester Cathedral, St Asaph Cathedral and Bangor Cathedral.
The initiative will culminate in 2018 with a seven-day pilgrimage walk along the famous North Wales Pilgrimage Trail.
Claire Henderson Davis, pioneer of the project and Contemporary Performance Artist and Theologian in Residence at Chester Cathedral said:
“The idea for the Pilgrimage into Adult Life project came after tutoring the son of a friend over the two years of his sixth form, and remembering what a difficult stage of life this is, with big decisions to make about the future.
“I am moved and honoured to be working with the students from the Academy of St Francis of Assisi. Their enthusiastic engagement with the project confirms for me the need for this framework of support, designed to help prepare students for their onward journey into adult life.”
Tracey Greenough, Head of School at ASFA, added: “As a joint faith Roman Catholic and Church of England Academy I am thrilled to be involved in a project that promotes participation between Anglican and Roman Catholic communities.
“However, this project is about more than religion, it is about students working together, helping each other and offering support at a time of important change in their lives.
“The transition from school into adult life can be difficult, that’s why we ensure guidance is in place at ASFA to guarantee that when our students leave us, they feel confident about their futures.”