Grade Five Field Trip to Westminster Abbey

In April we traveled to see the Benedictine Monks at Westminster Abbey. We learned that monks teach the high school kids how to train to become monks as well as seminarians. We also learned that Benedictine monks were the only order of monks that existed in the Middle Ages. Our class also took part in the prayer service. At the prayer service, we listened to a very spiritual hymn. Inside the church were beautiful stained glass windows, which our class drew. Afterwards, to stretch our legs out, we took a walk through the forest, which led to a sunny field where we could look down and see the Fraser River. We started to walk back, and saw a statue of our Immaculate Mary. We also walked to the church to see the old graveyard. Our class picked flowers and laid them on the gravestones. Our class had a wonderful time at Westminster Abbey.

Written by a Grade Five Student

Grade 7 vocations pilgrimage

In April, the Grade 7 class went on a pilgrimage, which is a journey with spiritual significance, to Westminster Abbey and the Monastery of the Poor Clare’s in Mission. This pilgrimage helped students learn more about vocations and how to dedicate their lives to God in preparation for their upcoming Confirmation on May 11th. The highlight of our trip, however, was meeting and speaking with Juan Lucca. Juan Lucca is a seminarian at Christ the King and our Grade 7 class has been praying for him since the Fourth Grade. He reminded us to pray and be joyful. He told us that joy helps keep evil away, and that it is a path to heaven.

Here are some of their realizations about vocations following this pilgrimage:

Peaceful . . . because it is very quiet and reverent in the abbey, and they are surrounded by nature
Joyful . . . because you can feel the joy and see the joy on the faces of the monks and seminarians that live there
Prayerful . . . because they dedicate their lives to praying to God and prayer at all times

Here are some of their realizations about vocations following this pilgrimage:

“I learned that to become a monk, it takes a lot of commitment and you can go through all the years of training and then decide it is not for you. The vocation you choose is what God has called you to do, not what you do just because.”

“Vocations can be a great source of learning important things.”

“Vocations are important so that you can follow God on the right path.”

“Vocations can play a big part in your life and could change your life forever.”