As you may be aware young people from Cardiff and Menevia went on a summer retreat to St David’s in West Wales. Now that summer is over and the school term has started we thought it might be a great idea to invite one of them to offer their reflections on the weekend. Thanks to Mia of St Mary’s Catholic Church Youth Club in Bridgend for writing this article.
Over the summer, a group of young people between the ages 14 and 18 from the dioceses of Cardiff and Menevia travelled to St. David’s on pilgrimage, for a total of 5 days. Meeting lots of new people, with it being the first pilgrimage for many, there was something new everyday! From ice cream in the rain on the first day to Geocache at St. David’s Cathedral or Sunday Mass with Archbishop Mark O’Toole.
On Wednesday 24th July, the first day, after the commute to St. David’s we settled in, got to know everyone on the retreat, went to the picturesque town and explored the beach. Which are both lovely! And although it did get off to a rainy start, the weather became warmer and sunnier as the week went on. Some may say that the rain was a good thing, allowing us to settle into the heavier, more intense walking that was to come. But the rain didn’t prevent anyone from getting the renowned ice cream at the local shop or taking a look at the cathedral grounds and beach. Where, there were a surprising amount of jellyfish!
The day after started with morning prayer, following which we went to St. Non’s, where we learnt about the chapel and its history and also about its relation to St. David. In the afternoon most of us went into the sea, and many of us got drenched! Others tried (maybe unsuccessfully) playing badminton, and those who’d decided not to get soaked played an interesting variety of beach games. This was also the day many people got very muddy in an attempt to cross a path which, unfortunately, had still not dried from the day before. However, the beautiful goods that were sold at the Thursday market in town – from knitted and crocheted gloves to intricate bracelets and stunning photography – made up for it. There was a vast array to choose from to keep as a souvenir from our time at St. David’s or as a gift for family and friends. In the evening we got a lovely surprise of a campfire where there were smores and lots of singing. By then everyone had warmed to one another and there was a lively and vibrant atmosphere around the group.
By Friday, it felt as if the time had gone by so fast, especially since it had been such an action-packed pilgrimage up to that point. It was a unique experience to have so many clergy with us, along with daily morning prayers, Masses, as well as Adoration and Confessions. It really deepened many people’s faith and taught us so much about it
On Friday we went on an official tour of the breathtaking St. David’s Cathedral, where we learned about many fascinating details that we might have otherwise missed without the guide. The Cathedral has an intriguing history and was one of the few spared during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After lunch and some games, we tried geocaching, which most of us had never done before. It was an engaging activity that allowed us to explore the grounds further, involving plenty of teamwork and strategy. From this, we learnt about the different patron saints of the United Kingdom and the signs and symbols associated with them. We all received a seashell to take home as a symbol of our pilgrimage.
Following this incredibly productive day at the Cathedral we concluded with Mass at St. Michael’s (and, since it was our first time, we prayed three Hail Mary’s for three blessings). It was a beautiful service and we got to meet some of the congregation on Friday who were all welcoming and supportive. In the evening, we also had a formation session on the beach with Fr. Matt about discipleship, allowing us to further reflect on our faith.
On Saturday, the reality of going home soon struck, and I think many people would agree that it was bittersweet. We all missed our homes and families, but the memories we had created and the friends we had made are lifelong. However, we certainly all made the most of it! We spent much of the day at St. Non’s, having a moving catechesis on Social Justice from Dominic, followed by Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and Confession. Then, we had an incredibly unique experience at the outdoor Mass at St. Non’s in the morning. We were all sitting on a small hill on a cliff overlooking the sea. It was a serene and fabulous view, allowing us to think and pray; it was so calming.
At the end of the day, we made a quick stop into town and then headed back to the bunk barns, where we had to pack our suitcases for the early start the next day. Later on, we had a fabulous campfire, which included lots of amazing vocal solos from members of the group, a Q&A with the Archbishop, s’mores, and toast. Many of us also attempted (some more successfully than others) to ignite cotton wool for the fire using flint and steel. We then savoured the last few hours we had together with lots of board games, including some intense games of Monopoly.
The next morning was a rush, some were only just starting to pack, others ready-prepared, we had morning prayer and rosary after breakfast at 7.30, then quickly started putting all our luggage into the halls and tidying up the rooms. To mark the end of the pilgrimage we had Sunday morning Mass at St. Michael’s, again with tea and coffee with the members of the local congregation. We had some pasties for the long journey back home and we said our goodbyes. Some got home 5 hours later!
All in all, it was a fabulous experience, and the new people and friendships we’ve made are lifelong. We’ve all promised to stay in touch and are hoping for similar experiences in the future to strengthen our friendship, community, and faith. This is especially important, as in our day-to-day lives and at school, being religious can often feel isolating, particularly when there’s no one else going through the same experiences to talk to. This pilgrimage has been life-changing for many of us and has helped us immensely. A massive thank you to everyone involved in making it happen—youth leaders, clergy, parishioners, and everyone who supported us throughout the week. This experience wouldn’t have been possible without you all!
