An evening to remember.
Thursday 2nd September was Progression day! This is an annual event, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Upper VI 2021 leavers as they move onward to university and their future careers. As happened last year, we combined Progression with the Upper VI Leavers’ Mass and were delighted that Fr David Reilly was able to celebrate this Mass for us.
The out-going Upper VI had organised the Mass by choosing their favourite hymns and readings and had also composed some beautiful Prayers of the Faithful.
Ljilja, the leaving Head Girl, delivered the following introduction to the Mass, a poignant reminder of all that St Augustine’s Priory meant to these former students,
‘Thank you and welcome to our Progression and Leavers’ Mass. We are here today not only to reflect on and remember the wonderful memories we made at this school with the people we made them with, but to look to the road ahead and pray for our futures as we embark on the next step in our lives. We’re at Mass to thank God for our times together, for the friends we made, for all we’ve learnt about life from teachers and from each other. We’re here too so that we can pray for each other, for happiness and light in the future. We look ahead in hope and know that God will be with us in the future as he has accompanied us up to now.’
Both events were open air and held in the Prep Meadow and we were delighted that the families of our out-going Upper VI attended the Mass and stayed for refreshments afterwards. Following this, the families departed and the girls and staff celebrated Progression with a delicious meal, a variety of burgers catering for all tastes! Speeches from Mrs Raffray, Ljilja and two current Deputy Head Girls rounded off the evening, paying tribute to our leavers and all that they meant to each other and to us.
We wish the very best for our 2021 leavers – we will miss you!
