Faith in Action

Putting faith into action involves actively living out our beliefs through service, love, and obedience to God's teachings.  The Bible teaches that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), highlighting the necessity of demonstrating our beliefs through good deeds and service to others.  At St John Fisher, we put our faith into practice in the following ways:

• Engaging in community service and helping those in need.  Jesus emphasized caring for "the least of these" as a reflection of our faith (Matthew 5:31-46).
• Incorporating habits such as prayer, fasting and studying scripture into our daily routine.  These practices help deepen our relationship with God and align your actions with His will.
• Actively applying the teachings of the Bible and Jesus to our daily lives including embodying our virtues as outlined in Colossians 3:10-17.
• Stepping out in faith often means leaving our comfort zone, trusting that God equips us for the journey, and taking bold steps to fulfil His calling in our lives.
• Encouraging and holding each other accountable within our faith community.  Sharing our experiences and challenges and inspiring others to act.

By actively engaging in these practices, we not only grow spiritually but also become a living testament to God's love in the world around us. 
 

Pilgrimage and Retreats

The word "Catholic" means universal, and as such we know it is important to develop and maintain our connection with our diocese and the universal Church.  At St John Fisher, we offer opportunities for all students to participate in retreats and pilgrimages including day trips, residentials and international visits.  These provide opportunities for our students to reflect on their spiritual life and to experience faith in another context.

Harlow Carr is a garden located in Harrogate, which spans over 68 acres and is part of the Royal Horticultural Society.  This stunning location provides the perfect back drop for our Year 7 form retreat days.  The Bramall Learning Centre provides a venue for the indoor aspects of the retreat, including prayer and reflection, whilst the gardens enable students to participate in outdoor team building activities.  

Osmotherley is a popular destination for hikers, with both the Cleveland Way and the Coast-to-Coast National Trails passing through the village.  A short walk from the village is the Lady Chapel of the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace.   Our Year 8 retreat day includes a three-mile hike through beautiful scenery to the Shrine for students to engage in prayer, reflection and community building.  

Ampleforth is a monastery and school, set in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside.  Our Year 9 residential retreat to Ampleforth include prayer and reflection, fun activities and spending time in the great outdoors.  

Thickett Priory is near York, in the Parish of St George and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough.  The Priory is home to the Order of Discalced Carmelites, a joyful community of women dedicated to prayer in the service of God's people, in the tradition of St Teresa of Avila.  The community are enclosed, which means that they do not leave the monastery grounds except for very necessary reasons.  The Carmelites play an important role in the life of the local community,  building strong ecumenical friendships with the different Christian churches.  They welcome people of all faiths, and of none, who wish to find some peace and quiet at Thicket.  Every year, our Lay Chaplain and members of the Year 11 student chaplaincy reps visit the priory and spend time with the Carmelites reflecting upon their faith journey and spiritual development.

Nestled in the heart of the Lake District, Castlerigg Manor serves as the home of the Youth Service for the Diocese of Lancaster.  This Victorian manor offers a welcoming environment for our Year 11 residential retreat and Year 13 joint residential retreat with St Mary's Menston. The serene surroundings provide an ideal setting where young people can encounter Christ, grow in faith, and build lasting friendships.

The Leeds Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes occurs in the summer term, and students in Years 10 and 12, along with students from other schools in our Diocese, participate in the pilgrimage by supporting sick or infirm pilgrims.  By supporting those in need and attending liturgical events, this is a wonderful opportunity for our students to grow in faith and to serve the wider diocesan community.

Walsingham is an ancient pilgrimage site, and the most famous shrine to our Lady in England.  It is in the beautiful Norfolk countryside.  Staff and students from all year groups participate in the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Wasingham, to honour Mary and to share their faith with pilgrims from across the country.

The tiny medieval Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag lies a stone's throw from the River Nidd, about half a mile from the centre of Knaresborough.  It was carved from the cliff face by John the Mason in 1408, permission being granted by King Henry IV.  The Chapel was probably built as a wayside shrine for pilgrims walking between the town and the Priory and possibly going further afield.  It would also have been a place of quiet and prayer for the quarrymen working in the quarry nearby.  Every year we join staff and students from our Catholic partner primary schools in processing to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag starting with a Mass at St Mary's Knaresbourgh.

Revelation is a monthly gathering at Hinsley Hall of young people from secondary schools across the diocese of Leeds where they explore more about what it means to be a Catholic.  Revelation includes a range of activities, games, prayer and liturgy and is open to students in Year 8 and above.