Share the Journey

Tuesday 21st August 2018

Diocese of Salford represented as woman’s footsteps added to refugee installation at Westminster Cathedral

A campaigner from Oldham in the Diocese of Salford who walked miles as part of a global campaign standing in solidarity with refugees has donated her shoes to an art installation curated by the international development charity CAFOD.

Bernie Slater got involved in an around the world challenge as part of the Share the Journey campaign.  Initially, the target was for CAFOD supporters to walk once around the world – 24,900 miles.

Since the launch of the campaign action earlier this year, more than 90,000 miles have been walked by people like Bernie.

Bernie’s shoes sat alongside hundreds of others sent in from people across England and Wales, refugees in Calais, MPs and international CAFOD staff, trailing out of the Cathedral to show the importance of bridging the needs of compassion and dignity to refugees.

The Share the Journey campaign was launched by Pope Francis in September 2017 and is being championed by Catholic charities such as CAFOD. The campaign calls upon the Prime Minister to ensure the UK takes a prominent lead at a UN assembly in New York, where world leaders will reach two new agreements on protecting refugees and migrants.

Bernie said: “I hope with all my heart, that the ‘powers that be’ are moved by the deep concern of the hundreds of us who have walked to ‘share the journey’ with all the displaced peoples of the world. That they take seriously the need to change the way we treat those who find themselves bereft of all security and comfort. That when they meet in September there will be a new heart and a new plan for us all to work together, to protect the vulnerable in a much more caring and effective way when crisis befalls them.”

CAFOD’s local representative in Salford, Steve Burrowes, added: “People from across England and Wales, especially in the Diocese of Salford, have really united in support of the Share the Journey campaign.

“To have Bernie’s shoes sitting alongside so many others was extremely poignant and shows just how widespread the support of this campaign has been.

“Share the Journey will deliver a powerful message to world leaders that we want new global agreements that ensure refugees and migrants can live fairly and with dignity.”

Find out how you can join the campaign at cafod.org.uk/sharethejourney