Diocese puts best foot forward for Catholic charity
Friday 11th April 2025Parishes and schools across the diocese are putting their best foot forward in a bid to support a much-loved charity this Lent.
People of all generations are going the distance to take on the Big Lent Walk for CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), raising thousands for a charity that works to provide much-needed support for communities around the world.
Leading the way this year is Bishop John, who embarked on the challenge in solidarity with fundraisers across the diocese and to raise awareness of the charity’s important work.
He said: “I’m very pleased this year to be doing the CAFOD Big Lent Walk. I expect that sense of journeying and pilgrimage will be important and I will certainly be thinking a lot about the work of CAFOD and the so many benefits it brings to our brothers and sisters – who are facing some of the biggest challenges in our world today – and all that CAFOD achieves on our behalf.”
One parishioner – Bernie Slater – has been volunteering for CAFOD for 40 years, supporting the charity in a number of ways, including taking on the walk for a number of years.
Reflecting on this year’s walk, Bernie – who is a parishioner at St Edward’s in Lees – said: “There is a great need, especially now with the reduction in government aid to developing countries, climate change-related issues, and war, to help those who CAFOD supports – those experiencing poverty, those who are vulnerable, suffering injustices, and struggling with the very basics needed for living.
“The walk has helped my Lenten journey as it’s highlighted the need of others whilst I fundraise and pray for them as I walk. It’s increased my awe and wonder of God’s beautiful creation of the earth and all life upon it whilst I’m out in the countryside each day with the people I enjoy being with.”
Also taking on the fundraising challenge together are students from Loreto High School, who complete the walk each year in aid of CAFOD.
Organised by the Pupil Chaplains, who lead the school’s Justice & Peace Group, the walk has become a major event in the school calendar, with around 16-19 students and two members of staff walking up 27km in just one day.
Deacon Davie Nalikata, chaplain at Loreto High School, said: “It was such a privilege to see that, this year, students were very proactive in engaging the wider community. This wider engagement meant that students have raised awareness about CAFOD and its work outside the school boundaries.
“The support they received from parish priests is also a great testament to the strong Schools – Parish – Home links that we continue to enhance. It was also humbling to see the primary schools get out in good numbers to welcome our walkers on arrival to the various schools we visited along the way, offering them food and drinks, as well as taking part in the Stations of the Cross reflections.”
As we send our support and gratitude to everyone across the diocese who has gone the extra mile in so many ways this Lent, Deacon Davie shares an insight into why this spirit of “Giving and Giving Up” is central to this season of Lent.
He explained: “At Loreto, we began Lent with a Celebration of the Word for each of our year groups, where we reflected on how our growth in faith and closeness to Christ – through prayer – cannot be detached from our closeness to the situations and circumstances that others face.
“We reflected that our “Giving Up” during Lent should always be directed at making the world a better place and that by doing this we, in a practical and visible way, share the Good News of Christ.
“In short, our “living out” through Giving and Giving Up for our brothers and sisters across the world has enabled all of us here at Loreto to draw closer to Christ, whom we are striving to mirror.”
To find out more about the Big Lent Walk and other fundraising initiatives, please click here.
Tagged | Bishop John | CAFOD | Diocese | Fundraising | Parishes
