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The La Verna Community at Ladywell Convent are Walking for Water.
A representative for the community writes:
'So far, we are really stepping it out and exceeding the daily target of 10,000 steps. Since beginning on Ash Wednesday as a community we have walked an amazing 859,512 steps which means we will soon be in the millionaire league! We are enjoying it greatly and delighted to be able to join you for such a good cause. Many of our sisters, including some pictured below have worked in countries where water has often been scarce and where all life depends on sometimes sparse and irregular rainfall.
Nearly all our walkers are in their eighties and we have a few stalwarts who have passed the magic 90! We have a ‘walker of the week’ each week and one of this week’s champion walkers is Sr. Angela Carroll who many of you will miss meeting for a chat in Godalming. Angela is in good form and has taken the walking on with great fervour. St Clare’s community are also joining in this venture so there is some good-humoured competition between the two communities!
Sr June Shirville walks twice a day and takes it very seriously!
You are all very much in our thoughts and prayers at this time of pandemic and may the Lord continue to give each one of you the strength not just to walk for CAFOD but to walk each day of life with peace, courage and love.
You can sponsor the nuns fundraising efforts here.
Super fundraiser Sue O'Boyle a parishioner in Bognor Regis Parish, has raised an amazing £1,100 (so far) for CAFOD.
Sue decided to take up CAFOD's ‘Walk for Water' Lent challenge - walking 10,000 steps a day over the 40 days of Lent, fundraising for the work of local aid workers that CAFOD supports to reach vulnerable families affected by water poverty in some of the world's fragile communities. Sharing why she decided to fundraise for CAFOD, Sue said:
“I was struck by the CAFOD stories that showed the futility of the daily drudge to collect water taking up so much time; with no hope of setting up a small business or expanding their crops and livestock. People who have so much to give, are stuck in an endless cycle of survival through no fault of their own."
Sue joins thousands of CAFOD supporters who are walking in solidarity with their brothers and sisters who cannot simply turn on a tap for clean, safe water.
“I decided that if I could just do something to help, I had to try. My original target was to raise £750 which is on average how much it costs to provide a community with a solar powered water pump," said Sue. " I am hoping to raise enough to do more than that – we shall see!”
The daily steps have been a good opportunity for Sue to reflect on God’s word and His creation, and Sue expresses how much the 'Walk for Water challenge has created a sense of community too; “I have walked with other individual friends - socially distanced and sticking within the local area - who have encouraged me on this journey. I have appreciated the support of others, through prayer and donation giving. Whilst walking, I pray for those struggling for the basics in life, and for every person who has donated.” There are many ways people in Bognor Regis are getting involved with CAFOD’s Lent appeal.
Gabrielle Thorpe, CAFOD's local parish representative, who helped organise the CAFOD Lent appeal in the Parish said:
"Bognor Regis is a LiveSimply Parish, and many of our parishioners this Lent have heard the experiences of communities that CAFOD supports in the global south, sharing their stories of how CAFOD's support has changed lives and spread hope in areas where both the coronavirus and climate crisis are having a devastating impact on their lives. As a parish, we have responded with prayer, compassion, and generosity, keeping this hope alive.”
Three Guilford priests go the extra mile!
On Sunday 21st February, Monsignor Tony Barry, Fr Roy Waters and Fr Thomas Kent announced that they would be joining hundreds of other people across England and Wales in CAFOD’s 10,000 steps Walk for Water Challenge, setting themselves the challenge of walking a total of 800,000 steps between them during Lent. The priests want to support people like Abdella in Ethiopia who spends several hours a day walking to get water for his family.
Monsignor Tony Barry, Fr Roy Waters and Fr Thomas Kent have walked to the churches in their parish to help build up their steps, with Mgr Tony completing 17,000 steps on his return journey from St Pius X in Merrow, after saying Mass there. Speaking about CAFOD's Challenge Mgr Tony said:
“As a Parish we viewed the video of Abdella’s journey for water and felt humbled that we have so much water literally ‘on tap’- and walking to our four Mass centres seemed the least we could do to help.”
If you would like to contribute to the clergy’s JustGiving page you can do so here.
The faith community of Weybridge celebrate the work of CAFOD volunteers during Lent
Parishioners from Christ Prince of Peace Parish in Weybridge, came together at the end of last month, to celebrate the outstanding work that volunteers do in supporting the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) mission fighting poverty overseas. A special Mass was celebrated by parish priest Father Con Foley, there was a CAFOD display on the altar, and during the Mass bidding prayers were prayed which specifically related to inspiring compassion for those in need. Parish Pastoral Assistant and CAFOD Parish Volunteer, Mary Lee, who attended the Mass, explained why volunteering is so important to her:
"Without volunteers, we lose our ability to spread our message locally, inhibiting our ability to help others. CAFOD volunteers want to help people all over the world to live a dignified life."
Volunteering is the backbone of CAFOD's work, bringing parish communities together inspiring and motivating supporters to get involved and make a difference.
Mary has been the driving force behind getting the local CAFOD Lent fundraiser 'Walk for Water' underway, inspiring other supporters to take up the challenge of clocking up 10,000 steps every day over the 40 days of Lent.
"I undertook the Big Walk for Water challenge on 20th February at Painshill Park in Cobham, wearing my CAFOD volunteers’ tee- shirt! Several parishioners are also doing the 'Walk for Water' challenge as well!" Mary concluded: "It is a privilege to help in a small way with the work of CAFOD."
You can support Christ the Prince of Peace Walkers’ Group here.
Victoria gets walking to end water poverty overseas
19-year-old Victoria, from the Church of the Holy Name in Esher, is hoping to make a difference to thousands of lives overseas, by raising money for CAFOD. Victoria wants to see women, children, and men, have the safe clean water they need for their daily lives, she joined CAFOD’s 'Walk for Water' Lent Challenge, after hearing about Abdella's story from Ethiopia. Victoria said:
"When I heard Abdella’s story, I was struck by how close in age we were to each other, and was forced to confront the stark difference between my life and his, given we are both young adults, with similar hopes for our futures."
Hoping to raise an amazing, minimum of £400, Victoria will be clocking up 10,000 steps a day during the 40 days of Lent and while the prospect of completing the step challenge might feel daunting, she is determined to keep going and make a difference:
"It is such a rewarding feeling to know that our fundraising efforts will give so much joy to those who need it. The Coronavirus pandemic has been hard on us all, but just imagine trying to get through it without running water.”
If you would like to contribute to Victoria's fundraising effort you can do so here.
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