St Joseph’s Annual Sponsored Walk from Portishead to Clevedon and Back

The walk started in 1987, the 100th anniversary of our church, to celebrate the commitment of the Franciscans from Clevedon who built our church and served it in those days. We wondered how they got from Clevedon, and as we thought they would mostly have travelled on foot, decided to hold a walk in the Centenary Year to celebrate their efforts to bring the faith back to Portishead. The return trip is about 10 miles. In those days there were only a handful of Catholics compared with our present weekly Mass attendance of about 240. The walk has, since 1987, taken place each year, except a couple of years ago when we were unable to walk on the Coast Path due to Foot and Mouth Disease. Since that first walk, the walkers have been prayed for and sponsored by those not able to walk, and over the years in excess of £6,000 has been raised for a wide range of charities, both at home and abroad.

As many as 30 people have taken part in the walk at times, the youngest walker about 6 years of age (she only walked one way).

We’ve walked in all weathers, lovely sunshine, bracing wind and pouring rain. This year the rain eased off after about half an hour and the rest of the day was fine, even if very slippery under foot. The pictures show some of the walkers at the start, (Deacon Peter was behind the camera and Father Gerry was changing into his walking gear at the time) and again some of the walkers eating their lunch in Clevedon’s magnificent Greyfriars Parish Hall.

Approximately £400 has been collected in sponsorship so far.

Deacon Peter Rose
Useful URL : http://www.cafod.org.uk