Three Guildford priests go the extra mile for families facing water poverty

Ready for Walk for Water Challenge: Mgr Tony Barry, Fr Roy Waters and Fr Thomas Kent

Source: CAFOD

On Sunday 21st February, three priests, Mgr 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 this Lent, the three 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.

"As a parish we viewed the video of Abdella's journey for water and felt humbled that we have so much pater literally 'on tap'- and walking to our four Mass centres seemed the least we could do to help." said Mgr Tony.

Despite this year's preparation for Lent being chalpenging, due to the national lockdowns, CAFOD parish coordinator Stephen Rowden, ploughed through and helped organise the Lent Appeal within his Parish.

Commenting on how supportive members of his parish have been with the Walk for Water Campaign, Stephen says:

"Throughout this time of uncertainty, the parishioners have time and again truly shown how connected they are with the needs of their local community and the world beyond."

They have been an inspiration to our clergy and have inspired them to double the usual number of steps expected! They hope that the commitment and compassion of the parish community this Lent, will send a message of hope to Abdella and all those who hunger and thirst for justice."

You can contribute to the priests' JustGiving page here: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/cpg-clergy-walk-for-water