CA Lourdes 125: Southwark Archdiocese

Earlier this week, there was a lot of walking for the CA Lourdes 125 sponsored walk (https://www.justgiving.com/page/calourdes125sw) – but all in Southwark Archdiocese this time.

Bishop Paul Hendricks, President of the Catholic Association and Bishop in the Archdiocese of Southwark was able to join Matt from the Carmelite Shrine at Aylesford Priory. The Carmelites returned to Aylesford Priory in 1949. Bishop Paul started the day with the Angelus at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Simon Stock - they then walked to the outskirts of Rochester – a town on the Medway, which is associated with Charles Dickens – as well as its castle and cathedral.

After saying farewell at the M2, Matt carried on to Rochester Cathedral and added petitions for all CA pilgrims at the medieval shrine. Matt then carried on to Strood. After a small break, Matt went to Gravesend and visited the church of Saint George’s (along the Thames) where Pochantas (the real one and not the Disney version) is buried.

Matt then continued his walk from Blackheath which is on the outskirts of London. Here the famous ‘Church on the Heath’ resides on the edge and slightly away from the town. Matt walked along the heath until Greenwich. Greenwich is famous for the Royal Observatory and the Gardens – it is a stunning area as you can see from the photos.

More walking then occurred along the Thames and a detour to Saint George's Cathedral (mother church for the Archdiocese of Southwark). In total 22.4 miles was walked.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored Matt and the team so far – we are very grateful. We are nearly at the target – Portsmouth, Northampton and East Anglia (in that order) are next…

https://www.justgiving.com/page/calourdes125sw