Many of our parishes have been organising Share the Journey walks to support the global Share the Journey campaign led by Pope Francis and Caritas Internationalis and stand up for the rights of refugees and migrants.

Scarborough Catholic Parishes’ confirmation group and Canon Eddie Gubbins walked the 3.6 miles from St Peter’s Church to the North Shore and around to the South Shore and back again. Well done to the young people leading the way and to Canon Eddie too!

The annual Humber Bridge Cross saw staff, supporters and volunteers from Christian Aid and CAFOD walked the two-mile span from Hessle to Barton and back again, as they have for many years. They were joined by Father Anthony Chundellikat James, from St Anthony and Our Lady of Mercy, Hull.

It was, as always, a very pleasant event with a jovial air and a shared mutual concern for people in need both at home and overseas. The almost 200 people taking part ranged from babies in pushchairs to octogenarians.

This year CAFOD Middlesbrough volunteers and supporters met their counterparts and schoolchildren from CAFOD Nottingham, who were participating for the first time, near the middle of the bridge.

Thanks to all who helped to organise the event and those who made long journeys to get involved, including three generations of the Wilson family from Market Weighton and our new communications volunteer, Obinna, and his friends, William and Ty, from Middlesbrough, pictured at the top with parish volunteer Mary Rose, from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Market Weighton, and Carol Cross at the end of the walk.

CAFOD parish volunteer Don Lillistone reports that 42 parishioners from St Mary’s Cathedral walked to Mass, producing a combined total of 147 miles.

The Walk to Church Sunday is also an element of the parish’s Livesimply action plan, under the heading “Actions to live sustainably with creation”, which is linked to the talk Deacon David Cross gave last November on Laudato Si’ and to the recent launch of the new diocesan environmental policy. Pictured are two parishioners having just signed up their walking miles with Teresa Lyth.

SS Leonard and Mary’s Parish, Malton, held a summer service and Share the Journey walk. Other walks are being planned by Our Lady and St Edward, Driffield on June 24 and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Ingleby Barwick, who are walking to Preston Park followed by a family picnic after 11am Mass on Sunday July 1. Why not organise a walk over the summer in your parish? Resources are available to order from cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Share-the-Journey

If you would like to volunteer for CAFOD, please email middlesbrough@cafod.org.uk or call 01642 822301.

• After 13 years working with CAFOD in our diocese, I will be taking a break for renewal from mid-July until September, with a grateful heart for receiving so many blessings. Thank you for all the friendship, support and generosity I have benefitted from over the years.                                  

Carol Cross, community participation coordinator, CAFOD Middlesbrough