Archbishop Kieran O’ Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, will lead
the inaugural ‘Miles for Mission’ walk on Saturday 22 October. The 5k walk, which is an initiative of World Missions Ireland (WMI), is being held as part of the mission month of October celebrations.
His Excellency, Mr Richard Opembe, the Kenyan Ambassador to Ireland will also join in the event which will begin at 11.00am in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Proceeds from the walk will go towards the Love and Hope Centre for people living with HIV/Aids in Nakuru, Kenya.
The centre, which was co-founded by Franciscan Missionary Sister Patricia Speight from Belfast, cares for the most impoverished and destitute people in Nakuru.
Sister Patricia says that funds like those provided by World Missions Ireland are vital and help ease the constant financial strain.
Speaking ahead of the event, Sally McEllistrim, PR Manager for WMI, said, “We are delighted that Archbishop Kieran is joining us and the presence of the Kenyan Ambassador is wonderful too, given the huge numbers of Irish missionaries with links to Kenya .We are hoping that our event will be a lovely occasion for people to come together, enjoy the missionary camaraderie and help raise funds for a wonderful cause as well. This event will give us time perhaps to reflect on our own ‘missionary walk in life’ and the imprint we are making. It will be a fun occasion too as missionaries have a wealth of wonderful stories and so we will raise spirits as we raise funds.”
World Missions Ireland is the official mission outreach charity of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
It supports missionaries and mission projects in up to 80 countries throughout the world.
For more on their work see www.wmi.ie.
Sponsorship cards for the walk are available by contacting pr@wmi.ie.