WALKATHON: A LENTEN SACRIFICE 2024

WALKATHON: A LENTEN SACRIFICE

The Youth Commission of Most Holy Redeemer Church, Derebail, put together an awesome Walkathon on March 8, 2024, adding some zest to the Lenten season. The walkathon began from Derebail Church and headed towards the famous St. John Paul II Shrine in Bajpe, with about 220 parishioners from all walks of life tagging along.

The day started off with a heartfelt prayer led by Rev. Fr. Joseph Martis, the Parish Priest , who gave his blessings before the parishioners  hit the road. The trek, a journey of 13 km started at 5:40 am. It was both exciting and challenging.

Everyone enjoyed the journey in their own way. A break was taken at Antony Katte to recharge and reboot the team's energy, enjoying some lime juice and sweet buns. It was a much-needed boost to keep the team going strong.
The parish priest of Antony Katte, Fr. Francis Rodrigues, briefed about the history of the shrine and encouraged the walkathon team to complete the rest of the journey. The last leg of our journey was tough, but the parishioners of Derebail Parish stuck together, fueled by determination and teamwork.

Finally, everyone made it to St. John Paul II Shrine in Bajpe, feeling pretty proud of themselves. The participants celebrated with a hearty breakfast, digging into some delicious food and sharing stories of their adventure. Then, all  attended a meaningful mass led by Fr. Anil Lobo, who gave his blessings and prayed for everyone's intentions. Fr. Anil Lobo briefed on the shrine's history.

Afterward, some fresh watermelon and oranges were served wrapping up the day on a sweet note. As said goodbye and headed home, feeling grateful for the chance to come together as a community and make memories that'll last a lifetime. Fr. Kevin Dsouza oversaw the organization of the entire event.

Report by: Janice Coelho 
Pictures: Parishioners