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There’s no greater feeling than embarking on a hearty walk in the great outdoors with likeminded people, discussing the matters that mean most to you.

The Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust understands this thoroughly, which is why they recently organised a series of five faith walks to bring the community closer together.

The walk served as an opportunity to meet other families from school, as well as the wider community, to discuss faith and what it really means to each person.

In November, the BCCET is launching ‘Gaudete: A Mass Setting’, which has been created with pupils from the Trust’s 30 schools, composer Will Todd, and local parishes.

‘Faith: A Celebration’ will be held at Rainton Arena on November 23, where the audience can listen to excerpts from the new Mass Setting and other liturgical and secular music.

In line with the launch of this new mass setting, those who took part in Walk for Joy were encouraged to share their favourite songs or pieces of music.

Walk of life… Literally!

The first walk was held on Thursday 7 September from St Godric’s Catholic Primary School in Wheatley Hill, to St Joseph’s Church in Blackhall. This walk even featured a very special guest! Recently appointed Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Bishop, Stephen Wright, was in attendance.

He said: “I would like to thank Brendan Tapping, CEO from Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust for inviting me to attend the first of the Trust’s walks.

“It has been an absolute joy, and reminded me of the road to Emmaus, when the disciples said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road’.

“It was a great opportunity, and I would recommend others to attend – plus there is tea and cake at the end!”

A great experience for BCCET associates

To ensure that as many people as possible could get involved in such a wonderful idea, BCCET kept the locations and times of the walks varied.

Walk 2 was held on Friday 8 September from 17:00-19:30 and started at St Joseph’s Church in Blackhall, to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School in Shotton.

Just the following day, on Saturday 9 September, Walk 3 took place from 10:00 – 12:30. Attendees walked from Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School in Seaham, to St Anthony’s Convent of Mercy in Sunderland.

Sunday was a day of rest (of course), so Walk 4 commenced on Monday 11 September from 17:00 – 19:30 in Sunderland, and Walk 5 on Tuesday 12 September, from 16.30-18.30, from Hebburn to South Shields.

No man (or woman) left behind!

When arranging the saintly series of walks, the BCCET ensured all sessions would be at an easy pace and conclude with refreshments at the final location.

Those with mobility issues, or those who were unable to complete the walks, were welcome to attend the event to enjoy hot tea and delicious cake.

Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “We were delighted to hear about this innovative idea from our friends at Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.

“Schools North East is a big advocate of getting out and about, enjoying long walks that benefit both our mental and physical health. The idea to combine this concept with the topic of faith, which means so much to the BCCET community, was great.

“We hope everyone thoroughly enjoyed their walks, and we hope to hear of more in the future.”

The walks were part of a series of creative collaborations across BCCET, enabling pupils and staff to explore and celebrate their identity and spirit of community.

The project was launched in 2020 and unites the Trust’s 25 primary and five secondary schools, along with local communities, through music, dance, poetry and visual arts.

Previous events have included a virtual choir of more than 180 pupils from 11 schools performing We’ll Meet Again for VE Day in May 2020; Angels we have heard on high, a carol written by Bishop Chadwick, performed by their virtual choir of almost 2,000 pupils; and Footsteps into Paradise, an immersive musical and art experience held over two nights at Durham Cathedral in July 2022.

The ‘Walk for Joy’ activity is a brilliant one to add to an ever-growing list of achievements. Well done, BCCET!

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