The much anticipated 80km Walk & Prayer happened on Friday the 16th of February 2024.

The journey began with 20 participants which included Oblates, Pre-Novices, Associates from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Divine Mercy and Body and Blood of Christ meeting at the Mission House as early as 04:00 hrs and departing for St Kizito, Insuza 80 kilometres away from Bulawayo where the walk was going to begin. Around 04:20 hrs the participants left in 2 cars for Insuza and arrived at St Kizito Mission around 05:30am and when we arrived we found 10 parishioners from St Kizito Mission waiting for us.

We began by dividing ourselves in 3 groups and each group was given a Cross and petition/intentions which the walk participants were going to stick on the Cross as they walked and prayed. Each group walked 20 kilometres from different starting points, Group 1 started their walk @ 06:00 hrs from the 80 kilometre peg up until the 60 kilometre peg, the cars then drove the other two groups to their respective starting points. Group 2 started their walk at 06:20 hrs from the 60 kilometre peg up until the 40 kilometre peg and then Group 3 started their walk at 06:45 hrs from the 40 kilometre peg to the 20 kilometre peg. The idea was to cover the 60 kilometres in more less 3 – 5 hours and hand over the 3 Crosses+ a 4th Group to finish the last 20 kilometres. From the different starting points the groups managed to finish their 20 kilometres between 10:00 – 11:00 hrs,

On the way the participants sang and prayed different prayers: The Way of the Cross, The Holy Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and many different prayers reading the petitions and intentions and sticking them on the 3 Crosses. The 3 groups after having arrived at the last 20 kilometre peg found Group 4 waiting for them, Group 4 included some parishioners from our 3 OMI Parishes in Bulawayo Town (Body and Blood of Christ, Divine Mercy and our Our Lady of Lourdes) and a non-Oblate Parish St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica who wanted to be part of our fundraising Walk and Pray. Around 11:00 hrs Group 4 started their walk from Umguza Tollgate heading towards Body and Blood of Christ Parish in Sauerstown. Despite the heat Group 4 managed to finish and arrive at Body and Blood of Christ just after 15:00 hrs. Thanks be to God no one was injured or suffered from any serious health issues.

Along the way the Walk and Pray participants were given lots of water, bananas, apples, sandwiches, scones, juice and drinks in order to stay hydrated and have enough energy to finish the walk. The Omi Zimbabwe Mission is grateful for the money that accompanied the petition and intentions from the parishioners of St Kizito, Divine Mercy, Our Lady of Lourdes and St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica and we managed to raise USD$ 1 350 from the walk.

Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate.

Thank you and God bless you all.