The Archdiocese of Liverpool and CAFOD have joined forces for a special fact-finding and faith-sharing visit to Kenya, giving a group of priests, educators and volunteers the opportunity to witness first-hand the impact of CAFOD’s international development work and strengthen links with communities overseas.

Funded by the Liverpool Archdiocesan Missionary Project (LAMP), the visit will enable participants to learn from the experiences of local communities and Church partners in Kenya, bringing back valuable insights to support their own missionary outreach and faith formation across the archdiocese.

Travelling on the visit will be Fr Anthony Kelly, parish priest of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St Swithin, Croxteth; Fr Martin Fyles, who is soon to begin his appointment as assistant priest at St Gregory’s and St Oswald’s, Chorley after completing his studies in Rome; seminarian Joseph Campbell; Susan Noblet, Headteacher of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Euxton; Philip Melia, teacher at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School; Kathryn Edmond, CAFOD Parish Volunteer and Chaplain at Carmel College; and Colette Byrne, Community Participation Coordinator at CAFOD.

The group will depart in August and begin their visit by meeting members of CAFOD's Kenya team. They will then undertake a nine-hour journey to Marsabit, where they will spend several days visiting CAFOD-supported projects and meeting local communities. The delegation will then travel to Isiolo, a further four-hour drive away, to learn more about the challenges facing communities in the region and the ways in which CAFOD and its partners are supporting sustainable development and resilience.

The visit forms part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool's ongoing commitment to mission, global solidarity and Catholic social teaching, helping participants deepen their understanding of the universal Church and the realities faced by communities around the world.

Fr Anthony Kelly said:  “I have always had a soft spot for Africa, which may stem from seeing the terrible footage of the starving families in Michael Buerk’s News Report of the Ethiopian famine in 1984.  The Charity Single, “Do they know it’s Christmas?”, which raised money and awareness for this was the first record that I ever bought.  

“Although I have visited the continent once before, on a holiday to Egypt, I felt drawn by the invitation to go on the trip.  I see it as a great opportunity to be given a snapshot of the lives of the people we meet; how they share and bear witness to their faith, what their education resources are like, and how society in Kenya compares to Western culture.  I do believe that encountering different cultures broadens the perspective and, as our parish is a diverse community, we are blessed to experience this enrichment here at home.”

Sue Noblet, headteacher at St. Mary's Catholic Primary School, Euxton, added: “I feel incredibly privileged and honoured to have been invited by CAFOD and the Archdiocese of Liverpool to visit Kenya and see first-hand the impact of the fundraising efforts of our school at Euxton St Mary's. It is an amazing and life-changing opportunity to witness the wonderful work that CAFOD carries out and to meet the people and communities whose lives have been supported through these projects.

“I am particularly looking forward to learning more about the communities and gaining a deeper understanding of both the challenges they face and the hope, resilience and opportunities that CAFOD helps to foster. My hope is that I can bring these experiences back to our school, sharing real stories and insights with our children and CAFOD group so they can better understand how their fundraising, prayers and support can make a genuine difference to the lives of others around the world.”

“I am so looking forward to this wonderful experience in Kenya and to being able to share it with others on my return.”