Fr Matt’s ‘Ride for Vocations 2’- Ride Across Britain

Fr Matt is getting on his bike again!

This time last year, Fr Matt Anscombe, Vocations Director for Clifton Diocese, cycled 807 miles around the whole of Clifton Diocese as he visited all of our parishes, over 18 days, to encourage us to pray for vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life (check out the Ride for Vocations tab!) This trip saw around 3,000 people come out to meet Fr Matt as he celebrated Mass; led prayer services and dropped into schools. Fr Matt’s “Ride for Vocations” was, for many, an inspiring way of putting across a crucial message – if you don’t ask you don’t get! We need to be constantly praying to the Lord of the Harvest to send more labourers into the harvest.

This year, Fr Matt has decided to launch “Ride for Vocations 2: Ride Across Britain”. Linking his passion for cycling and for mission and vocation, Fr Matt is going to ride 967 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) in 9 days as part of a large supported tour. With an average daily mileage of 107 miles and the longest day coming in at 126 miles, this is no easy challenge, but it’s one which Fr Matt is looking forward to, particularly as each day will have a special prayer intention!

Fr Matt says:
“Last year’s Ride for Vocations was an incredible experience. I felt people really got behind the idea and I’m sure a lot of extra prayer has resulted. Also, the Clergy Training Fund was swelled from £25,000 to £42,000, which is a bonus, especially as we have seen more men starting in seminary, and expect to see more this September too. That’s why I’ve decided to take on another cycling challenge as part of my summer holiday, with a view to encouraging more prayer in the diocese and, perhaps, more money in the Clergy Training Fund too.

LEJOG is an iconic journey and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get involved in this highly organised ultra challenge. Whilst I won’t be seen around the diocese like last year (except for passing through some parishes on Day 2 and Day 3), it is my plan to have a specific prayer intention each day relating to the work of vocations in the Clifton Diocese. I am hoping others will follow my journey on the website and join me in these prayer intentions too.”

Check out the Ride for Vocations 2: Ride Across Britain page, where, over the coming weeks, Fr Matt will start to add details of the different prayer intentions, as well as adding more information about the ride itself and the work of vocations ministry.



_{Source: www.cliftondiocese.com/departments/vocations-2/ride-vocations-2}