Bishop Doug Fisher, diocesan bishop of Western Massachusetts, has decided to explore his diocese on foot. His goal
is to continue a practice of the ancient church where bishops walked their territories – staff in hand – as a visible sign of the universal Church embodied in its leader. The Bishop continues to be that witness of presence and the bridge between local congregations and the larger Church.
Having divided the diocese into three corridors, he walked one last Fall and has spent the past week walking over 60 miles from Greenfield to Southwick, going church to church, but also meeting with people and ministries along the way. His trip has taken him to diverse locations, from the UMass student Union to the Hampshire County Jail.
Although Bishop Fisher has visited each of the 60 congregations of the diocese at least once in the past two years, he is setting out on foot to:
- LISTEN to the experiences and hopes of the people he meets
- TALK about the Gospel informally
- PRAY with people where they are – beyond church walls
- BLESS all who serve the poor, the imprisoned, the sick, the homeless and all who seek his prayers
You can see photos and videos of the trek on the diocesan Facebook Page
posted by Jon White