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Rhode Island March: Joyful (Footsore) Witness

Episcopal News Service. June 1, 1978 [78161]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- More than 300 Episcopalians marched from all over this state to the cathedral here on a sunny May Saturday to raise $3,000 and celebrate a ministry with the hungry of the world.

The march was the culmination of two years of intense involvement by this diocese in the problems of world hunger -- involvement that began with a quick response to hunger crisis of the mid-1970s and has continued through the work of a task force and the active support of the bishop, the Rt. Rev. Frederick H. Belden.

The march itself was the result of the task force's decision that it was time for the entire diocese to bear witness to the work. It was based on the dramatic fund raising efforts that were a key factor in the rebuilding of the war-ravaged Coventry Cathedral in England.

The blueprint was approved by Bishop Belden and the Diocesan Council. The Task Force set up several committees for logistics, arrangements, education, worship, publicity and research. Task Force members attended deanery meetings to present the plan and to serve as consultants to parish committees. Letters were sent by the Bishop and Arthur Olsen, Chairman of the Task Force to the deanery Chairmen.

In March, parishes were asked to:

• Appoint a representative for the Bishop's Hunger Meal and program if none was yet appointed.
• Identify one delegate as liaison for the Hunger March
• Watch for and use the educational material they would be receiving guiding the relating of the hunger program with "Venture in Mission."
• Plan to walk if possible, or help in other ways. By all means plan to attend the service in the Cathedral climaxing the March.
• Pray daily that our March for Hunger might be a great unified witness by all Episcopalians in Rhode Island to all Christians, and all others of good will who live within the borders of this diocese.

The day dawned with the blessing of beautiful weather, and the March for Hunger began:

• From the outermost parishes along the borders of the diocese to the heart of the diocese, the Cathedral of St. John in Providence, groups of people walked along the roads of Rhode Island, simultaneously from all points of the compass, all radiating in to the same focus.
• The marchers relayed from parish to parish. They carried banners made by their parishes, and some carried processional crosses.
• At Grace Church, Providence where marchers from East, South and West made their final stop, they were joined by Bishop Belden, Mrs. Belden and Mrs. G. Cuthbert Woodroffe, wife of the Anglican bishop of the Windward Islands, companion diocese to Rhode Island, for the final march through the center of Providence to the cathedral.
• The culmination of the March was a Eucharist at our cathedral, with a procession of crosses and banners, an offering of the monies raised, and a message delivered by the Rev. Charles A. Cesaretti, Hunger Officer for the National Episcopal Church.

The offering for the hungry was obtained from three sources; sponsors for the marchers, with each parish or deanery setting its own pattern for this; corporate fund-raising within each parish and the sacrificial efforts and giving of individuals. Seventy-five percent of monies gathered will go to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, and twenty-five percent will be distributed among the deaneries in Rhode Island to be used for their choices of local hunger projects.

Copies of the Training Packet and further information about the March may be obtained from Arthur Olsen, 190 North St., Warwick, R.I., 02886.