A Porthmadog and Pwllheli priest will walk 150 miles to raise money for a new heating system for the church.

Fr. Francis Ayogu, from Nigeria, will walk the Camino from Porto in Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Ordained in Abuja in 2012, the Missionary Priest was sent to the UK in 2013 where he served with the St. Patrick Missionaries until 2017.

He was appointed Director of Promotions for the Missionaries of St. Paul (MSP), and during the pandemic served as Chaplain to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

Fr. Francis was sent to Pwllheli in 2022.

He took Wales to his heart, attended Welsh classes, and when the National Eisteddfod came to Boduan the following year he proclaimed the Gospel in fluent Welsh at the Eisteddfod Mass organised by Y Cylch Catholig.

In 2024 Fr. Francis climbed Snowdon to raise money for Parish funds. This year he invites sponsorship for the 150-mile Camino which he will walk next month.

“The Camino is first and foremost a Pilgrimage,” said Fr. Francis, “and during the 150-mile walk to the Shrine of St. James I will be praying for the parish and for all who have sponsored me.”

He has raised over £3,000 so far, which Fr. Francis plans to put towards a new heating system at the church in Porthmadog, which is a listed building designed by Clough Williams-Ellis, the architect of Portmeirion.

“The church of the Most Holy Redeemer is beautiful,” he added, “but it can be perishingly cold in winter. A new heating system will transform our church – both for our Parishioners and for the hundreds of visitors who join us for Mass during the course of the year.”

Fr. Francis will be accompanied on the Pilgrimage by three of his parishioners.

If you would like to sponsor him, please visit porthmadogpwllhelirc.wordpress.com.