Walking the Camino de Santiago

By Fr. Steve DeMaio, SDB, Province Vocation Director

(New Rochelle, NY – June 24) – From Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 25, Bro. Rafael Vargas and I accompanied seven young men on the Camino de Santiago. We started in Tui, Spain, and walked 75 miles over six days until we arrived in Santiago de Compostela, the city that proudly venerates the remains of St. James the Apostle.

This trip offered me, and I'm pretty sure I can speak for the others, a profound experience of God's providence, whereby every day seemed like an intentional gift from God. I saw Him present in the guys that accepted the challenge to walk with us, the pilgrims we met along the way, the hospitality that we received as we entered each town, the weather, the moments of prayer, and even the difficult and painful moments that are very much part of the Camino. It was all a gift.

There is something about carrying whatever you need on your back, trying to live a simpler life, allowing your heart be opened to whatever is in store for that day, and being grateful for being blessed to live in God's beautiful creation. Arriving in Santiago was an experience of being part of something very ancient, as the pilgrimage dates back centuries, but at the same time, something incredibly new that speaks to the modern heart.

If you are looking for a challenge, enjoy walking, praying, and meeting people from around the world, and you are looking to deepen your reliance on God, I believe the Camino would be for you. If you have any questions or if you want to walk next year, let me know! The province and the Salesian Family were very much in our prayers as we walked. Buen Camino!