Camino Santiago Pilgrimage

47 of us participated in the Camino Portuguese walk, 15 from Porto and the rest united in Vigo. The Tweekers (2 weekers) gave us wisdom from their prior week of walks, and the Vegans (1 weekers) expanded their familia as we all journeyed together to Santiago. 

This Camino came with different obstacles than my first. There were more injuries and illnesses, different heartbreaks and frustrations. Yet, through the incredible grace of God, each of us walked into the city, stood before the most epic of Cathedrals, and went down to the tomb to meet the remains of St. James. The botafumeiro swung its incense through the cathedral with such might that tears were the only things that could remain from such blessed healing. 

As if our pilgrimage was not enough, we had to top it by helping make history. Our group was able to permanently forge a pilgrimage path from California to Santiago. People in the United States who walk the path of the 21 California Missions can earn up to 30 kilometers for the completion of their Compostela Certificates!

As a token, we brought a historic icon painted connecting the California missions with the Santiago Basílica, which was blessed and signed by each bishop in California. The icon, along with our picture, will be interned in the museum for the rest of history to witness. The path of Camino de California is now recognized throughout history as an available path toward Santiago de Compostela and one’s pilgrim certificates.