July 7

     Our last time all together before each of us headed home, culminated at the noon Pilgrim Mass.  People streamed in from all over the world from every path and language.  Everyone came with different stories, heart aches and joys.  We have made it - now to go home and begin to put it all together.  The service ended with the swinging of the giant botafumeiro, bathing all in incense.

Arrival - Wednesday, July 6

     The arrival into the city of Santiago and the approach and entry into the cathedral is not something easily described.  It was powerful but different for all.  We will continue to unpack these adventures as we return home.  An artist I met in the city wrote in her book of sketches of the Camino, "Blessed are you pilgrim because you have discovered that the authentic 'camino' begins when it is completed."   Perhaps the greatest gift of walking the way of St. James will be to live every day life a little bit more as the pilgrimage that it is.

Fifth Day

Below are a few moments along the way from Caldas de Reis to Padron.

                          

                                               

Late in the day, Bernie and I went off the route a bit to climb 115 steps to the Monte Santiaguino where it is told that James preached the gospel.  It was quite moving to be in the space where this man who walked with and followed Jesus lived out his calling.

Third Day

     Today is the third day that all CCC pilgrims have been on the road.  We all go at separate paces as we do in life.  I think of the first few days as a time to unwind from every day routines.  In three days we have been on ancient Roman roads, beautiful country trails, steep hills and in quaint towns.  We have learned much about foot care and muscle aches after close to forty miles.  At the same time, much is always stirring inside.
     Marcus Borg considered pilgrimage as a spiritual practice that will always take us to a "thin place."  Celtic Christinity describes these places as "where the boundary between God's transcendence and immanence is very porous."  The Camino leads to the Cathedral of Santiago but that is not what the way is all about - it unwinds us enough to glimpse those thin places that are always before us.  As cobwebs are removed tears may come, the holy in each other is clearly seen and the past, present and future somehow all stir together.  God is in all and all is one.
     We will continue to keep you posted and in our prayers

We have all made it by the hardest and will begin walking together in the morning.  A few have already put in 60 miles!  Jose' from Portugal GreenWalks gave us instructions for the journey.

Porto!

Porto!

Heading out!

Your Prayers Are Requested For Our Adult Pilgrims

Pilgrims from Christ Church Cathedral request your prayers as they prepare for one of the most important Christian pilgrimages, the Camino de Santiago. Dating from the 9th century, the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe.  Walking 10-13 miles per day from Portugal to Spain, the pilgrims’ journey of spiritual devotion will culminate at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) located in the Cathedral de Santiago, and where they will take part in the Pilgrim’s Mass and witness the huge Botafumeiro, the famous thurible that spectacularly swings across the vast expanse of the cathedral’s transepts.  Please pray for our pilgrims’ journey of sacred encounter and spiritual transformation.