Father and Son Camino Pilgrimage

The Camino de Santiago is a walking pilgrimage that ends at the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in Galicia Spain.  Tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried there at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  For centuries, pilgrims have made this walk as a way of honoring, petitioning, or growing in their relationship with God.  Pope Benedict XVI summed up the Camino in this way.  “The fatigue of the journey, the variety of landscapes, their encounter with peoples of other nationalities – all of this opens their heart to what is the deepest and most common bond that unites us as human beings: we are in quest, we need truth and beauty, we need an experience of grace, charity, peace, forgiveness, and redemption… Deep down, all those who come on pilgrimage to Santiago do so in order to encounter God who, reflected in the majesty of Christ, welcomes and blesses them as they reach the Pórtico de la Gloria.”

The idea of a pilgrimage has an incredibly strong foundation in both the Old and New Testaments. The spiritual importance of pilgrimage is manifested often in physical journeys and trials — from Abraham’s journey of faith all the way to the missionary journeys of St. Paul.  Looked at from a religious perspective, a pilgrimage is a trip different than usual. It is not only for admiring masterpieces of art, although many places of pilgrimage are full of history and beauty.  One goes on a pilgrimage to ask God for help needed to live more generously your own Christian vocation once back in your home. Therefore, the pilgrimage is not, and never should be, just “a journey to a place of religious interest.” Alone or with others, it is a physical component of the path of one’s heart toward God.

This pilgrimage is targeted at fathers and sons or grandfathers and grandsons.  I think a young man of 10 or old should be able to handle the riggers of the daily schedule.  I can also see father’s taking their grown sons.  It is never too late to strengthen the bonds of family.  We never know when our earthly pilgrimage will end and we will go to the next.  You don’t have to be Catholic to go, but be advised we will be drinking fully of the deep Catholic culture along the way.

In 2023 we setup a non-profit call Camino Fully Alive, Inc.  We are very serious about keeping costs as low as possible. Since walking, praying and visiting are the main activities, the cost of this pilgrimage are surprising low for a two week trip. Our estimate is $950 to cover food, lodging, travel health insurance, buses/trains, donations to churches and other pilgrimage related expenses.  However, your cost could vary depending on your decisions along the way. The largest variable is the round trip ticket to and from Madrid.

All food and accommodations are found along the way.  Therefore you can leave your tent and food prep items at home.  We will have more info on this in the future, but basically you need a couple changes of clothes, toiletries, a hat, hiking pole and a back pack.  Oh, and a poncho if we get caught in the rain.  During our 2021 pilgrimage, my backpack weighed about 15lbs.  Ideally you stick to 10% of your body weight or less.