WALKING THE WALK

Intimidated by the prospect of walking 487.5 miles in 33 to 35 days? Fellow parishioner Joe Santisto is not. He is motivated, he trained, he prepared, and beginning September 14th, he will do it! Wearing a backpack weighing about 15 pounds, using 2 walking sticks, carrying his Credencial del Peregrino, (registered passport to be stamped at intervals along the route), Joe will embark on an adventure that he expects to be a transformative experience.
Having chosen one of the most historic pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, the Camino Francés, starting in the Basque region of north-eastern France, Joe will begin his trek in St Jean Pied de Port at the Cathedral Our Lady - Le Puy-en-Velay.
Undaunted by challenges, the thought of which would defeat the faint of heart, he will initiate his journey by crossing the Pyrenees into Spain. Averaging 15 to 16 miles per day, interspersed with a few days of rest, he will have achieved his goal culminating in a visit to the tomb of St James the Great. The apostle brought Christianity to the Iberian Peninsula in 44AD. Therefore in keeping with a directive from St. Jerome, the remains of St. James were transported from Rome and are now located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia), which is a world heritage site. There Joe will be awarded, the beautiful document, the Compostela.
As Joe follows, not the yellow brick road, but rather the yellow arrows pointing the way to his sacred destination, we, his friends and fellow parishioners, can join him in mind, heart and spirit by praying that he meets with success in his physical and spiritual quest.
If you would like to know more about this pilgrimage dating back to the early Middle Ages, check out either the fictional voyage portrayed by Martin Sheen, “The Way” 2011, or the documentary “Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago” 2013.