The Camino Has Something for You

By Blaise Jirak

The Camino has something for you—it just might not be what you expect.

The Camino Has Something for You

The Camino has something for you—it just might not be what you expect.

At this point, I have taken nearly 100 people on the Camino, and it is always amazing to see the different things people take away from the pilgrimage experience.

For anyone who may be unfamiliar, the Camino is an ancient path that Catholics have been walking for more than 1,000 years to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

It is:

A hiking trip
A pilgrimage
A cultural experience
A 62mile challenge
A break from the everyday grind
A chance to connect with the Lord

There are so many different parts of the experience that it can be difficult to highlight them all.

At its heart, the Camino is an incredible adventure and an opportunity to walk with Christ.

Community

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It is incredible to see the groups of people who come together and have the courage to make a pilgrimage like this.

They come from all over the United States—from north to south and east to west. Some are deeply on fire for their faith, while others are just beginning to reconnect with it.

Some are freshmen in college who are still figuring things out. Others are confident young professionals who are beginning to find their footing.

Every trip brings together an amazing group of people. The one thing we all have in common is that we are making this pilgrimage because of our faith.

On nearly every trip, a few pilgrims feel anxious about meeting the group for the first time. However, after a couple of days of walking, praying, eating, and traveling together, those nerves begin to disappear.

The Camino has a way of quickly bringing everyone together and turning a group of strangers into a Camino family.

One of my favorite parts of leading these trips is seeing those friendships continue long after the pilgrimage is over.

A Deeper Experience of Faith

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I don’t know about you, but most days I feel about an eight out of ten on the busyness scale.

Between deadlines, expectations, working out, praying, studying, reading, spending time with loved ones, getting work done, and paying the bills, life can feel like a lot.

I’m not going to lie—I can easily spend four or five hours on my phone just trying to keep up with everything if I’m not careful.

The world is hectic and fast. Pilgrimage is meant to be the opposite.

This year, my dad, my brother, a close friend, and I walked a Camino together. It was amazing how quickly I was able to decompress and make time for the Lord.

When the only thing I need to accomplish that day is walking 12 miles, my 30 minutes of daily prayer no longer becomes a stream of tasks, responsibilities, and new ideas running through my head.

I can finally slow down, be present, and truly talk with the Lord.

Challenge

“You were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”
Pope Benedict XVI

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The Camino will challenge you—especially if you skip the pretrip training we recommend.

You know who you are. 🙂

Walking 62 miles is not a breeze. Even if the physical walking is not your greatest challenge, something else probably will be.

Your challenge might be:

Growing in charity toward another pilgrim
Learning to adapt to Spain’s different culture
Pushing through a day when you are tired or uncomfortable
Letting go of control when plans change
Becoming more comfortable with silence and prayer

Whatever your challenge may be, you will finish the pilgrimage knowing that you accomplished something meaningful.

Before every trip, I say a short prayer:

“Lord, let the pilgrimage go well, but allow enough unexpected moments to make it truly memorable.”

Those unexpected moments often become the stories we remember most.

Experiencing a New Culture

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For quite a few of our pilgrims, joining us on the Camino is their first experience traveling to Europe.

Personally, I love experiencing different cultures—the food, the customs, the architecture, and all the little things that make a country different from where I live.

If I’m being honest, though, the food is probably what I enjoy the most.

I think it is important to try new things and step outside of your comfort zone. The Camino is definitely an experience where you get out what you are willing to put into it.

We promise we won’t make you eat the baby squid—but you should at least consider trying it.

What Will the Camino Give You?

There is so much more I could say about the Camino and what an incredible experience it can be.

Every pilgrim arrives with different expectations, questions, struggles, and hopes. Because of that, every pilgrim seems to receive something different from the journey.

You might find:

A deeper relationship with Christ
Friendships that continue for years
A renewed sense of purpose
Confidence from completing a difficult challenge
A greater appreciation for the Catholic faith
The rest and silence you did not realize you needed

The Camino has something for you. It just might not be what you expect.

If you are interested in joining one of our groups, you can view our upcoming pilgrimages below.

View Upcoming Caminos