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‘Everybody Walks Their Own Camino’

‘Everybody Walks Their Own Camino’

Michelle Tedford October 02, 2024

It took 13 days of walking — through rainstorms and mud, under sunshine and clouds, alongside sheep and pilgrims — for the students to reach Monte do Gozo, the “Hill of Joy.” It is the spot in Spain on El Camino, also known as The Way, where those who have embarked on a faith journey to the final resting place of St. James the Great first see the spires of their destination, the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

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It is a path followed by multitudes since the 9th century. And on May 29, Rachel Young ’23 became another pilgrim to experience her first glimpse of the basilica.

She remembers the exhilaration of sitting on the hill alongside her fellow Flyers and thinking, “We’re almost there.”

 

map of the walk across Spain
Flyers' path along El Camino

Seven students and a recent graduate walked 160 miles in May to complete the pilgrimage coordinated by Campus Ministry and the religious studies department, funded in part by donors. Religious studies professor Nicholas Rademacher and Father Bob Jones, S.M. ’98, University chaplain, taught a course on pilgrimage during the spring semester and joined the Flyers on the trek.

Pilgrimage is a concept found in many religions and that spans human history. For every walker, the experience is personal, said Jones: “Everybody walks their own Camino.”

As sophomores in 2022, Rachel Crossman and Kailey Peppard excitedly approached Jones and first asked him to lead a trip along El Camino.

“I was looking to strengthen my faith and get to know the Lord,” Crossman said.

“I was looking to strengthen my faith and get to know the Lord.”

In the evenings, the Flyers joined with others walking The Way in pilgrim Masses. During the day, Flyers with full packs on their backs walked at their own paces, sometimes alone, sometimes alongside others, reflecting on the moment in time they were sharing on this holy path.

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Guides professor Nicholas Rademacher and Father Bob Jones, S.M.

Senior Adam Cartwright described reaching their destination as “surreal,” a moment of great satisfaction and also sadness that their journey together was coming to an end. The night before he flew from Spain back to Dayton, he pulled out his journal and wrote a prayer of thanksgiving. In part, it reads:

“Thank you, Lord, for every blessing, every ounce of strength, for hope, for persistence, for every answered prayer, for every church, for every Mass, for every highway, dirt road, rocky path and wooded lane which you most graciously gave to us along the way. I’m grateful for every deep and intimate conversation I had, every prayer I was able to pray, and every load which you made lighter. Lord Jesus, I owe you El Camino de Santiago.”

MARIANIST MOMENT

The pilgrims started their trip by visiting with the Marianists in Zaragoza, Spain. It’s the city to which the Blessed William Joseph Chaminade fled during the French Revolution. Praying before the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, Chaminade found inspiration to return to France and help form the Marianists.

FAITH AND BEAUTY

Students joined the pilgrimage to grow in faith. Some were also drawn by the challenge of the walk or the beauty of the Spanish countryside. It was a long 13 days full of challenges and revelations. “One thing I figured out on El Camino was a lot of life in general comes down to the mindset you take into it,” said senior Adam Cartwright.

PILGRIMS’ PASSAGE

Opportunities to explore and deepen faith were ever-present along El Camino. On their first day, Flyers went to a Benedictine monastery and joined the monks for Vespers. Father Bob Jones, S.M. ’98, often concelebrated Mass alongside other priests on pilgrimage. He carried in his pack a small, reversible stole and everything he needed, minus wine, to say Mass — which he did in a private service for the Flyers to celebrate the 20th birthday of fellow pilgrim and sophomore Oliver Zimmerman. Rachel Young ’23 served as liturgist for a pilgrim’s Mass in Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, a highlight of her trip.

FEEDING BODY AND SOUL

As the Flyers walked, they encountered all kinds of  weather and terrain. They also befriended fellow pilgrims. In Villafranca del Bierzo, the Flyers cooked too much pasta and invited travelers to share their meal, which also included salad, apples and the dessert Tarta de Santiago. Neomi from Argentina (red jacket) joined them.

JOURNEY’S END

Students stand in from of the catherdral while holding a Dayton Flyers flagThe Way of St. James encompasses many routes throughout Europe, but all paths lead to the cathedral in Santiago, Spain. Flyers posed with their UD flag before exploring the cathedral, including a tour by rooftop. It was a time to rejoice and reflect on how they had grown closer to God — and one another.

Photographs by Madeline Brisken, Adam Cartwright, Father Bob Jones, S.M. ’98, Maximilian Muresan, Rachel Young ’23, Oliver Zimmerman. Thanks to the bookstore for providing the Dayton Flyers flag.

Moments with Mary