End of the Camino - a unique experience for our youth

Well, we have no idea from where to begin in describing the experience so let’s begin at the end: we arrived!!!

250 kilometers in 11 days during which we deepened our spiritual link and discovered many new things about ourselves.

The physical difficulty provoked to think about what we have in our lives, to get to know ourselves, solidify our identity and we learnt from the difficulties that we experienced what our capacities are.

The beautiful panoramas that we encountered, the splendid artistic appearance of each of the churches we visited made us forget the aches and pains after a day’s walk.

The first day was a day full of expectations and excitement. We knew that we were officially beginning the pilgrimage on the Camino Santiago (the Way of Saint James).

Each day we began the day with waking up at six in the morning, when the birds are still sleeping and the sun still rests a few hours before shining. We would get ready in less than half an hour, eat breakfast and read the Gospel, pray and set off on the way to the next destination. On the way we met many new friends from a vast variety of countries. Sometimes we only spent a few moments with them and at other times walked with them for a few days. The feeling of spiritual and religious belonging was sensed with all the others who were walking even if we did not get to know most of them in any depth. The feeling was powerful and moving.

The view of the stormy ocean that was almost always to our west side reflected that we too are sometimes stormy and without direction. Each time we saw the crashing waves, we looked within and saw to what extent we lack peace in our lives. The experience of the Camino helped us to build up our personality in a better way, to know what are our strong points and what are the weak ones. The Camino showed us a brief glimpse of our lives and this helped us to discern whether we are at peace with the way we are. What is the meaning of my life? In which direction do I want to go? How can I cope in situations of weakness, anger, pain? And these are just a few of the questions that came into our heads as we walked.

The weather did not brighten our way and most of the time it was rainy but this did not stop us and on the last two days the rain got stronger however our faith that God wanted to wash away our sins on our way to the destination, Santiago, strengthened too. When we finally did arrive it was an unforgettable and moving moment. The desire to shout “I did it!” surged up within us and a smile constantly played on our lips. What made that smile even wider was the ceremony during which we received the certificates that testify officially that we are pilgrims who have walked the way. It will be impossible to forget the special mass that was celebrated especially for the pilgrims.

The end drew near but every end is a new beginning. The trip had a positive effect on us and we are going home with new understandings, purified of sin and ready for the school year as we should be. This was indeed a unique, moving and unforgettable experience.

We thank the benefactors who made the trip possible, especially the German Association and Pontifical Mission.