Day 31 of the Camino

Today was day 31 of the Camino. Our destination was Sarria (11 miles). We had to climb another mountain thus the reason for covering less miles. It's getting late over here in Spain and I'm tired so no big post tonight, just pictures. 

Good night and Buen Camino!

Day 30 of the Camino

Today was day 30 of the Camino. Our destination was Triacastela (13 miles). I'm behind with my posts and I'm too tired to write so I'm just including a few pictures. I made a mistake with our Camino schedule and found out from Claudio this evening that we arrive in Santiago on June 5th instead of June 6th. That was the best mistake I've ever made. So now we only have six days until we reach Santiago. Amen!

Picture of the Eucharistic Miracle that took place in O'Cebreiro. Look it up online to know the story behind the miracle.

Image of our Blessed Mother and the infant Jesus at the church in O'Cebreiro.

I lit three candles at this church: one for my parishioners, one for my family and friends and one for Bishop Flores, Bishop Peña, the priests, deacons and their wives, seminarians, and religious who work in the diocese of Brownsville . 

An image of St. James as a pilgrim at the church in O'Cebreiro.

The morning was cool and overcast. The picture above shows the Camino.

Janice, Sr. Leota and Peter walking the Camino.

Peter doing the "Cotton Eyed Joe."

The beauty of the Camino!

One of the many cows that Sr. Leota talked to. 

One of the many dogs Sr. Leota petted and talked to.

The inside of a small church that we passed. The top of the retablo has the child Jesus standing in front of a cross.

I can't take this anymore! When are we going to get to Triacastela?

Dear Lord, please let this walk be over soon. 

It's only 4 more miles. Animo ladies!

An old abandoned chapel along the Camino.

The beauty of the Camino. You can't imagine how green and beautiful it is.

A huge tree trunk! There were many of these in this area.

Good night and Buen Camino!

Day 29 of the Camino - Dedicated to people who are contemplating suicide.

Today was day 29 of the Camino. Only eight days left until we reach Santiago de Compostela. Our destination was O'Cebreiro (6.6 miles). Our walk started and ended with cool air and rain. We only covered a few miles today because we had to climb a tall mountain. By the time we reached the top of the mountain all of us were soaking wet and literally walking in the clouds.

I walked most of the day with Sr. Leota and Padre Benjamin. I walked in front of the two of them but would pause every now and then in order for them to catch up. Padre Benjamin walked behind Sr. Leota just in case she slipped or needed any help. 

The path was muddy and rocky. It was also very green and beautiful. We were told by David that it rains quite often in the region of Galicia and he was right.

One had to be very careful where they stepped because there was a lot of horse and cow droppings on the path (that's the nice way of saying these animals pooped on the path). 

All along we had feared this climb because David kept telling us it was going to be very difficult. I personally think the climb would not have been difficult at all if it had not been raining.

At one point of our walk a farmer was moving his cattle down the mountain and they passed right beside us on the Camino. He had a herd of about twenty cattle. As the cows moved toward us, one cow in particular began to run right towards Padre Benjamin. When I say "run," I mean the cow was running. Had that cow not changed his course and jumped off the path, Padre would be in the hospital recovering from being impaled by the cows horns. Pretty scary moment. I shouldn't have laughed but it was kind of funny watching Padre's eyes pop out of their sockets. 

Today I offered my walk and prayers for people who are contemplating suicide. Most of us know someone who has attempted or committed suicide. I think it's very important for us to know that most people who contemplate suicide or actually commit it don't want their lives to end but instead they want their pain to go away.  

Let us pray that those contemplating suicide will to find the help and support needed to deal with their pain. Below is information taken from the National Suicide Prevention website that I believe will be helpful in educating all of us about suicide.   

Taken from the National Suicide Prevention website:

No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

What Are The Warning Signs For Suicide?

The following signs may mean someone is at risk for suicide. The risk of suicide is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs, seek help as soon as possible by calling the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
• Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
• Talking about being a burden to others.
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
• Sleeping too little or too much.
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
• Displaying extreme mood swings.

Helpful Links:

Find a Therapist or Support Group

Speaking to a therapist or attending a support group can help you work through your grief and improve your overall mental health. The following resources can help you find a psychologist, psychiatrist or support group near you.

Create a Safety Plan

Having a plan in place that can help guide you through difficult moments can make a difference and keep you safe.

Watch Stories of Hope and Recovery

Told through the voices of these individuals, their families, and the professionals in their support network, each inspiring story recounts one person's journey from a suicide attempt to the life of hope and recovery he/she is leading today.

Day 28 of the Camino - Dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Staff and Volunteers.

Today is day 28 of the Camino. Our destination was Vega de Valcarce (15.3 miles). The weather was cool and breezy.  The forecast called for rain so we wore our rain gear throughout the day .  For those who aren't aware, wearing rain gear for five hours of walking is like being inside a sauna for thirty minutes. You sweat a lot. As it turns out, it only sprinkled on us at the end of our walk. The worst part is that after all this walking (over 350 miles) and sweating I still haven't lost but a few pounds. Go figure!

I walked the day with Sr. Leota, Janice and Peter (aka: Elmo, Dora and Donatello). Once again the majority of our walk was over asphalt and concrete. Our feet, leg muscles and knees always hurt more at the end of the day when the surface we've walked on was hard. I never knew that our bodies could ache so much just from walking. The good news is that we all made it to Vega de Valcarce and we didn't get lost once. 

The Camino path we walked today followed alongside a country road and the river Valcarce. The running water and the singing birds were a nice reminder of God's presence in all of creation. We stopped several times to listen and take pictures. If you enlarge the picture above you can seeing the river in the center. 

The running water reminded me of Psalm 42:2-3 which states: "As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God." 

I offered my walk and prayers today for the parish staff and the volunteers at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Port Isabel. I'm so blessed to work alongside such loving and caring people. All of them have wonderful gifts and talents that they generously share with the people of our community. I miss them all and look forward to working, learning and growing with them upon my return. 

I want to thank Father Mike Gnanaraj, Msgr. Patrick Wells, Fr. Sosa, Rosa, Hena, Gina, Celia, Ricardo, and Gilberto for picking up the pieces and doing the extra work during my absence. Because of their skill and generosity, they made it possible for me to take this sabbatical. I also want to thank all the volunteers who generously give of their time to help the parish staff complete weekly projects. May God bless all!

Good night and Buen Camino!

Day 27 of the Camino - Dedicated to all marriages.

Today was the 27th Day of the Camino. Our destination was Cacabelos. It was supposed to have been a 13 mile walk but we got lost in Ponferrada for fifty minutes and ended up walking two extra miles around the city. We asked for directions at least five times and got five different answers. The last person (# 6) to give us directions got us back on track. I was upset by this time because we had lost so much time. To top it off, we had a late start in the morning so that meant we wouldn't finish our walk until 6pm. The walk was particularly difficult today because most of the Camino was concrete and asphalt which made our feet and legs very sore and tired.

Today was also the 42nd wedding anniversary of Peter and Janice. 

Despite our getting lost I think they enjoyed their special day. Peter surprised Janice by having a pretty floral arrangement placed in their hotel room. Janice gave Peter a beautiful card and a foot shaped rock that she found on the Camino. 

Before we got lost in Ponferrada we came upon this old castle. I don't know the history about it but I'm sure it's online if your interested in learning about it. (That means I'm too tired to look it up and provide the information for you).

The picture below is a side view of the castle.

In the picture below, my sister Janice is standing next to a statue of a Knights Templar who is holding an image of the Blessed Mother which legend says he found inside the crevice of an oak tree. The title for this image of Mary is: Nuestra Señora de las Encinas.

Below is a picture of Sr. Leota back out on the Camino after a day of resting her blistered feet. I really admire her, Janice and Peter. Despite their blistered feet, aching knees, hips, and age, they all keep trucking along. Sr. Leota received two more nicknames today. 

The first was "Gilligan" because of her white hat and the second was "Elmo" because of her bright red rain jacket.

I prayed this day for all marriages to be open to learning, changing, growing and seeking the truth. May the words of St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians help married couples to understand how they are called to love one another.

13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated,

13:5 it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,

13:6 it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

13:8 Love never fails.

Good night and Buen Camino!

Day 26 of the Camino

Today is day 26 of the Camino. Our destination was Molinaseca (15 miles). It was a cold and windy day up until the last hour of the walk. At that point it became warm. We climbed two mountains both of which were very difficult to ascend and decend. It took us 3 hours of climbing going up and about the same coming down. The rocky terrain really did a number on my feet and legs. 

This was also the day in which we were to leave our rock at the foot of the iron cross. We all have been carrying a rock since we left Roncesvalles. 

The rock symbolizes many things to each pilgrim. My rock symbolized the burdens I have carried throughout my life. I also carried my rock for the burdens of my family, parishioners and friends. I prayed that we all could be set free from our worries and hurts and experience the peace and love that God so generously wants to share with us. 

The prayer prayed by some pilgrims as they leave their rock is: "Lord, may this stone, a symbol of my efforts on the pilgrimage that I lay at the foot of the cross of the Saviour, one day weigh the balance in favour of my good deeds when the deeds of my life are judged. Let it be so."

As we continued our journey we experienced the beauty of God's creation. We saw many beautiful wildflowers along the path of the Camino.

We also experienced the beauty of the mountains and valleys. 

As the day came to a close we all shared a meal together and afterwards went to bed. My whole body was tired and achy. 

I went to bed as soon as we got back to our hotel and thus the reason for not posting about my day. I didn't pray for any particular intention today but I did think of many of you and offered prayers to God for your needs. Blessings and love to you all!

Good night and Buen Camino!

25th Day of the Camino - Dedicated to people diagnosed with having cancer.

Today was day 25 of the Camino. Our destination was Rabanal (13.75 miles). The morning was cool (mid 40's) as we began our journey. During our morning instructions, Sr. Leota struck up a conversation with this gentleman from Norway (Sr. Leota's family roots originate from there). Of course I teased her about her new "friend." All in fun. 

Afterwards we headed through town and came across this house that was designed by the famous architect Gaudi. It was incredibly stunning and beautiful. The man really had a gift for designing! If you'd like to see more of his work search online for the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona.

Next our group stopped off at the Astorga Cathedral. We wanted to visit its interior but they don't allow visits while the celebration of the Mass is taking place.  Since the Mass had just started and we had a late start we decided it was best to keep walking to the next town. 

The picture above and below are of the front facade of the Cathedral. Notice the two different colors of stone in the upper picture.

Once we arrived at the first town on our route we stopped for coffee and tea at a local bar. It seemed that the owner of the bar was having a bad day. She was sarcastic and short with Fr. Benjamin and David. I knew that I didn't want to be a part of her negativity so I decided to walk on ahead of the group why they sat and drank their coffee and tea. During my walk I prayed for the bar owner hoping that her day would get better. After all, we all have bad days but we don't have the right to inflict our negative thoughts, words or attitudes onto others. I need to remember that the next time that I'm having a bad day. I hope you do to.

"As the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and recall the everlasting covenant that I have established between God and all living beings--all mortal creatures that are on earth." Genesis 9:16

Throughout our pilgrimage we have been blessed with seeing various rainbows. Today was no different. It was just a different kind of rainbow, one painted on a marker along the Camino instead of the many we have seen in the sky. Perhaps a Cursillista painted it? I saw it as a small reminder of God's presence and love for me as I walked the Camino. 

Several people that have cancer asked me to dedicate a day of prayer and walking for them and all others who have cancer. Today was the day that I dedicated to them as I lifted them up in prayer. I'm asking you to pray for the following parishioners and friends who have cancer: Elvia, Henrietta, Sergio, Maria Gloria, Alice, Norma, Rosie, Ashley, and Fr. T.J. Martinez, SJ. I know there are many more names that need to be added to this list so please forgive me if I left someone off. I ask that we all take  time out of our busy schedules to offer up one Our Father and one Hail Mary for these and all others who have cancer. 

I apologize that I'm a day late with posting but I didn't have wifi last night in my hotel room and I wasn't able to finish this post until now. Thanks for reading and please continue to pray for all peregrinos who are walking the Camino.

Good night and Buen Camino!

24th Day of the Camino - Dedicated to all children and youth.

Today is day 24 of the Camino. Our destination was Astorga (15 miles). The weather was much nicer today. The morning started out cold (36 degrees), but by midday it was warm enough to walk without a jacket. I walked the whole day with Sr. Leota (aka: Little Red Riding Hood; Big Bird; Weeble's Wobble). Sr. Leota and I had many nice discussions that included the topics of prayer, faith, family, and ministry.

I was very proud of Sr. Leota for completing the day's walk. It was not an easy task with her jet lag. Of course I was there to coach her, push her and cheer for her, especially when we were walking up hills. She ended up getting three blisters so please pray for her feet to heal quickly. 

Today would have been the 53rd birthday of our dear friend Fr. Ricardo Garcia. During our walk we thanked God for the gift of his life as we shared our favorite stories about him and prayed for healing and strength for his parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Rest in peace Ricardo!

Fr. Ricardo Garcia

May 24, 1961 - February 21, 2011

As we journied toward Astorga we were amazed at the beautiful snow capped mountains in the distance. We wondered if we were going to have to climb them. We certainly hope not. (You'll have to enlarge the picture to be able to see the mountains with snow).

When we entered the town of Obrigo, Sr. Leota and I decided to prayer morning prayer atop of a medieval bridge in the center of town. It was nice praying the psalms with her in such a beautiful setting. The picture above is of the river that ran under the bridge.

After we finished praying we continued our journey toward the next town where we met up with Fr. Benjamin. He was resting by this cross waiting for David to let us know if we should eat lunch in this particular town or wait until the next one. David drove to the next town to see if the  "bar " there was open. He asked Fr. Benjamin to wait by this cross until he returned. (Sometimes "bars" are closed in a particular town making it difficult for pilgrims to find something to eat. In some cases a pilgrim might have to walk 6-8 miles until he finds a bar that is open). It turned out that the "bar" in the next town was open so we continued to walk. I didn't mind because it was only 11:35am and I wasn't hungry right then.

After lunch Leota and I walked a short distance behind Janice and Peter. I noticed that Janice's backpack was pink like Dora the Explorer's. (You'll need to enlarge the picture). It was then that I nicknamed her "Dora." We do silly things out on the Camino to pass the time. Giving each other nicknames is one of them. Fr. Benjamin is known as "Speedy Gonzalez," because he finishes the walk every day at least 30-40 minutes ahead of everyone in our group. Peter is called "Peter Rabbit" and "Donatello the Ninja Turtle," because his backpack is green. Leota gained a new nickname today, "Webble," because she wobbles back and forth as she walks and that reminded me of the old commercial that "Webbles wobble but they don't fall down".

Throughout the Camino one sees many beautiful gardens. The picture above and below are some of the gardens we saw today. 

About 3 miles from Astorga Sr. Leota and I saw Janice, Peter, and Fr. Benjamin visiting with someone at a rest area for pilgrims.(The Camino has many rest areas along its path that  provide benches, tables, and water for pilgrims).  As we got closer to the rest area I recognized that the person with whom they were visiting was my good friend Claudio, the one responsible for arranging our pilgrimage. When we arrived at the rest area I visited with Claudio for several minutes. He told me he was in town to check on us and to join us for dinner. After the short visit, we left Claudio to finish our walk. However, fifteen minutes later with 2.3 miles to go, Claudio stops all of us and invites us to have a snack and soda at the town just outside of Astorga. Actually only Claudio ate something (menudo) and the rest of us had something to drink. I told Claudio that we needed to go and that we would see him later. On entering the city we came across this statue of a cowboy pilgrim. 

Across the street from the cowboy statue was this church named, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I thought of my Comadre Socorro and said a little prayer for her.

We finally arrived at the Plaza Mayor in Astorga where we were met by David and Claudio. Our hotel was located in the Plaza Mayor area so we didn't have to walk any further. We were happy to hear that. It had been a long walk and we were all very tired. Everyone showered and rested a bit before joining up again for dinner at 8pm. 

That was the jest of our day. Please note that walking the Camino is not as easy as the movie, "The Way" portrays it. Walking so many miles per day brings with it problems and concerns like people face in everyday life. Our response to these problems and concerns is like that of others, just keep walking.

My prayer and walk this day was dedicated to the children and youth of the world. I prayed that they would experience love, patience and understanding from their parents, teachers, and other influential adults in their lives. I prayed for an end to the many types of abuses that children and youth suffer on a daily base and I asked God to help those who are broken and depressed to find healing and hope amidst the difficulties they face. Please join me in praying for all our children and youth to know the love of God in their lives. May we be the instruments through which God reveals His love. 

Good night and Buen Camino!