Palomita Pilgrimage leader, Cimela Kidonakis, just completed the Camino de Santiago, her first time on this pilgrimage!
"This was such a unique experience, different than any of the many pilgrimages I’ve been on. It was made up of deep connections and deep prayers for a deeper impact! God was so present from morning to night.
The walk together made it easy to form deep connections with people around me. I felt like we were a little tribe and we were all in it together. We were so present to each other because we were detached from future commitments, there was nowhere else to be but walking. I wasn’t learning theology, or about a Holy place, or trying to site see, I was simply walking with God and seeing Jesus in my brothers and sisters and praying together. Although it was easy to remain in the present moment, the pilgrimage allowed plenty of time to reflect on current struggles and enter into deeper prayer through mass and adoration.
The last day I was in Adoration in the side chapel in Santiago and I was able to better talk to and hear God - the week had prepared me to sit with Him in adoration. That was a special moment in my life.
I’m still processing the trip because so much of it left a mark. This experience has been transformative and I am still seeing fruits from that prayer. "
We designed a new prayer card for Fr. Ryan that Cimela could share with pilgrims along the Camino.
"Mrs. Stawaisz told us that Fr. Ryan had always wanted to hike the Camino. We decided to bring him with us on our walk! We heard it's very common to trade items with pilgrims you meet on the walk. We created a special prayer card with the help of Gage McCall. The back features part of a homily Fr. Ryan gave on Good Friday, a homily we feature in the film.
Some of the pilgrims in my group helped pass out the prayer cards and leave them in the various chapels we visited. One time I walked into a chapel and a pilgrim was holding the card and taking a photo of the quote on the back. Alexandra from our group had arrived minutes before to place this card by the candles. He loved the quote and was moved by Fr. Ryan's words.
Often on the way of the Camino you will see rocks on the signs of where to turn. The rocks may represent a burden or prayer intention that a traveler may be carrying with them on their journey. One day a group of us all came upon a giant Cross in the field and had to stop. One of the pilgrims ahead of us had already left a Fr. Ryan prayer card here. We each went around and offered up a rock and intention we were carrying. It was a very emotional moment for each of us to say our prayer here and leave it at the foot of the cross."
Stay tuned for Cimela's Camino video coming soon!
St. James, patron of pilgrims, pray for us
