After the Camino…

Beautiful Scenery

I’ve just returned from a 31-day walk across the north of Spain. It was a fantastic experience. Walking alone, walking with others, praying in the countryside, praying in the churches, carrying everything I need, sharing when others need, feeling blisters and sore muscles, great albergues and hospitaleros, early mornings, early nights, the sounds, sights, smells, and silence of nature, enjoying the company of others, listening, talking, laughing, sharing, caring… and the list goes on. Arriving in Santiago was one of the highlights; realising that that is when the Camino really begins was one of the insights.

Camino Companions

Walking the Camino taught me to be grateful for the real things in life – people: family, friends. We are all walking on the path of life, sometimes alone, but always together, making a journey in different ways but arriving at the same ultimate destination. People everywhere are really all the same – simple needs required by us all: kindness, sharing, respect, a chance to speak, a time to listen, the need to give and receive love and friendship, a place to rest and sleep, a simple meal shared with friends (or strangers who will become friends). This is what is true for us all. Let us give thanks for the beauty of the world around us, the glory of God and the people who travel our journey with us.

Fifth years, watch this space – in September you will hear more….

Here is an animoto slideshow that captures a few images of my journey in June.

Many thanks to all who sponsored my walk (done on behalf of Gormanston) and donated money to the Jack and Jill Foundation. Nearly €1800 has been raised and still more to come!

Buen Camino – Prayers, Petitions, Peparations

As many of you may know, I am going to walk the Camino de Santiago following the ‘Camino Frances’ or the ‘French Way’. I will undertake this journey in June to pray for the students in my 6th Year Religion class who will be sitting their Leaving Cert while I am scaling the Pyrénées. In addition to this prayerful intention, I have decided to fundraise for Jack and Jill Foundation. The College has been supporting this very worthy charity all year long. A number of fifth years wanted to be involved, and I am very appreciative of their interest. However, due to the last minute nature of the event, I will end up going alone on behalf of Gormanston College.

I plan on walking 800km – from St Jean Pied de Port in France, across the Pyrénées, through La Rioja, Burgos, Leon and into Santiago de Compostela – starting on the 2nd of June and hopefully finishing early in July . I’ll post the odd up-date on Twitter(@Kate_e_Ryan), Facebook and the Gormanston Religion Blog – so you can see my progress – both the pain and the pleasure!

Here’s a short video that will give you a taste of what the journey might be like:

Buen Camino!

The symbol of the scallop shell represents the journey pilgrims make in honour of St James the Apostle. His tomb is said to be in the great Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in northwest Spain.

There are several routes along which to make this pilgrimage, the most popular being the Camino Frances – or French Way. This route has been made famous by pilgrims and tourists alike and most recently by Martin Sheen in the movie ‘The Way’ as well as Peter and Natasha Murtagh in their book ‘Buen Camino’. It is the most popular route among international travellers possibly for its scenery and relatively manageable terrain.

This journey is taken for many reasons ranging from the spiritual to the bodily. I will undertake this journey in June to pray for the students in my Religion class who will be sitting their Leaving Cert as I am scaling the Pyrénées. Others are welcome to join me on this trip.

Here is a short prezi that gives a brief introduction to the Camino Frances: