Posts Tagged ‘MAX Stories – The Camino’
Life, faith unpacked on the Camino
Fr. Eduardo Rivera is the Campus Chaplain for the University of St. Thomas – Houston (UST). When he agreed to go on the study abroad trip to walk the Camino de Santiago, he knew he would be accompanying a few students and professors, but he didn’t know how the experience would become a metaphor for life – with opportunities for spiritual growth, building community, and finding humor during tough moments.
Before walking the Camino, Fr. Eduardo thought about what to bring and what to leave behind – physically and spiritually. He encouraged all the UST pilgrims to reflect on the baggage they would carry with them because 14+ miles per day is a long way to walk when you’re carrying everything with you, and it’s a long time to be alone with your thoughts and prayers. By the end of the 80-mile trek, Fr. Eduardo and his fellow pilgrims had found new lessons to take home.
In this episode, Fr. Eduardo shares his own experiences as a pilgrim on the Camino and his unique position as the chaplain to see the growth among the other members of the UST group.
Fr. Eduardo’s story about prayer and discernment.
Dalia’s Episode about finding support and encouragement on the Camino.
How time away changed my perspective
This is Dalia Sifuentes, a nursing student at University of St. Thomas – Houston. After months of a packed schedule, she wanted to take some time away so she could focus on her relationship with Christ and others, so she signed up to walk the Camino de Santiago. She couldn’t believe what she came away with and how it will affect her life moving forward.
Dalia is a busy person. Her classes and clinical schedule for nursing school are demanding. On top of that, she is involved in clubs and activities that fill even more of her time. With all she had to do, she found herself never leaving time to focus on what really mattered. So when she had the chance to get away on a study abroad trip to the Camino, she knew it was the perfect chance to reset.
Dalia wanted to use the trip to focus on her relationship with Christ. She knew she would have plenty of opportunities during the long pilgrimage walks to reflect and pray. What she wasn’t expecting was how her interactions with other pilgrims - from UST and around the world - would help her know herself in an even deeper way. Without tasks to complete or the pattern of busyness and stress, she had to face what was at the core of poor relationships and learn to love herself and others more profoundly when she came home.
The Beauty of the Journey
This is Dr. Trisha Ruiz. She is the Senior Director of Veteran Services at the University of St. Thomas – Houston. In this episode of MAX Stories, she shares how walking the Camino de Santiago forced her to be aware of the beauty of the journey, even when - or maybe especially when - there’s a little pain along the way.
Trisha is a planner. But when she decided to walk the Camino, she just wanted to experience what was to come without doing her usual research and meticulous scheduling. She didn’t know exactly what to expect, so she turned to silent prayer during the hours and days with plenty of time in solitude. The physical and emotional suffering was a lot. Halfway through the trip, it nearly broke her. She leaned on her experience as a veteran and a yoga instructor to help her embrace the pain instead of trying to escape. She knew that living in the moment each step of the Camino was the best way to get to the end.
When the walk was over, she realized the experience had strengthened her. She even thought that the beauty of the journey was more important than the destination.
Hear more on our challenge to make time for silence.
From Cancer to Camino
This is Dr. Jo Meier-Marquis, Tenured Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST). A cancer diagnosis nearly prevented her from joining the UST pilgrimage to walk “The Camino.” But by spring of 2024, she had finished her treatment and got the okay from her doctors. Going from cancer to the Camino hadn’t been her original plan, but her passion for study abroad helped her overcome her nagging reservations.
If you watched our previous episode in this series, you know the Camino is not a regular hike. Pilgrims walk up to 14 miles a day, so Jo was understandably nervous about the physical demands after her cancer treatments. But she found support in her fellow UST pilgrims, shared conversations and reflections, and the daily Masses. She also found that the time for peace and reflection on the long walks was renewing for her spirit.
The Camino is a challenge for every pilgrim, and Jo had to face her own unique obstacles both mentally and physically. She chose to face her reservations and anxieties, and she found a reward in the peace and calm of her walks in Spain and since she’s come home to America.
What is it like to walk the Camino?
This is Dr. Ulyses Balderas. He is an Associate Professor at the Center for International Studies at the University of St. Thomas – Houston. He's also expert in creating amazing study abroad experiences for students to learn in other cultures. In late spring 2024, he led a group of students to walk the Camino pilgrimage.
The Camino de Santiago - or the Way of St. James - or simply The Camino is not your ordinary hike. It involves walking about 15 miles each day, contemplating the steps of St. James on your way to his burial site in Spain - a pilgrimage that’s been popular since the Middle Ages. Now, it is a network of routes across Europe which meet at the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela. Beyond the physical exertion it takes for the pilgrimage, spiritual fruits await for those willing to walk the walk.
Explaining the reason behind the trip, Dr. Balderas stresses the importance of stepping away from life’s routines and reflecting upon where you're headed. He shares stories from the trip about how the group embraced the challenges that came with such an intense physical journey. He also talked about how they learned from each other - adults and students alike - as they went.
