Pilgrimage is an ancient Christian practice, a way of retreating from the regular rhythms of life and engaging in an intentional journey, witnessing the ways God has been and is at work in his world.
At Granite Springs, we have occasional group pilgrimages, and have the wonderful opportunity to follow along with our Senior Pastor Kevin and Gerry as they model this practice for us. As they often say, the invitation of a pilgrimage is to make “every step a prayer.”
But you don’t have to travel abroad to be a pilgrim. You can join these trips in praying along and, of course, we have our labyrinth and path here at the church, a simple and beautiful way to “be a pilgrim at home.” Join us, fellow pilgrim, as we experience the wonder of God’s grace in this way.
Camino de Santiago: “The English Way”
A Note from Pastor Kevin
As Gerry and I walk the Camino this year (June 28—July 10), our theme will be “healing.” Part of the tradition of the Camino—and most pilgrimages—is to pray (and search) for healing. The walk itself is really a prayer for spiritual and physical healing—as well as healing “for the soul.” (Again, a common saying on the Camino is “every step is a prayer.”)
We’ll be praying for all sorts of people for God’s grace and healing – of course Granite Springs people as part of that! If you’d like us to pray for you as we walk, you can fill out the form below (we’ll receive these as we have internet connection).
As a young woman from Poland told us a few years ago—as she walked her fourth Camino de Santiago, and we walked our second, pilgrims often begin with high hopes and agendas. But along the way those “hopes” turn to a kind of “acceptance.” That is the case of many (most?) or our (local and long established) pilgrimages as well.
Buen Camino!
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Ferrol Cathedral
The Camino Ingles (The English Way)—113 km from Ferrol to Santiago, Spain
Ferrol, Spain
June 29-Day 1-Ferrol to Neda
Monastery of Xuvia
Camino Inglés—Day 2–Neda to Pontedeume
Pinchos!! (Small snacks provided for free at some cafes along the way)
This is troublesome!
Crossing the bridge into Pontedeume
Lovely town of Pontedeume
23 floors climbed—this calls for dessert!!
Day 3 (July 1)—Pontedeume to Betanzos—21km and an overabundance of ascents and descents!
16th century bridge in Pontedeume
Leaving Pontedeume
Crossing the Rio Mandeo to enter Betanzos
Day 4 (July 2)—Betanzos to Bruma
Cos, Spain—Camino pilgrims passing by can ring the church bell!
Bocadillo con jamón y queso—wouldn’t be the Camino without it!
Carral, Spain—the weather report said nothing about rain today…
Almost there!
Day 5 (July 3)—Bruma to Sigueiro
Grateful for signs along the way!
Some people use their trekking poles on the Camino. Others push their wheelbarrows! 😁
Beauty helps us keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Artwork along the Camino—a fellow pilgrim! 😉
Sometimes the Camino path is serene. Sometimes the Camino path is not.
Walking into Sigueiro with one of our new Camino friends, Maria, from Ukraine.
Day 6–Sigueiro to Santiago Cathedral
Sometimes you need a helping hand.
Less than 10 kilometers to the cathedral!
God’s beauty
Entering the cathedral plaza
Catedral de Santiago
(Cathedral of Saint James)
Day 7–Santiago Cathedral
Day 8-Santiago to Negreira
Pilgrims resting in the Santiago Cathedral plaza
Pilgrim’s Mass-Saturday, July 5
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Psalm 122:1
We arrived 50 minutes before the Pilgrim’s Mass started, and it was already standing room only!
Side chapel in Santiago Cathedral reserved for prayer.
Peregrinos (Pilgrims) enjoy a much needed rest in the Cathedral Plaza at the end of their pilgrimage
Santiago Cathedral
1st day of the Finisterre (end of the world) route (Destination: Atlantic Ocean)
Up, up, up!
Ponte Madeira—restored medieval bridge
Ponte Maceira—Río Tambre
Monday, July 7 (Day 2 of Santiago to Finisterre)—Negreira to A Picota
Spanish tortilla (eggs and potatoes)—gotta keep up our strength!
Lots of solo time today!
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Past Pilgrimages
Turkey & Greece 2025Portuguese Camino 2024Canterbury Trail 2023Israel 2022Camino de Santiago 2022