There, I also experienced an unforgettable, impromptu pilgrimage with other young adults from all over the country, who were also participating in the symposium. This experience was our own Jubilee camino at the border that united us in a shared spiritual experience and fostered a deep sense of connection and unity.

Inspiration came from our group’s visit to the Padre Margil Pilgrimage Center, located along the El Camino de San Antonio Missions.  This center was established following the restoration of its four active missions along the riverwalk. Inspired by the El Camino de Santiago in Spain, visitors while on the pilgrimage in San Antonio can purchase a “passport booklet” to document their visits to the four missions on the route and San Fernando Cathedral.

The Journey Begins

Our group of young adults began our journey at Mission Espada and ended at the Cathedral, a 12-mile journey, while carrying prayer intentions from our fellow classmates. We intended to place these prayers on a bulletin board near the feet of the Cristo Negro, which hangs in San Fernando Cathedral’s entrance. During our first visit to the Cathedral — the day before our camino — the bulletin board was empty; our goal was to fill it with our own.

Reading the map, it struck me that our walking pilgrimage mirrored how many Hispanics trek to a better life: some in our group were themselves children of immigrants or are immigrants.  Like them, our walking path took us northwards to the cathedral, the same direction as if we were crossing the border into the United States.  Similarly, I traveled with those whom I had never met before, just as groups of immigrants often do.

Persevering to the End

I never thought that I would be capable of doing a pilgrimage like this. But I decided, 'Why not take the chance?' The idea was spawned by a few with a desire to experience something amazing and not well-known. I would also like to point out that it is encouraged on their website to do this walk in February rather than in July (as we did) due to the potentially high temperatures.

I admit that by the time we reached the Concepción Mission, the second to last stop, I was ready to throw in the towel. But then, finally making it inside the Cathedral, I was overwhelmed with emotions that I cannot put into words as our journey came to an end. We had persevered and filled the board at the Cathedral with our intentions!

A Personal Pilgrimage

I truly felt that God was with us on our little group’s pilgrimage, and that He heard our prayers.  It also transformed my faith because this journey showed me that God works in each person that we meet on our path. The kindness and warmth of strangers as they encouraged us on our journey, and my extended family of faith with the Fellows of Haciendo Caminos — though we live all over the country — will forever bond us in faith in our shared border camino experience.

I had made this pilgrimage for my parents. As a first-generation Hispanic/Latina, I was reminded of the sacrifice and risk my parents took when attempting to become citizens. It was humbling to share in just a sliver of what they endured, and it filled me with a deeper sense of gratitude for their gift. Jesus and the Holy Family are so much more alive to me because they made a similar journey, a journey of uncertainty but with hope and faith in God’s plan for their family.