For seventeen SSpS from across Europe, walking the Camino de Santiago became a transformative pilgrimage of shared faith, fellowship, and inner discovery.
Arrival at the majestic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the journey’s final destination.
The path that transforms the heart
Walking. That was the word that marked each day of our pilgrimage to Santiago. On September 19, eighteen sisters from different European countries—Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Romania—embarked together on this adventure of faith.
The First Step: More Than Miles to Santiago
Walking the Camino de Santiago with my sisters (Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit) was much more than a physical experience: it was a true spiritual and communal journey. We set off with our backpacks filled with hope, prayer, and the desire to encounter God every day, in the steps we shared, and in the silence of the Galician paths. From the very first day, we understood that it wasn’t just about reaching Santiago, but about allowing the Spirit to transform us at every step of the way.
Daily Lessons in Fellowship
From Sarria to Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide, Arzúa, O Pedrouzo, and Monte do Gozo, each day gifted us with a lesson. There were moments of exhaustion, rain, blisters, and silence, but also of laughter, songs, hugs, and prayer. Walking in fellowship helped us experience that consecrated life, like the Camino, is lived step by step, supporting one another, sharing the little we have, and encouraging each other in weakness.
Masses Along the Way: The Spiritual Heartbeat
The experience of the Masses on the Camino de Santiago was a spiritual high point—a time of reflection, community, and ritual that combined deep religious significance with communal celebration and self-awareness. Participating in them was experiencing the culmination of a physical and spiritual journey, sharing faith, emotion, and community with thousands of pilgrims.
Encounters: The Universal Language of Faith
In our encounters with other pilgrims, we discovered the universality of faith: faces from so many countries who, though they didn’t speak the same language, shared the same desire. Every glance and every gesture was a reminder that we are a Church on the move, guided by the Spirit.
The Arrival: A Goal Within
On arrival at the Cathedral of Santiago, after days of effort and prayer, we realized that the goal was not only there, but within us. The Camino had awakened a deep sense of gratitude, a desire to continue the inner pilgrimage, and to live the mission with a simpler, more open, and fraternal heart.
Carrying the Camino Home
Today, back in our communities, we carry the certainty that God walks with us, that the Spirit breathes in every step, and that every missionary life is, at its core, a Camino de Santiago: a path of faith, surrender, and encounter.
The True Compostela
The path ends, but the journey does not. Returning home with the same feet that set out, but with hearts irrevocably changed—widened by sisterhood, deepened by silence, and guided forever by the rhythm of steps taken together in faith. The true Compostela was not a certificate, but the transformation found within a shared pilgrimage.
Sr. Vanina Vanesa Miño SSpS – Region of Spain-Portugal
Group Impression : The most challenging moments were the initial long walks and shared accommodations, which tested our physical limits and comfort. We met these trials with humor, drawing strength from our shared prayer, the Eucharist, and daily fellowship to overcome the fatigue and discomfort. In spite of these hardships, the experience remained profoundly beautiful for each of us.
What was the biggest personal change you noticed in yourself after completing the walk? I discovered that I enjoyed most about being a pilgrim is having time and being open what the day brings, and this made it possible to meet each other on a deeper level. I felt blessed. (Sr. Maria Muller – Germany)
What is one thing you brought home from the Camino that has stayed with you? The pilgrimage was a precious time of reflection for me. Each day began with a short spiritual reflection and ended with sharing within the group – a rhythm that opened my heart and broadened my horizons. Being together on the road was particularly moving: we came from different countries, yet we were deeply rooted in the spirituality of our founder Arnold Janssen, as well as Mother Mary and Mother Josefa. These common roots sustained and united us. Along the way, I had the opportunity to meet many people and rediscover the beauty of nature. These encounters – with people as well as with God’s creation – enriched my heart. And finally, it was a time of prayer: a grateful pause to feel God’s loving accompaniment on my journey through life and to thank Him for it. (Sr. Lelia Surtina – Austria)
Did you form any meaningful connections with other pilgrims during the walk? During our pilgrimage, I met a family and three women from Australia. They asked me about my nationality. They were amazed to learn that Indonesia is home not only to Muslims but also to many Catholics. I told them that the large islands are predominantly Muslim, while the small islands are predominantly Catholic and Protestant. I was deeply impressed that we met people from all over the world who had come together with the single goal of reaching Santiago de Compostela. It was a sign of the unity for which Jesus prayed. (Sr. Serafin Bona – Austria)
Describe one moment from the journey that you will never forget. A moment from my pilgrimage that I will never forget was being surrounded by beautiful, unfamiliar nature and meeting new people. This experience gave me a deep sense of inspiration, transformation, and inner healing
(Sr. Maria Ansila – Romania)
