Katherine Radeka
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Francés (2023)
Camino Portuguese (2024)
For my fiftieth birthday, I decided to give myself a sabbatical from my consulting work to walk the Camino Francés from SJPP. Yesterday, the final piece fell into place so that I could commit to the trip.
In younger days, I did a lot of hiking with my good friend, Claudine from Marseilles, who taught at an international school in Portland. During an epic backpack in the Olympic National Park, where we did the park's entire coastline trail system in four days, she told me about the Camino. It's haunted my dreams ever since.
In 2013, I had a spiritual awakening that led joining a secular Franciscan Companions group affiliated with a Third Order Franciscan religious community devoted to serving the poor. I've since made two pilgrimages to Assisi, and I'll do my third one with this group right before I start the Camino, as a way to transition away from my busyness and always-connected life.
Everyone I know who's done the Camino has told me to GO! NOW! rather than waiting until my life slows down. It's taken me a year and a half to prepare, mainly because I needed to work with clients and the others I serve on timing, and make sure that my staff is ready for six weeks of very limited contact. I also had financial and sales benchmarks to hit in order to make sure that I had a business to come back to. Yesterday, I hit those targets. So I'M GOING! I can hardly believe it.
In Assisi, I love walking the streets of a place that has been sanctified by the footsteps of so many pilgrims over the centuries, all coming because Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi have inspired them. The saints' presence is palpable. I love praying in places, and with images, alongside all the souls of those who've been there before.
This is also the call of the Camino. I am looking forward to following this path, which the tradition holds that St. Francis himself took 804 years ago (albeit a different route, probably). Of course, he didn't have so many places to find café con leche!
At the same time, I know that we all travel this earth as pilgrims, wherever we go, and there are as many reasons for undertaking this journey as there are footsteps on the Way. I welcome connecting with people who are making this journey for whatever reason.
If you're on the Camino Francés from May 2 to June 15-ish, look for a fair-skinned redhead in long pants and sun shirt with a green Osprey pack and Black Diamond poles.
Buen Camino!
In younger days, I did a lot of hiking with my good friend, Claudine from Marseilles, who taught at an international school in Portland. During an epic backpack in the Olympic National Park, where we did the park's entire coastline trail system in four days, she told me about the Camino. It's haunted my dreams ever since.
In 2013, I had a spiritual awakening that led joining a secular Franciscan Companions group affiliated with a Third Order Franciscan religious community devoted to serving the poor. I've since made two pilgrimages to Assisi, and I'll do my third one with this group right before I start the Camino, as a way to transition away from my busyness and always-connected life.
Everyone I know who's done the Camino has told me to GO! NOW! rather than waiting until my life slows down. It's taken me a year and a half to prepare, mainly because I needed to work with clients and the others I serve on timing, and make sure that my staff is ready for six weeks of very limited contact. I also had financial and sales benchmarks to hit in order to make sure that I had a business to come back to. Yesterday, I hit those targets. So I'M GOING! I can hardly believe it.
In Assisi, I love walking the streets of a place that has been sanctified by the footsteps of so many pilgrims over the centuries, all coming because Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi have inspired them. The saints' presence is palpable. I love praying in places, and with images, alongside all the souls of those who've been there before.
This is also the call of the Camino. I am looking forward to following this path, which the tradition holds that St. Francis himself took 804 years ago (albeit a different route, probably). Of course, he didn't have so many places to find café con leche!
At the same time, I know that we all travel this earth as pilgrims, wherever we go, and there are as many reasons for undertaking this journey as there are footsteps on the Way. I welcome connecting with people who are making this journey for whatever reason.
If you're on the Camino Francés from May 2 to June 15-ish, look for a fair-skinned redhead in long pants and sun shirt with a green Osprey pack and Black Diamond poles.
Buen Camino!
