Offaly columnist reflects on friendship as he walks the Camino de Santiago

There are journeys we take with our feet, and there are journeys we take with our hearts. Sometimes, without even realising it, the two become one. We set out believing we are simply walking a road, climbing a hill or travelling towards a destination, only to discover that the journey is quietly changing something within us.

Recently, I completed the final 110 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago along the Portuguese Way with nine of the most wonderful companions that anyone could ask for or pray for. We walked not only for ourselves, but for a purpose greater than ourselves, raising funds for the wonderful Irish charity Self Help Africa and its work alongside communities striving for a better future across Africa.

Yet, as always, the Camino offered me far more than physical exercise or the satisfaction of reaching Santiago de Compostela. It became a pilgrimage of prayer, reflection, friendship, companionship, gratitude and discovery. Every step offered an opportunity to remember someone, to pray for someone, to appreciate the beauty of creation and to ask myself a simple but searching question - 'Am I living my life in a way that brings love, hope and goodness to others?' I carried prayers for family members and friends who are sick, in hospital, awaiting treatment or grieving. I remembered those who are hurting quietly, those who feel forgotten, young people facing pressure and uncertainty, carers, nurses, doctors and frontline workers who give so much of themselves. I prayed for peace in a troubled world and for the millions of families across Africa struggling with hunger, poverty, conflict and the devastating effects of climate change. I also carried the intentions of those who had asked me to remember them along the way. In many ways, the Camino became one long prayer, offered with every breath, every aching step and every mile.

A companion on the road

One of the most beautiful gifts of this pilgrimage was sharing it with Fr Joe Campbell, who celebrated Mass with us each day in some truly beautiful rural and scenic settings along the way, mostly picked by our fittest on the journey, the caring and loving Michael. There was something deeply moving about pausing our walking, gathering together and celebrating the Eucharist amid the beauty of creation.

Sometimes people passing by would stop and join us for Mass, reminding us that God's invitation is not confined to a church building, a particular country or a particular group of people. God meets us wherever we are willing to open our hearts to Him. The sound of prayers rising into the open air, surrounded by the countryside, reminded me that faith is not something we simply talk about. It is something we live, breathe and carry with us.

A particularly special moment came when Fr Joe concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York in Santiago de Compostela at the conclusion of our pilgrimage. After days of walking, praying, sharing stories and encouraging one another, we gathered with fellow pilgrims to celebrate the Eucharist and give thanks. It was a beautiful reminder that, however different our paths may be, we are united in our search for meaning, our need for God and our hope of becoming more loving people.

What are we searching for?

Pope Benedict XVI once described the human person as being “in quest” or searching for something deeper, something beyond the ordinary routines of everyday life. Perhaps that is why the Camino continues to draw people from every corner of the world. Some walk to seek peace, some to find forgiveness, some to recover from heartbreak, some to make an important decision, and others simply to slow down and listen to the quiet voice of God. We may begin our journey with one intention and discover something entirely different along the way. As I walked and prayed my rosary, I was reminded that beneath the outward appearance of every pilgrim lies a story. Behind every smile may be sorrow. Behind every conversation may be a question that has gone unanswered for years.

Behind every determined step may be a person trying to find the courage to begin again. We must never assume that we know what another person is carrying. Sometimes the person who appears strongest is the one who most needs someone to ask, “Are you really okay?” There is a holy ache in the human heart such as a longing to be loved, to be understood, to belong and to know that our lives matter. We may try to fill that ache with possessions, busyness, achievements, likes, laughs or the approval of others, but the deepest longings of our hearts often call us towards something quieter and more enduring. For me, that something is God and even more the God of Eternal Life.

'What have you brought, and with whom are you walking?'

These words formed the heart of Archbishop Ronald Hicks’s homily at the Pilgrim’s Mass in Santiago. He invited us to look beyond the physical things we had carried in our backpacks and consider what we had brought with us in our hearts. What prayers had we carried? What worries, problems, hopes, regrets and intentions had accompanied us? And who had walked beside us on the journey? His questions stayed with me because they reached far beyond the Camino. They speak directly to the journey each one of us is making through life. What are we carrying today? Are we carrying resentment, anger, fear or old wounds that we have never allowed ourselves to heal? Are we carrying worries about our children, our parents, our health, our relationships or our future? Are we carrying grief for someone we have lost, or a private sadness that nobody else can see? And, just as importantly, with whom are we walking? Are we making room for the people who need us? Are we reaching out to those who are lonely? Are we supporting those who are struggling, or have we become so absorbed in our own concerns that we no longer notice the person walking beside us?

Jesus offers us a beautiful invitation in Matthew's Gospel, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). We do not have to carry everything alone. We can bring our burdens to God in prayer, and we can allow other people to help us. There is no shame in admitting that we are tired, frightened or struggling. Sometimes allowing someone to help us is an act of courage, not weakness. Archbishop Hicks also reminded us of the welcoming nature of the Church, echoing the words of Pope Francis, “Everyone, everyone, everyone.” The Church must be a place where people find welcome, mercy, dignity and hope, rather than judgement or exclusion. Our Lady of the Pillar, whose story is closely connected with the apostle St James, points us towards her Son. The invitation is ultimately to know Jesus more deeply, to follow Him and to discover in His life, death and resurrection the path to salvation. St. James himself reminds us that faith is not merely something we inherit or profess. It is something we must carry into the world through the lives we lead and the love we offer.

The simplicity of the Camino

One of the things I appreciate most about the Camino is something I sometimes fail to appreciate until I return home and that is its simplicity. For a few days, life becomes beautifully uncomplicated. You wake up, put on your walking clothes, pack your bag, follow the path, eat when you are hungry and find somewhere to rest. You have fewer decisions to make and fewer distractions competing for your attention. Then you return home, and suddenly there are meals and drinks to plan, emails to answer, shopping to do, jobs to finish and countless little decisions demanding your time. Even the shopping seems to offer many kinds of everything!

There is nothing wrong with the ordinary responsibilities of life. They matter. But perhaps the Camino teaches us that we can sometimes become so preoccupied with everything we have to do that we forget what matters most. We can spend our days rushing towards the next appointment, the next achievement or the next milestone, imagining that happiness will finally arrive when we reach our destination. Yet life is not simply about getting somewhere. It is about how we travel, whom we bring with us and what kind of people we become along the way. The Camino reminds me to savour the present moment such as the beauty of a sunrise, the sound of birdsong, the sight of wildflowers beside a path, the kindness of a stranger, the laughter shared over a meal or a beer and the quiet peace that comes from spending time in prayer. Jesus tells us in Matthew's Gospel to consider the birds of the air which we heard so much of on our Camino and to remember God's care for creation (Matthew 6:26). When we slow down enough to notice the world around us, we can begin to recognise that we are not forgotten. We are part of a creation filled with beauty, wonder and the quiet presence of God. And we do not need to travel to Spain to discover that beauty. We can find it in Barna Woods, along the paths and canals of the Midlands, beside the sea in Wales or anywhere in the world, in a garden or in the faces of the people we love. Sometimes the sacred is waiting right outside our door.

Every step can become an act of love

The Camino is not always easy. There are hills to climb, aching legs, blisters, tiredness and moments when the next step feels like a challenge. Sometimes the prayer is profound or at other times it is as simple as, “Please, God, help me reach the top of this hill!” But that, too, is prayer, bringing our ordinary humanity before God and asking Him for the strength to continue. Isaiah offers us these words of encouragement, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31).

The same truth applies to life. There are days when we feel strong and hopeful, and days when we struggle to put one foot in front of the other. On those difficult days, we need to remember that moving forward slowly is still moving forward. The Camino also reminded me that the most meaningful moments are often not grand gestures, but simple acts of kindness such as waiting for a tired companion, offering encouragement on a difficult climb, sharing food or taking time to listen to someone's story. These are the little things through which love becomes real.

This is also at the heart of my work with Self Help Africa. Our fundraising is not simply about raising money. It is about standing alongside communities, supporting farmers, strengthening livelihoods and helping families work towards a future with greater food security, opportunity and dignity. Every step we took was connected to that purpose. Every euro raised represents the generosity of people who believe that families facing hunger and poverty deserve the opportunity to build a better future. Jesus reminds us in Matthew's Gospel that what we do for the least among us, we do for Him (Matthew 25:40). That is why I believe we must pray, but we must also act. Faith must move our hearts, open our hands and bring us closer to those who need our help. We cannot change everything, but we can change something. And if enough of us do our little bit with love, those small acts can become something extraordinary.

Our Camino continued at home

When we finally arrived in Santiago de Compostela, there was a natural sense of achievement and gratitude. We had completed our walk, shared our experiences and reached the destination towards which we had been travelling. But Archbishop Hicks's message reminded us that the Camino does not truly end at the cathedral. The pilgrimage continues when we return home. The Mass is not the conclusion of our journey of faith, it strengthens us for what comes next. St James walked with the pilgrims who came before us, and we are reminded that Christ continues to walk beside us today. Our ultimate journey is towards God and eternal life, and every day offers another opportunity to grow in faith, hope, mercy, forgiveness and love. So, as I returned home with wonderful memories, new friendships and a grateful heart, I found myself asking - What will I do differently now? Will I be more patient? Will I listen more carefully? Will I make more time for the people I love? Will I notice the person who is struggling? Will I be brave enough to forgive, to apologise or to ask for help when I need it?

These are not just questions for pilgrims. They are questions for all of us. Life is precious, and none of us knows how much time we have. Tell the people you love that you love them. Thank those who have helped you. Cherish the friends who stand beside you through difficult times. Do not be afraid to shed a tear, to admit that you are hurting or to reach out when life feels overwhelming. Forgive where you can, and never underestimate the difference a little kindness can make. Above all, do not allow the busyness of life to rob you of the joy of living. I hope to encourage others to join us for a Camino pilgrimage in 2027, perhaps in May or September/October, walking, praying, sharing the Eucharist and raising funds for Self Help Africa. You do not need to have all the answers before you begin. Sometimes you simply need to take the first step and trust God with the rest. Perhaps that is true of life itself.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, I invite you to pause and reflect on Archbishop Ronald Hicks's questions, What have you brought, and with whom are you walking? What burdens might you need to place in God's hands? Whose burden could you help lighten? What blessings have you overlooked because you were rushing towards something else? And what one small act of love could you offer someone today? We are all pilgrims on the journey of life. Some of us are walking through sunshine; others are struggling through storms that nobody else can see. Let us be gentle with one another. Let us be people who lift the fallen, comfort the grieving, encourage the weary and welcome those who feel they no longer belong. Let us remember that the journey is not a race, that asking for help is not a failure, and that the smallest act of love can become a light in somebody else's darkness. As we continue our own Camino, may we remember that the true measure of our journey is not how quickly we arrive, but how much love we leave along the way. Buen Camino and may God bless every step of your journey.

My prayer for you this week is this following prayer that came to me on my most recent Camino walk and it goes as follows - "Lord Jesus, Walk beside us on the winding roads of life. When we are weary, give us strength. When we are frightened, give us courage. When we are burdened, help us to trust in Your love. Teach us to see You in the faces of those we meet, especially those who are lonely, hurting, hungry or forgotten. Help us to carry one another's burdens, to forgive when forgiveness is difficult, to listen when someone needs to speak and to offer kindness without expecting anything in return. Teach us to slow down and appreciate the blessings that surround us. Give us grateful hearts for our families, friends, neighbours and companions on the journey. Help us to use our time, our talents and our lives to make this world a more loving, peaceful and compassionate place. And when the road becomes difficult, remind us that we never walk alone, for You are our companion, our hope and our destination. Amen."