Went to the pilgrim’s Mass at the beautiful 13th century Church of St. Mary Norte Dame. There were about 12 of us, an appropriate number, who received the priest’s blessing, coming from China, South America, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the USA. International, I’d say, as we represented 4 continents.

The Camino is truly an international pilgrimage that integrates numerous cultures, races, languages, ages, religions and no religion. The Camino is gradually becoming very secular and less rooted in the Catholic faith. In my own opinion, very sad. I plan on celebrating my Catholic faith gently and unobtrusively.

I will try to say mass each day in my room or somewhere on the way. The ground, a table, a bench will become the altar. Down to the bare bones of necessity. The iPhone is my Roman Missal and Lectionary that has all the prayers and biblical readings. I purchased wine at a local shop and will pour the wine in a very light water bottle… spiritual recycling! The bottle is too big and heavy.

Tomorrow, October 15th, I begin the ascent in the Pyrenees, evoking the image of St. John of the Cross in his spiritual treasure: The Ascent of Mt Carmel. The spiritual life is a challenging, and at times, daunting journey UP the mountain of faith. This journey involves letting go of our attachments and clinging desires that trap us in the whims of the ego. We must face our addictions and self-centered inclinations and climb this mountain of faith.

This is a journey that hopes to be one of inner transformation and takes place wherever you are. The vast majority of disciples are people who are on a pilgrimage in their native city and town. Your inner intention and disposition will transform an ordinary walk in the city into a pilgrimage of faith that may very well lead to a local parish church.

Buen Camino

Frank

Solvitur Ambulando is a Latin phrase meaning “solved by walking,” a rich, poetic expression pointing to the power of simply walking. As I walk the streets of the city of Chicago, memories surface of people who have made such a difference in my life and priesthood. The experience of walking alone, with no music or podcast, just silence, soaking in the sights and sounds of the people I encounter.

One naturally sees the shoppers, workers repairing the streets, people trying to keep an appointment, young people with their class going to a museum, countless people on the cell phone. The constant sounds of car horns, ambulance sirens and the steady, loud pounding of a drum by a young “musician” hoping for a donation naturally push silence to the sides

In the mix one sees individuals quietly begging for money, immigrant mothers and children asking for assistance and the person screaming things that make little sense. Look closely and see that he has no legs. So many have disabilities from physical to emotional that make the walk with a 30 pound backpack eye-opening.

The only thing “solved by walking” is to let these encounters with a wide range of humanity become a portal to seeing the world anew. The Camino is much like walking in the city, except the pilgrim is called to ENGAGE the various expressions of humanity encountered along the Way. And they are many representing cultures, faith traditions, no religious motivations, races, languages….

In the engagement, barriers slowly dissolve, new perspectives emerge in one’s consciousness, the unity WITHIN the human family becomes so evident if only for a brief moment. “There is no male or female, gentile or Jew,” for all are one in Christ.

Much is “solved by walking,” right here wherever you live. The Kingdom of heaven is like a long walk.

I am so amazed at all the responses to my post in Word Press, announcing my new Camino pilgrimage mid October thru Thanksgiving 2026. I received many responses which was wonderful in and of itself. But I haven’t written a post in over three years!!! So thank you for responding.

But I understand completely if you don’t want to receive any new posts since we are inundated with messages each and everyday. You can’t read everything that is sent to you through the internet. It’s almost too intrusive.

I am writing this blog not to let everyone know where I’m traveling, how I’m traveling and the beauty of the experience. I’m writing this to connect the one reading the post with their own life. I really should give the blog a new title: Reflections by (Fr.) Frank. (Many don’t call me “Father”, just Frank, which is just fine).

The next post, and many thereafter, will not be about the actual Camino. I’m simply interested a remaining in contact with people, offering “food for thought” about their own inner journey. If one is a believer and has faith, that would include their relationship with God, Creator, Christ, Higher Power ….

For those who don’t believe, that might be connecting with the spirit of humanity. I am inspired, both by people who believe in God, and those who don’t.

I’m just writing this to see if anyone receives the message. Haven’t used the site in several years and I’m ready to walk another Camino!! If you get this please let me know. If not, I will just have to use WhatsApp which really isnt for reflections.

Peace. Frank

I’m sitting in the cathedral waiting to celebrate the Pilgrim’s Mass on this beautiful Solemnity of Christ the King. I’m writing in response to an interview with Stanley Tucci, actor, cook and author. He seems like a wonderful person and decent actor. He was being interviewed about his part in a new movie just released, Conclave, based on the bestselling novel. It’s basically the story of the death of a pope and the conclave the will choose his successor.

I know all about the book and its plot and am not really interested in the movie, even if nominated for a dozen Oscars. But I’m very interested in comments he made about Catholicism, which he has abandoned, and faith, in which says he is longer a believer. But when asked about God, he said quite simply and directly said, “We created God.” A very bold statement that speaks volumes about the times in which we live and its many problems, political and otherwise.

Of course, Mr. Tucci is speaking an idea that has been a part of humanity since the Fall, whatever that happens to be. We are our own “gods,” not to be bothered by any restrictions or constrictions regarding our freedom to determine our own “truth.”

At the heart of our faith and the Gospel of Christ is that a “higher power” has created us, but One who is deeply personal and communal of what our loving God created. Weare all a part of creation, and humanity is the pinnacle, the most beautiful part of God’s creation since He has a RELATIONSHIP with us, created us in His wisdom at the very beginnings of Creation. We existed BEFORE we were ever conceived!!!! That is the Truth!!

God created you in LOVE to become love, becoming the very presence of Christ to a wounded world. We build His Kingdom, first and foremost, in the humility that we are totally dependent upon Him for every breath we take, for all of our gifts and talents, which include making movies and Italian food.

On the Cross, the last words of Christ were, “It is finished,” as he surrendered His Spirit to the Father. His mission on earth was complete, but the Resurrection ushered in a new mission that will endure until Christ returns, the mission rooted in the Church. The Advent mystery celebrates our waiting patiently for Christ’s Second Coming, He can’t return soon enough!!!

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Camino begins when I return to Chicago, late on the 27th of November and open the front door of the rectory. Then, it all begins. as the blessings of this journey become a part of the tapestry of my life, giving it new contours, pathways and colors as I wait in advent hope for Christ to come into my life in surprising ways.

And God came through with my first blessing, even though it just took place in Santiago. I received my Compostela, the Certificate of the Camino, acknowledging that I began on October 23 and finished today, November 22nd, which is my father’s 99th birthday.

What a relief of an accomplishment that definitely tried my spirit and my body. The woman who stamped my passport for the last time, came around the counter and gave a huge, long hug. So beautiful!! I’ve been walking around in a bit of a haze, just feeling grateful, as the cold breeze made my steps surprisingly light and airy, especially without the backpack.

And then my mind focused on getting back to Chicago. I checked my email and found the e-ticket. I decided to walk to the train station to make sure the ticket was valid and to verify where, exactly, I was to be this Tuesday. I’m not missing this train to Madrid.

As I walked up the stairs from the station to return to the Old City, God’s surprise happened: the young South Korean man I met a few days ago, Nabukim, bumped into me and shouted my name! Truly unbelievable but this was no accident or chance meeting. It was meant to be. He was standing next to a young woman named Jo. They were planning on getting a bus to go to Finisterre, “the end of the earth,” which is the Atlantic Ocean.

We were both so taken aback and Jo only shared in the joy. And then she said she was going to Portugal in a few days the visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. She loves Mary. And given my previous post, I love her, too. The entire encounter was a surprise that I will carry with me until I breath my last breath and hopefully will say, “It is finished,” only to be given new breath, new purpose, fulfilled hope as the Risen Lord leads me forth to continue a new, never ending camino, with NO backpack. Only companions of love.

I today’s gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of a nobleman about to receive a kingship who left on a journey to obtain the kingship coming to him. Before he left, he gave 10 servants a gold coin and instructed them to use the coin to engage in trade. Essentially, they were to do something with the one gold coin that would benefit the nobleman chosen to be king.

Upon his return, only one of three men he called before him invested the coin to make more money in the act of investing. Always a risk. But one of the servant kept his gold coping hidden in a handkerchief, refusing to do anything with the coin out of fear that he might lose the coin in the risk of investment. He CLUNG to the coin. Fear controlled him.

The nobleman returned and was furious with this man for hiding the coin and clinging to it, through fear and assuming the nobleman would do the work of investing. “Clinging”is a harsh sounding word and its reality can cause much pain. Clinging to hope when you’re at wits end is one thing, but clinging to money, job security, an award, a position of power and authority, any addiction is quite another. These types of “clinging” suffocate and drain life of energy.

What do you cling to?

Yes, I’m nearing the end of this pilgrimage of faith, hoping to raise the funds to strengthen our outreach ministries to the poor, the refugee. and the immigrant. I am 25 miles away from Santiago, feeling like Dorothy and her companions as they neared the end of their journey to the Emerald City.

Actually, the movie The Way, starring Martín Sheen, was directed by his son Emilio, who also wrote the script. He based the story on The Wizard of Oz! Yes indeed, a story about a grieving father and his three companions on their way to Santiago in order discover a new path in which to call “home.”

Tomorrow, November 19, is the last, long walk I will take and the question Jesus has kept asking me throughout this journey comes from today’s gospel: “What do you want me to do for you?” He asks that question of each and every person, which means YOU, who are reading this. What do you want Jesus to do for YOU?

How I am answering that question for myself will unfold when I return. Every pilgrimage begins when you return home. The pilgrim must go back home for the journey to have any ability to transform the heart.

So many Catholics my age and up are quite ambivalent about Mary, seeing any kind of devotion to her as pre-Vatican II, overly sentimental and out of place. But Mary has been an important part of my life, dating back to early memories of lighting a candle at her shrine in our church, novena prayers to Our Mother of Perpetual Help on Tuesday evenings and a nun at Holy Family Hospital taking me in the chapel there and talking about Mary. I frequently went to that hospital chapel for years, praying before the beautiful, gentle statue of Mary, up until I entered the seminary in 1979.

In my seminary years, 1979-1984, devotion to Mary didn’t exist but my love for Mary continued, very much under the radar. I wanted to fit in and not be labeled a traditionalist, truly wanting to be a priest. I didn’t want this to be a “red flag,” so my love of Mary was discrete and private.

Mary has followed me and inspired me in many ways. She has been a powerful witness in responding to God’s calling with one’s whole heart. She has been a “presence” in my life and priesthood, my spiritual “mother” wanting me to be loved by her Son. Mary has only deepened my love for Christ.

It might surprise a number of people, many parishioners, that I made a promise to pray the Rosary daily and I made a personal act of consecration to Mary a number of years ago. I personally dedicated the parish to her when I became a pastor. I have to mention St. Teresa of Avila, who has been another powerful person in my life. These two women are so very important to me.

Why am I writing about Mary now, as I approach the end of the Camino, as we come to the end of our liturgical season, as we are about to begin Advent in two weeks? In short, Mary has been guiding me on this tiresome journey across Spain, making her presence known in simple, gentle ways. Through a ceramic tiled image on a wall off the Camino, watching pilgrims passing by, rarely seeing her image, to beautiful statues of wood, bronze, plaster and ceramic in countless places of prayer, Mary has been a presence of hope and comfort.

Mary and her Son will be with me as I enter Santiago and spend some days there in prayer. Mary and Christ clearly want me back in Chicago. What awaits…who knows but her Son, and He is saying nothing to me but to trust.

Final note: the Eucharist is at the heart of the church, our parish and my priesthood. No one has ever mentioned to me at any of the parishes I have served in over forty years, that in EVERY Eucharistic Prayer, I have prayed, after the priest mentions “Mary, the Mother of God,” “and our Mother.” I was inspired to do this when my rector at the seminary said those very words in each Eucharistic Prayer. That rector was Fr Jim Keleher who became Bishop Keleher of the Belleville Diocese and the Kansas City Diocese. He just died a week ago: November 9, 2024.

Thank you Bishop Jim Keleher for your love of Mary and accepting me at the seminary in 1979. When I called you in 1978, out of the blue, and told you I wanted to be a priest, and you never even heard of me, you welcomed me and my parents to come to the seminary. We did so on that bitter cold Sunday afternoon in 1978. I haven’t thought of that Sunday in many years. A gift of the Camino.

Well, I just couldn’t do it, I couldn’t get into my room where I am staying now. I had the “card” to enter, keys are long gone, and every way, every position, I just couldn’t get the door to open. I would call this an “obstacle” of entrance. I wasn’t listening to the receptionist’s explanation, which were in perfect English, no less.

Jesus has a stern warning for all of us, His followers, who have “obstacles” within door of our hearts, keeping Jesus OUTSIDE. I have a propensity to be rushed, in action and judgement, to be envious, to see the glass as “half empty”, and fear of conflict, a big one. Running away from conflict is a huge obstacle. And facing conflict with an overly judgmental reaction is an even larger one.

I have acknowledged some of my obstacles to letting Christ through the door of my heart. Advent is upon us, a season that reminds us that Jesus will come into our lives at a most unexpected time, particularly at the moment of death, a moment we will be invited to walk through that “doorway” and into eternal Redemption.

What are your own obstacles Christ is asking you to acknowledge and let go of? One magnificent breath of hope as we will breathe our final breath leads to the next “breath” in which we will face the door of Christ’s MERCY.

Walking through this door, this gateway will be more gentle without the obstacles. Even so, Christ awaits with open arms to place us on His shoulders: the Good Shepherd indeed!!!