Alternate Route

In this post I am listing an alternate route for El Camino de los Santos. It seems  that in my original plans - which keep us away from major highways - we have an issue that we would have to walk over a set of railroad tracks - which I have been informed is illegal. I do not want to place myself or anyone who walks with me in any dangerous or illegal situations - so I have found an alternate route that will have us walking less in the country and more in housing developments - but rather safe than sorry. The distance is almost identical and provides us more opportunity for rest stops if needed.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyWalk

I will be testing this walk later in May so I can make a final decison on its suitability. We will have to walk along two short stretches on Route 34 but I am fairly certain that it will be safe for anyone involved.

Buen Camino
Deacon Dale 

A Map of the Route

Today I am posting a map of the route that we will hike on "El Camino de los Santos"

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyHike I hope this will give possible participants something to think about. More to come. Buen Camino Deacon Dale

When?

As we continue to build this experience I keep getting questions from interested people - when? That is proving to be an interesting question and right now all we can say is - this summer. Our original intent was to walk on a Saturday when more parents would be available to walk with younger participants and also allow more adults to participate. What was suppose to be an easy task has become much harder with many conflicts. Graduation parties - weddings - weekend trips - prior commitments - keep popping up to confuse our decision. Let it be known that a date or possibly dates will be posted soon - within the next week or so - in fairness to those who might want to participate - we have to allow enough notice so they may do some training and prepare themselves for this walk.  After all - it is not everyday that you strap on a day pack and go walk 18 miles :) 

Scene from "The Way"

At this time we are considering offering this camino twice this summer - once on a Saturday and once during the week - hopefully that provides enough options that more people will be able to participate.  When we settle on date - it will be posted here. Until then - consider doing some extended walks outside as the weather warms up and prepare to enjoy us on this experience.

Buen Camino
Deacon Dale 

The Plan

The plan for this new camino is fairly simple.

1.  Start with Holy Mass
2.  Receive pilgrim's blessing before we depart
3.  Walk "The Way to the Saints" i.e. to the shrines at each respective parish
4.  Walk to Plano first to shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St Mary Parish
5.  Lunch break & rest
6.  Receive pilgrim's blessing for return trip
7.  Walk to Yorkville to shrine of St. Gianna Beretta Molla
8.  Attend evening Mass
9.  Receive pilgrim's blessing upon completion

This camino may be walked either way or both ways.  It is approximately 9 miles (14.4 Km) one way.  The complete trip - both ways - is about 18 miles (29 Km) which closley repllicates the average distance walked each day on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. To more closley replicate the experience in Spain - one would have to walk  this route for about 30 days in a row.  In Spain the terrain is more challenging with hills and valleys and crossing streams. If we start with Holy Mass at 8:00 am we should be able to be back to Yorkville around 4:00 pm - plenty of time to freshen up and attend 5:00 pm Holy Mass. For all who chose to participate - it will be rewarding.  We anticipate pilgrims of all ages and genders.  Pilgrims under the age of 18 years will need an adult to walk with them and all pilgrims will need to fill out a consent form and release of liability.  Forms will be available at a later date and posted here.

Buen Camino
Deacon Dale 

El Camino de los Santos

El Camino de los Santos - The name of our newest blog and the name of a short camino that we are developing as a Spiritual Travel Experience for those in the Yorkville and Plano, Illinois area.  As a part of our training to walk El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain - we are developing this one day walk consisting of approximately 18 miles total.  The walk will begin at St Patrick Parish in Yorkville and wander through the countryside to Plano, Illinois to the new Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St Mary Parish and then back from St Mary Parish to the (hopefully) newly constructed Shrine of St Gianna Beretta Molla at St Patrick Parish.  This one day experience will replicate in some way the daily walk that is experienced in Spain.  Carrying a light weight daypak with a supply of water and a few snacks will be similar to the back packs carried by peregrinos (pilgrims) on longer caminos.

 Our Lady of Guadalupe

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

We hope to be joined by teens and adults to share in this experience - sharing prayers - songs - stories - on the journey to each shrine.  We will begin the day with Morning Holy Mass - receive a pilgrim's blessing - then begin the journey. Once we arrive in Plano we will share prayers - lunch - rest time - another pilgrim blessing for the walk to the second shrine - arriving in time for Evening Holy Mass and another pilgrim blessing.  Although only 1/33 of the pilgrimage in Spain - we are sure that those who participate will find numerous blessings during the day.  The possibility of making this an annual pilgrimage between the two shrines is a definite possibility.  We will see how all this develops. 

Buen Camino

Deacon Dale