LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Last week, Father David Sanchez of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Butchertown began his nearly 1,000-mile pilgrimage from Le Puy, France to Santiago, Spain. The long walk is part of a fundraising effort to restore St. Joe’s iconic twin spires.
Sanchez departed for Europe on July 9, arriving in the small town of Le Puy, France on July 10. Le Puy, home to a little under 20,000 people, is located in south-central France near the Loire River and is a popular starting point for the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage.
The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James, is a series of pilgrimage routes to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain, the traditional resting place of the remains of Saint James.
Sanchez embarked on his journey on Wednesday, July 11, and had this to say at the end of his first day of walking:
EDITOR'S NOTE: Excerpts have been pulled directly from Sanchez's blog at wherespadre.org.
“…It was my first day. Long day. I walked for 8 hours in a very challenging terrain. Hills, rocks of all sizes, vegetation covering the path, only 2 sheeps at the distance and many cows to call, Rosa! That was we called our cows growing up. The Mass of sending this morning was presided by two joyful wonderful priests from Africa. The music was angelical, when you have all the nun of the cloister next door sing. The most powerful incident after the priest blessed the pilgrims was when the floor of the Cathedral opened for the pilgrims start the first section of the walk. I am now sitting outside the hostel waiting for the operator to arrive. I may not have a room here, but they have a camping area to put my ‘hamaca.’”
Fr. Sanchez begins long walk from France to Spain
The next day, Sanchez was back on the trail after a cold night and little sleep.
“My alarm rung at 5:30 a.m. It was time to walk. What a precious village. Leaving town, the old baker open the doors of the store. By the smell I knew it was the best bread. Hundreds of bread to choose from. He made all without help. I bought a loaf, an apple, a banana, and cured ham. I sat down outside the store, prepared a sandwich. A choir of cats appeared to great me…They sat down too, and we had breakfast.
“It is all ups and downs, just like life. As I walk into the path, there are thousands of rocks waiting for me. I said, oh God who put them there. I did not blame anybody, and decided to look up and enjoy the cliff, the river, the beautiful bridge designed by Effiel. This was a spectacular walk, the flowers, the views, the people, the ancient church of Madeline inside the rock. It was 10 hours of joy, forget the blister on your feet.”
Saturday, July 14, brought another early morning and rain as Sanchez continued his journey through France on Bastille Day, France’s national holiday.
“It was a sunny day in the village. My alarm rang at 5:30am. I was already walking by 6am. I wore my rain coat everyday, because the temperature is low. After three up hill km I take out, but today was different it started raining after the second hill.
“I like to leave early, because by 10am the faster walker are already passing by me. Four of them passed me so fast that I thought they were running. Three km later I passed them. They did not have a rain coat. They were under a big bush out of the rocky path. I though: always be prepared before any situation.
“Today I leave Nasbinals. A small village of 300 people, but they know how to have fun. I thought that last night they were are burning the Catholic Church down. For the celebration of the Bastille, they set all the fireworks in front of the church. It was a street party.”
Sunday brought inspiration for a hiking “pilgrimage” in Louisville and, the day after France celebrated Bastille Day, even more celebrations Sunday night as France won the World Cup.
“There were many challenges yesterday: cows, oxen, gates to open, gates to close, more rocks, and thorns. No much water to drink, and my feet looked like turkey legs from the state fair.
“I thought all day that we should have a hike trail like this at home. Starting at St. Joseph, of course, visiting all the city parks, with challenging paths like the ones here, oh yes the real deal! Rocks, creeks, cows, goats, hills—big hills, ascending descending...from Louisville to The Abbey of Gethsemane in Nelson County. Visiting each one of the big parks in the city, passing by 4th and Chestnut (Merton revelation site). And visiting Bullitt Co, Barnhain Forest, Spencer County by the lake, and hiring toward Nelson Co to Thomas Merton resting place. The 'pelerins' must visit get a stamp in each 20 km at a sacred place that at the abbey the can receive the final note. It is a crazy idea, but we have all the infrastructure in place.
“Oh, the World Cup! We met at a local bar in the center of the plaza with the rooster monument, the whole village met there. It was too small, but a lot of fun. We cheered every goal. The little bar was shaking the a couple times you can hear the glasses of beer breaking on the floor. Kids played all around, all young couples in the village. The old ones watched from home. French flags were in display from the windows, and fireworks like ladybugs were seen during the night.”
You can see updates on Father Sanchez's journey every week on WHAS11.com.
Sanchez’s full blog can be found at wherespadre.org.
