Fr. Christopher A. Roux
Pilgrimage Leader & Spiritual Director
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| Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick |
Jump to Huber
Seminarians
MWDimock@charlottediocese.org
St. Thomas Aquinas (Charlotte)
St. Joseph Seminary
My reason and inspiration for hiking the Camino is detachment. On the Camino, one lives off of that which is most base. You get up, go to Mass, pray, eat, walk, eat, and sleep. The Camino comes at a time in my life, as well as the lives of my brother seminarians, when we require a certain amount of quiet and detachment. The problem is that, even in the confines of the seminary, the loud and obnoxious media still has a way of drawing you in, especially when it comes to the internet. More silence for us seminarians is never a bad thing. I know that Fr. Roux has even enacted minor silences along our route, for a time of meditation and prayer. There are no cell phones, at least not ones that can inexpensively connect to the internet. There is just the four of us on a thirty-day journey through Spain, walking both the physical and spiritual Camino.
Matthew P. HarrisonSacred Heart (Salisbury)
St. Joseph Seminary
My introduction and interest in the Camino was sparked when I had a conversation with one of our soon to be ordained priests, Deacon Christopher Bond. I had never really heard about the Camino or knew much about it until I spoke with him, and the experience sounded so amazing. I grew up hiking and having a love for the outdoors, so a long trip out in the wilderness was no foreign experience. But the difference with the Camino that I immediately noticed was that it was not focus on the views and the outdoors, but instead it is a trip aimed at the internal growth of an individual both in the mind and soul. Last summer I made a pilgrimage to Fatima thanks to the very generous gifts, prayers, and hours spent in planning of the Te Deum Foundation. On this trip, I had the privilege of meeting two seminarians who had just finished the Camino. They shared several stories with me and spoke about their amazing experience. After these conversations I was set to go, and after a lot of prayers, planning, and training, it has all come together. I am thrilled to see what God has planned out for me on this trip, and I look forward to sharing the journey with everyone back in the states.
Aaron Z. Huber
St. Michael the Archangel (Gastonia)
St. Joseph Seminary
What inspired me to hike was the realization that I would be living our pilgrim life on earth in a very physical way. With one month of not sleeping in the same place twice and not knowing the ways of the land, I will be forced to live in a real way as one who finds his hope and stability in Christ.
Camilo X. Salas-Bowen
St. Thomas Aquinas (Charlotte)
Pontifical College Josephinum
I am writing to present the reasons why I am interested in being part of this pilgrimage. I just finished my third year at the seminary, and I have learned a lot about our faith and tradition. It is wonderful to look back and see the richness of the church. I took an elective called Santiago de Compostela this past spring semester of the 2017 academic year, and I was amazed by how El Camino de Santiago played an important role in the Catholic Church, and impacted the life of so many not just in Spain but across Europe. One can trace the roots of El Camino all the way back to the time of Jesus, and connect with the teachings of the church by just studying its history. My motivation of doing El Camino is to be able to enrich my spiritual life, specially my devotion to Mary/ St. James, and learn more about the Church by being part of a pilgrimage that is deeply rooted in our Catholic Tradition.
