It was certainly a case of putting their best foot forward when 23 St. Vincent’s students and four teachers headed off to Galicia in northern Spain to complete the last 100km of the Camino Frances.
The route forms part of the well-known pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, which has grown in popularity in recent years. The intrepid group undertook the challenge as part of their Gaisce journey, a programme that St. Vincent’s students have been participating in for a number of years.
Earlier this year, over 70 students were awarded their Bronze Award, while an impressive 45 recipients achieved their Silver Award. Many of these Silver awardees took part in the recent Camino, which they hope to use as part of their endeavours to secure a Gold Award.
The Journey
“We began our journey on 24th September, Mercy Day, a special day for our school as we celebrate our founder Sr. Catherine McAuley. We felt it was a fitting beginning.
This linear section took us from Portomarin into Santiago over four days, walking an average of 25km per day to that night’s accommodation. We embraced the pilgrim culture, staying in local albergues (hostels) and eating the Menu del Peregrino.
The days were filled with the rural Spanish countryside, chatting with locals and other pilgrims, stopping for coffee, snacks, and the odd ice cream, and collecting stamps in our pilgrim passports.
With weary bodies but full hearts, we made it to the stunning Santiago Cathedral and ended our trip with the pilgrims’ mass, a beautifully powerful celebration of everyone’s journey and reasons for doing it.
On our return, the students were presented with their Camino certificates during a prayerful ceremony in the school chapel, which was a fitting end to a wonderful, unforgettable experience for staff and students alike.”
Reflections and Achievements
“The girls were outstanding, and the trip epitomises the physical, mental, and personal challenges that represent the spirit of Gaisce. The Gaisce programme is continuously growing in the school, and we wish the students pursuing their Gold Awards the very best of luck.
We look forward to hopefully celebrating this huge honour for both them and the school in the future.”
Completing the Camino Frances is an incredible achievement for the students and teachers of St. Vincent’s. We congratulate everyone involved and hope they are truly proud of what they have accomplished. This journey reflects the courage, determination, and spirit of the Gaisce Award, and we are excited to see what comes next for this inspiring group.