Listening to God on El Camino de Santiago

From the Hill of Joy (Monte do Gozo), pilgrims catch their first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela, a powerful reminder of both the journey completed and the transformation still unfolding. (Photo courtesy of El Camino de Santiago pilgrims)

By Wendy R. Cromwell

In May, nine United Methodist chaplains and campus ministers stepped onto Spain’s El Camino de Santiago, not simply to walk, but to listen for God more deeply. The journey created sacred space for discernment, renewal and connection among leaders who spend their days guiding others.

The eight-day pilgrimage, supported by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), was part of the Office of Collegiate Ministries Spiritual Development program, which provided $2,000 stipends for the nine participants.

Together, they walked the final 115 kilometers of the Camino Francés, beginning in Sarria, Spain, and journeying through Portomarín, Palas de Rei, Melide, Arzúa, and O Pedrouzo before arriving in Santiago de Compostela. The route carried them through quiet forests, rolling hills, and vibrant villages, each step offering both physical challenge and spiritual invitation.

A monument in Sarria marks the starting point of the final 115 kilometers of the Camino Francés, where the group began their shared journey of discernment and renewal. (Photo courtesy of El Camino de Santiago pilgrims)

Recognizing the unique pressures chaplains and campus ministers face, GBHEM’s Office of Collegiate Ministries designed the pilgrimage as a spiritual development experience. Often working in isolation and under constant demands, these leaders rarely have extended time for reflection, said the Rev. Eduardo Bousson, senior manager for Collegiate Ministries. The Camino, with its daily rhythm of walking and conversation, provided exactly that.

“For campus ministers, this was about discernment — making space to ask how God is leading them in this season of life and ministry,” Bousson said, adding the agency’s investment reflects a commitment to the well-being and longevity of those serving students on campus.

Along the way, participants experienced profound moments of insight and renewal.

“To have daydreamed and researched about the Camino and then to find yourself walking these same ancient steps is overwhelming, to put it simply,” said Jessica Trahan of Wesley United Campus Ministry at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and GBHEM board member. “There is a sacredness in the stillness and true joy in the buzz of the villages. God is all around, and I am so thankful to be walking this path with my fellow pilgrims.”

Early in the journey, Sara Voigt, Tony Jeck, Eduardo Bousson, Edward McCutcheon, and Brady Banks walk together, beginning to form the connections that would sustain them along the path. (Photo courtesy of El Camino de Santiago pilgrims)

The Rev. Sarah Coker Voigt of the Wesley Foundation at Pennsylvania State University reflected on the healing nature of the journey. “Walking this path, with one another, has helped me to remember and put back together parts of myself that I had seen as separate. I believe the Spirit is drawing closer and closer together.”

For the Rev. Edward McCutcheon of the Furman Wesley Fellowship at Furman University, the Camino became a space of assurance. “Ministry is hard, and can be isolating, but continually on this journey I received the assurance … ‘You are enough!’”

Community also emerged as a defining gift. The Rev. Kris Mares of Pfeiffer University shared the experience created space “to laugh and listen and wrestle with God,” while the Rev. Dennis Ellzey of the Wesley Foundation at Arkansas State University described it as “a powerful experience… [that] will impact ministry back home for a long time.”

The pilgrims pause during an evening spiritual practice, embracing the rhythm of prayer, reflection and community that shaped each day on the Camino. (Photo courtesy of El Camino de Santiago pilgrims)

For the Rev. Wade Langer of the University of Alabama Wesley Foundation, the transformation was unmistakable. “I will likely think about my ministry story in two parts: life before my Camino pilgrimage, and life after.”

That transformation reflects why GBHEM funded the journey, which was part of the Office of Collegiate Ministries Spiritual Development program. Beyond the miles walked, the pilgrimage strengthened leaders through clarity of calling, deepened community, and renewed spiritual grounding, Bousson said. The experience also created a rare environment where chaplains could be vulnerable, supported, and reminded they are not alone in their calling.

As these chaplains return to their campuses, Bousson said the impact of the Camino will extend far beyond Spain, rippling into the lives of students, ministries, and communities.

At journey’s end, the pilgrims gather outside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after completing the Camino, marking both a physical arrival and a moment of spiritual renewal. (Photo courtesy of El Camino de Santiago pilgrims)

Additional Participants

The pilgrimage cohort also included:

• The Rev. Tony Jeck, Auburn Wesley Foundation at Auburn University
• The Rev. Megan Otto, director of campus, young adult and senior adult ministry at University United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas
• The Rev. Julie Windsor Mitchell, University Christian Ministry at Northwestern University (Wesley Foundation in ecumenical partnership with the Presbyterian Church (USA))
• Brady Banks, Turnaround Collective (retreat leader)