For centuries, pilgrims from across the world have walked the Camino Frances, a storied path woven with history, faith and breathtaking landscapes, all leading to one sacred destination: the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, believed to be the final resting place of St. James the Apostle.
According to FollowtheCamino.com, the official website for the Camino, that while the Camino de Santiago has traditionally been a religious pilgrimage, many people choose to walk for other reasons, including fitness, mental health and a connection with nature.
Called to the Camino
For All Saints parishioner David Scott, Camino Frances was far more than a walking pilgrimage across Europe. It became a sacred path toward healing, an invitation to deeper intimacy with Christ and a journey that ultimately led him to rediscover the Eucharist with new eyes — and a renewed heart.
In 2015, David was serving as an investigative corrections lieutenant and a volunteer firefighter out of state. His professional responsibilities were causing pain, anxiety and high levels of stress, often interfering with his sleep.
To remedy the sleep disruptions, David would read and browse the internet during the late evening and early morning hours. One night, he came across the Camino Frances on YouTube and immediately knew he wanted
to walk it to help decompress.
During Lent 2017, David started the 500 kilometers of the Camino Frances route in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a town in southern France, leading travelers directly to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. His six-week journey transformed his relationship with Christ.
Before the walk, he had a relationship with God, but he was looking for internal healing in his life. He realized that this walk could be an excellent self-surrendering opportunity. For David, the pinnacle of the walk was when he laid rocks, representing his burdens, at the foot of Cruz de Ferro: Camino’s Iron Cross.
Earlier on the day that he visited the cross, he was told of a house fire back home that killed several young children who had gathered the evening prior for a sleepover. This was his breaking point. It was a self-surrendering moment to God; he could not continue with his human brokenness with all the difficulties of working in the corrections system, so he prayed for God to heal the sorrow.
He recalls feeling the providential healing of God consume his heart and transform his life. Since laying those rocks, he has felt inner peace and Christ working through his heart.
Love, Friendship and Divine Presence
More than a shared path, the bond between the Sheridan and Licht families became a living testament to God’s presence as they walked 117 kilometers along the Camino Frances during Lent 2025.
These two families’ friendship originated in 1999 during Steve Sheridan’s and Kari Licht’s medical residencies and was later fostered when Steve’s wife, Meredith Sheridan, served as Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) sponsor for Kari in 2002.
The couples have been godparents and sponsors for each other's children. Vacationing together has been one way to maintain their friendship and allows the kids time with their godparents, as the Sheridans live in Alpena and the Lichts live in Traverse City.
The idea to go on a Camino Frances pilgrimage began when the Sheridans, parishioners of Alpena’s All Saints, were researching the background of a family Christmas tradition of making a French dish, Coquilles Saint-Jacques (shells of St. James). Since they are active and always looking for an adventurous getaway, they relayed the information to the Licht family and both families were eager for the undertaking.
Growing in Faith with Every Step
“Throughout the walk, we prayed for those who asked for prayers, as well as all those facing health matters,” reflects Meredith. “There were five specific people who I told that I would offer prayers; I brought them each a St. James shell, signifying my commitment to keep them in my prayers during the walk.”
She admits that the walk offered tranquility. “At times, I walked in front of the others, allowing my mind to focus on the beautiful countryside.” She recalls, “The physical discomfort of tired muscles and sore feet allowed my mind to escape from the normal busy thoughts and stress, allowing a spiritual peace to enter.”
Steve adds: “I realized how closely linked the spiritual is to the physical. The Camino challenges both of those facets within us to connect with Christ more deeply. This idea certainly affected my Lenten experience of the Passion this past year.”
Terry Licht, a parishioner at Lake Leelanau’s St. Mary Parish, adds, “Kari and I prayed the rosary each day during the last hour of our walk to remind us why we are on this pilgrimage and to give us strength to complete the final miles of the day.
“The Camino focuses your perspectives and reminds you that you are walking the same route as previous pilgrimages centuries ago. We have a son named James, so as we walked the route, I thought of St. James and everything he did to spread Christianity,” he offers.
Stepping into the Divine
To add to the experience for David was the opportunity to walk a portion with his wife — Holly Scott — and tour the Spanish Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela on early Easter morning 2017.
David recalls getting up at 6 a.m. so he and his wife could arrive at 7 a.m. and tour the cathedral. It was amazing just to take it all in, recalls David. So much tradition, beauty and love. The tranquil beauty of the cathedral offered a reflective experience of the healing love of God, he adds.
Terry echoes David’s sentiments: “The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was my favorite moment along the Camino. We went below the altar to see the resting place of St. James. It was magnificent to know of all the pilgrims who celebrated Mass at this very spot over the centuries; you feel a connection to them and Christ in the Eucharist.”
Walking Together in Faith
Holly Scott offers that since returning from the Camino, David has had a lot of closeness and connection to the Mass. For David, going to Mass is more beautiful, as he has a better appreciation for Christ in the Eucharist and the sacrifice at the holy altar.
David’s religious formation since the walk has directly influenced his wife’s life, as Holly credits his love of the Eucharist for her conversion and full Communion at the Easter Vigil 2021.
For the Sheridan and Licht families, we see a call to celebrate friendship. “It is a beautiful friendship that has offered such abundant blessings,” reflects Meredith.
Their friendship reflects the radiant beauty of God’s presence, revealing how he works through others to draw us closer to himself. It stands as a powerful witness to the many ways the Camino Frances calls the faithful — through community, grace and shared journey — to a deeper encounter with Christ.
