In September, a group of MSC pilgrimages undertook a very special journey indeed, as they walked the French Way on the Camino de Santiago in aid of the Holy Family Care Centre, South Africa. Beginning in Sarria, the starting point for the final 100km of the Camino de Santiago, the team spent seven days walking the route together, before travelling to Fatima for a very special time of rest, reflection, and prayer.
Team MSC was headed up by two of our long-standing ladies from the MSC Missions Office here on the Western Road in Cork, the wonderful Maura and Valerie. Joined by Fr Tony Horgan MSC, they led our group of pilgrims on a truly special physical and spiritual journey from beginning to end.
The Camino route took our group through 100km of breathtaking scenery, from idyllic countryside, to majestic mountain views, to shaded forest trails. “I couldn’t pick a favourite part, everywhere was so beautiful,” said Maura. “The weather was magnificent too – we only saw rain for the last 5km as we made our way into Santiago.”
“The long walks were challenging at times,” Maura acknowledged. “We did 25km on one of the days, we pushed ourselves. Some days you’d wake up and say, ‘how am I going to face the hills?’ But everyone was encouraging each other, we did it together, and there was a great mix of people so we were all able to encourage each other along.”
“The walking was a big challenge,” agreed Valerie. “To be fair, we were all in it together, and that made things a lot easier.”
Following the physical challenges of the Camino, the group had a chance for rest and reflection on their trip to Fatima. “This was a lovely chance to recuperate,” said Maura. “It was just beautiful there. We did the candlelight procession every night, and we did different tours where we were able to visit the places special to the Children of Fatima. It was very special.”
Would the ladies recommend taking on the journey – and would they do it again?! “We really didn’t know what was facing us,” Maura reflected. “Maybe we were better off not knowing! We really didn’t know what we were taking on, but I would tell anyone to do it. It is so rewarding in so many ways. There is a great sense of achievement, and it is such a special thing to do. You end up walking with different people every day, and you really do see the best in people.”
“It was a lovely time from start to finish with a great group of people,” said Valerie. “I could talk for ages about the entire trip, we have taken home so many amazing memories, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.”
This year’s pilgrimage raised €13,000 for the Holy Family Care Centre, located in Ofcolaco in the Limpopo District of South Africa. For over twenty years, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart have run the centre as a sanctuary for orphaned, abandoned, and critically ill children, many of whom are HIV positive. The exceptional team in Ofcolaco tends to the needs of over 70 children at any one time, from infancy to adolescence, providing specialised care dedicated to their individual needs.
The community at Holy Family are facing new and increasing challenges all the time, as volatile world politics and a rising cost of living inevitably impact their ability to provide the care that these children so desperately need. With more and more children needing their help, and very limited space or resources to provide extra care, every penny counts. We are sincerely thankful to every single person who took part in this year’s pilgrimage, and to all who donated and supported them, for their generosity in helping us to help the Sisters and the children in their care. Your support is priceless, and it is with truly grateful hearts that we thank you for your friendship.
