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More than 200 pilgrims gathered on July 23 for the second annual St. Junipero Sierra Walking Tour, a 35-mile stretch between Mission Santa Barbara and Mission San Bonaventura.
The two-day pilgrimage is for Greg Wood, a parishioner of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, with his wife, Mary. Last year, he gave his first public testimony as “for our faith and for the kindness of our loved ones…” The Father of California.
“In view of all the filth [St. Junípero’s] Monuments… and the defamation of his character and good works, I felt called to publicly celebrate the plot of St. Junipero… by organizing a walk that would actually follow in the Saint’s footsteps,” Gregg said. “This will allow us to continue our mission of evangelizing California.
Pilgrims carried flags and banners bearing the image of St. Junipero. (via St. Junipero Serra Hiking Trail Facebook)
More than 150 people participated in the first pilgrimage. This year their number was even higher. A few Franciscan friars joined the pilgrimage, providing music for the road with guitars, drums and violins.
“There is something very powerful about being able to walk directly in the footsteps of this saint … especially as a Franciscan martyr, to be able to walk in the steps of one of the brothers who came before us,” said Brother Sean Paul Wood. CFR who came in from the Bronx to join the Hajj. “The kingdom [was] Released on State Street in Santa Barbara.
Pilgrims were met Saturday morning at Santa Barbara Mission by several L.A. priests, a few from Denver and one from Portland for the solemn Mass. Father Dan Lacy of Mission Santa Barbara blessed the pilgrims before sending them on their way.
(via St. Junipero Serra Hiking Trail Facebook)
The pilgrimage wound through downtown Santa Barbara, across the ocean, along the boardwalk, through Montecito and Summerland, with the first leg ending with dinner at St. Joseph Church in Carpentaria. After a holy hour and confession, pilgrims set up tents to rest for the second day of the walk.
On Sunday, pilgrims used the bike and footpaths along the beach in search of Saint Serra’s footprints. As this is a Jubilee year in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the faithful had the unique opportunity to walk through the sacred doors of the Mission Basilica San Buenaventura and experience full joy.
The Pilgrims ended their journey on Sunday evening around 6pm with a Mass and a dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus. “When we got to the last step there, we were singing, dancing, walking down the main road to the mission, and the bells started ringing,” Brother Sean Paul said. Another pilgrim, Ed Gonzalez, was “in tears” when he finally completed all 35 miles. “I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t tears of joy because 35 miles had passed, it was tears of joy I was able to experience. [this] And offer this sacrifice with all that are gathered; And offer tears of sorrow for what we have done.
(via St. Junipero Serra Hiking Trail Facebook)
He said it was a heartwarming journey for all who joined but also for the people he met. At one point a woman stopped the cowards and asked them what they were doing. When brother Sean Paul told her about the pilgrimage, she “broke down in tears.”
“Deep down people want something for life, something to celebrate,” he said. The pilgrimage was “a microcosm of the life of pilgrims traveling to heaven. We are in this together. ”
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