camino stories

INTERVIEW WITH MARIANNE: What made you decide to walk El Camino? I want to walk alongside those who struggle as immigrants, for whom this walk is dedicated.  I want to listen and learn about people around the world who face such extreme challenges and persecution in their homeland that they would …

Continue Reading about Marianne Castellanos: Why I’m doing El Camino? →

What does it mean to practice solidarity, to become a neighbor, to exchange hospitality?  As a white, U.S. citizen engaged in immigrant justice work, my reflections on these difficult questions are constantly evolving. When I consider my intentions for walking from Tijuana to Los Angeles as an ally …

Continue Reading about Walking with the Ghosts of El Camino →

A few months ago, we were planning our wedding.  We had a ceremony to plan, people to invite, food to coordinate, decorations to arrange, and everything else that comes with a wedding. While our wedding was among the simplest and cheapest of any we had seen, it still took a disorienting amount of …

Continue Reading about Walking Together as Newlyweds: JB and Laura Byrch →

I grew up in rural Tennessee. When it comes to Latinos, the only framework I had was that they were temporary farm workers. In my context, most Latinos were Mexicans, and many of them worked on the tobacco farm. I remember one summer, there was a possibility that I might go work for the tobacco …

Continue Reading about A Changed Perspective on Latinos →

Prior to coming to Bread for the World, I served as the State Bishop for the Church of God of Prophecy in California. About seventy percent of the churches under my care were Latino churches. In many of them, I came across families that were undocumented. Many shared with me their stories of why …

Continue Reading about Bishop José García: Why I am doing El Camino →

I have lived in South Texas most of my life. My community is on a corridor for trafficking. There are two routes from Mexico that intersect in my hometown. One is Highway 59 that starts in Laredo, goes through my community on the way to Houston, and then on to Canada. The second is Highway 77, that …

Continue Reading about I Hear Whispers: Cheryl Miller’s Story →

I missed childhood.  I was old at five, wizened at seven and a sad old creature at eight. Yet, already, I was intent on remembering every detail, every sound.  I eavesdropped because nothing was ever explained to me.  I learned to hang around adults and listen. I learned never to ask questions …

Continue Reading about I Will Remember: Irene Finnigan’s Story →