Around 200 pilgrims gathered on July 23rd to wander the 35 miles between Mission Santa Barbara and Mission San Buenaventura for the next once-a-year St. Junípero Serra Strolling Pilgrimage. 

The two-working day pilgrimage is the brainchild of Greg Wood, a parishioner of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura, along with his spouse Mary. He introduced the to start with one very last 12 months as an “opportunity for a public witness to our faith and the goodness of our beloved… ‘father of California’.” 

“In light of all the desecrations of [St. Junípero’s] statues…and the defamation of his character and his superior operates, I felt called to honor St Junípero Serra publicly…by arranging a going for walks pilgrimage that would practically stroll in the saint’s footsteps,” Greg stated. “This would make it possible for us to go on the saint’s mission to evangelize California.” 

Pilgrims carried flags and banners with the graphic of St. Junípero. (Courtesy St. Junípero Serra Walking Pilgrimage Fb)

The initially pilgrimage drew extra than 150 men and women. This year, their figures ended up even greater. Joining the pilgrimage ended up a couple of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, providing songs for the street with guitars, drums, and violins. 

“There’s something truly strong about being in a position to stroll immediately in the footsteps of this saint…especially as a Franciscan friar, to be equipped to wander in the steps of one of the brothers who had long gone before us,” stated Brother Sean Paul Wooden, CFR, who flew in from the Bronx to sign up for the pilgrimage. “The kingdom [was] unleashed on Condition Street in Santa Barbara.” 

Pilgrims satisfied on Saturday early morning at Santa Barbara Mission for a Mass concelebrated by quite a few LA priests, a couple of from Denver, and 1 from Portland. Father Dan Lackie, a friar at Mission Santa Barbara, blessed the pilgrims prior to sending them on their way. 

(Courtesy St. Junípero Serra Going for walks Pilgrimage Fb)

The pilgrimage wound by way of downtown Santa Barbara, previous the ocean, alongside the boardwalk, through Montecito and Summerland, ending the to start with leg with a meal at St. Joseph Church in Carpentaria. Right after holy hour and confessions, the pilgrims pitched tents to relaxation up for the…