Hiking the Camino: Stories and Lessons from Walking 500 Miles with Jesus

Why would anyone shoulder a heavy backpack, grab a walking stick, and set out on a 500-mile trek across Spain on the Camino de Santiago? For Fr. Dave Pivonka, the Camino--the ancient pilgrimage route to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela--wasn't about adventure. It was about encounter. In the simplicity and strain of the journey, he discovered space to hear God more clearly.

In Hiking the Camino: Stories and Lessons from Walking 500 Miles with Jesus, Fr. Dave now invites you to walk beside him, through blistered feet, unexpected friendships, moments of doubt, and profound grace. Along the way, you'll come to understand, just as he did, a truth that speaks to every disciple: God is faithful--even when you can't see what lies ahead, even when you are tired, sore, and tempted to give up.

Through vivid storytelling and heartfelt reflection, Fr. Dave shares the spiritual lessons he learned on his journey:

1. Learn to let go. Wrestling with the weight of his backpack, he found himself praying, "Lord, what do you want me to leave behind? What excess luggage am I carrying in my soul?" The road taught him that the spiritual life is a path of detachment--of trusting God enough to travel lighter.
2. Persevere beyond the excitement. The early zeal of walking the Camino eventually faded, replaced by long, monotonous days. He realized that this, too, is discipleship. In following Christ, we're sustained not by emotional highs but by steady faithfulness--continuing step after step through difficulty, dryness, and doubt.
3. Love without fixing. Meeting fellow pilgrims, each carrying hidden crosses, he learned that God wasn't asking him to solve their problems; God simply wanted him to love them--to reflect Christ's patient, faithful love.

Fr. Dave's message is clear: Keep walking. Carry the backpack. Don't give up. One step at a time. Eyes fixed on the prize. Because each step moves you closer to the only words that truly matter: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Perfect for readers interested in the Camino de Santiago, Christian pilgrimage, Catholic spirituality, and spiritual journeys of faith, Hiking the Camino invites you to discover how God meets us on the road--step by step, mile by mile, and often when we least expect it.

Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR, is president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He has held numerous pastoral, leadership, and administrative positions while directing campaigns to expand the university's enrollment, degree programs, and evangelistic outreach.

He earned a bachelor's degree in theology from Franciscan University and holds advanced degrees in theology and a doctoral degree in education, with a focus on Catholic education in a postmodern world.

Pivonka is the author of many books, including Breath of God and Hiking the Camino. He created The Wild Goose video series, hosts Franciscan University Presents on EWTN, and preaches nationwide at retreats, workshops, pilgrimages, parish missions, and Franciscan University's Youth and Adult Conferences.

He lives in Steubenville, Ohio.