Judge Memorial teacher takes walking pilgrimage through France and Italy

Friday, Sep. 05, 2014

Luke Stager and Ed Kendrick walked from France to Italy after promising each other they would complete a pilgrimage after reading the book by Hilaire Belloc The Path to Rome. 

Stager is the campus minister and freshman theology teacher at Judge Memorial Catholic High School; Kendrick is a theology teacher at La Salle Catholic College Preparatory in Portland, Ore. The two friends met at the University of Portland; Stager graduated in 2007 and Kendrick in 2008. 

Belloc’s book is about his walking trip from Toul, France to Rome, Italy; Stager and Kendrick used his book as a guide as well as Rambling on the Road to Rome, by Peter Francis Browne, Stager said. He and Kendrick began walking their pilgrimage in Toul on June 19 and reached Rome July 25, where they stayed for five days. The six-week trek covered about 800 miles. In some instances, they deviated from Belloc’s route because there were certain places they couldn’t go, said Stager. “Belloc didn’t have cars to deal with, and a mountain pass that was too dangerous; we took the train.” 

During their trip they had good weather, except the rain in Switzerland, said Stager. “We camped in a tent most of the time, but also stayed in a few hostels and hotels.”

This was a spiritual pilgrimage and a literary pursuit, said Stager, adding that he and Kendrick have decided to co-write their own book as a tribute to Belloc’s book. “We don’t have a title, but we have split up the chapters and we will meet during the Christmas break to go over our drafts.” 

Stager has been a Catholic all his life; Kendrick converted to Catholicism as a youth. 

In Europe, “it was great to be in places that were so Catholic,” said Stager. “The church doors were almost always open and we would stop in one each day; and go to Mass on Sundays. I had been to Spanish Masses, but never French, Italian or German.”

As the pair traveled, they prayed the rosary and lit candles for the prayer intentions they brought with them from people at home, Stager said. “I felt as though those people were with us and I was taking those prayers to Rome to offer them up. They were also praying for us.” 

During the pilgrimage, Stager learned his priorities, he said. “It made me realize how many little things I worry about,” he said. “While walking, all we had was our packs. We couldn’t worry about what people thought of us. So when I came back I decided to worry less. I tried to plan before we left, then I realized sometimes I had to go with the flow. I learned to be reliant on God and the people around us.” 

The two would also have theological discussions as they walked, said Stager. “Also going into the churches and seeing the beauty, and the people inside touched us. I remember thinking how the Church doors are open to all manner of people. The beauty and the sublime mysteries depicted in this art is available to everyone. That reminded me that Catholic means universal.” 

When the pair reached Rome, they heard Pope Francis’ July 27 Angelus message. “It was really cool to see Pope Francis and to hear his message on hope,” Stager said, adding that there were hundreds of people in attendance.

The pilgrimage gave Stager “a greater desire for holiness – to want to be saintly,” he said. “I also want to focus on priorities; the really important things without worrying about the things that don’t really matter. This trip showed me that if there is something I want to do, I should pursue it; I have a renewed sense of purpose.”