When I signed up to write a blog post on my experience with a local church, I assumed I would share what it was like to go to Sunday service at an Evangelical/Protestant church in Sevilla.

Although I could still write about that, I wanted to share about an unexpected experience with an unlikely local church that really impacted me.

One of the most standout experiences I have had here in Spain so far has been participating in the Camino de Santiago, one of the oldest and most famous pilgrimages in the world, which ends in the town of Santiago de Compostela.

La Catedral de Santiago is considered the main place to visit there as it is home to the apostle James’ tomb, and I had the chance to attend the Pilgrim’s Mass there on a Thursday morning.

As soon as I walked inside the cathedral, I was overwhelmed by the stunning architecture, and throughout the duration of the mass I was captivated by the singing and teaching. I had never been to mass before this, and it was special to think that my first service was somewhere where millions of people before me had traveled long distances to worship.

Whether the pilgrims made the journey because of their faith, the time in nature, the physical challenge, etc., I felt a sense of connection to all of them at church that morning knowing I was in the same place as the reason for the incredible phenomenon that is the Camino de Santiago.

Experiencing the Pilgrim’s Mass allowed me the opportunity to connect with a rich religious history and piece of humankind, and it is an experience I will not soon forget.

Photography: Clara Mozingo, Fall 2024