At the crossroads of history and faith, a reluctant pilgrim embarks on a modern pilgrimage along the world’s most revered footpaths. Tracing history’s footsteps, his experiences inspire questions and enlighten answers to the eternal questions of faith, hope, and love.
Available from print and digital booksellers, Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal explores the historical context and the modern experience of pilgrimage. Donahue’s journeys take him through Portugal and Spain on the Camino de Santiago, along America’s Pacific Coast connecting the California Missions Trail, across receding tides to Holy Island, from London to Canterbury along Britain’s historic Pilgims’ Way, and onward towards Rome via Europe’s Via Francigena on a journey of discovery.
Husband. Father. Backpacker. Pilgrim. Author.
Kevin Donahue began walking pilgrimage routes in 2019, joining the historical footprints of pilgrims seeking places and people to inspire questions and enlighten answers about faith, hope, and love. His passion for these historic footpaths and reflections from the journeys form the basis for his first book, Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal, printing in 2023.
Walking virtually alongside pilgrims and authors, the Sacred Steps Podcast connects a community of pilgrims from across the globe.
From the Camino de Santiago through Spain to the Via Francigena across Europe to Italy, the podcast features updates and first-hand accounts from the footpaths of pilgrimage.
If you’re considering a walking pilgrimage like the Camino de Santiago, these overviews are a tremendous starting point for beginners and experienced backpackers alike. Looking for even more information on what to pack or how to prepare for the journey? Visit Kevin’s pilgrimage and backpacking blog: One Step Then Another.
October 24, 2020
Spanning more than 2,000 km, the Via Francigena is Europe’s ancient pilgrimage route connecting Canterbury Cathedral to the tombs of seven apostles in Rome. Crossing through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy, this historic route culminates at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
October 24, 2020
Born from historic footpaths between twenty-one Spanish missions, the California Missions Trail – El Camino Real (“The Royal Road”) as it was first known – connects missions, pueblos, and presidios over 800 miles of America’s Pacific Coastline.
October 24, 2020
Followed by kings and fabled in literature, the Pilgrims’ Way (also Pilgrim’s Way or Pilgrims Way) is England’s ancient pilgrimage route linking both Winchester and London to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at the Canterbury Cathedral.
October 24, 2020
The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across much of western Europe to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.