Reflections Centering on Presence
A Review of
Finding God Along the Way: Wisdom from the Ignatian Camino for Life at Home
Christine Marie Eberle
Paraclete Press, 2025
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Reviewed by Catherine Anne Sullivan
“Life is a journey” takes on a much deeper meaning after reading Christine Marie Eberle’s account of her month-long pilgrimage in her new book, Finding God Along the Way: Wisdom from the Ignatian Camino for Life at Home.
While many might be familiar with the Camino de Santiago, made especially popular by Emilio Estevez’s 2010 film The Way, Eberle’s journey took a different direction—literally. Following in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola and accompanied by a group of two dozen pilgrims whose average age was 67, Eberle hiked 300 miles in northeast Spain from the town of Loyola to Montserrat, Manresa, and Barcelona.
One need not be intimately familiar with the details of St. Ignatius’s life and legacy to read and enjoy this book. Eberle deftly integrates the relevant pieces of Ignatius’s biography and spirituality into her narrative as she describes the landmarks her group passes along the way. Her personal devotion to St. Ignatius and obvious affection for her fellow pilgrims color these descriptions with lively warmth. Throughout the book, Eberle seamlessly weaves historical information, her pilgrimage experience, and spiritual wisdom from the past and present into a compelling story about seeking God’s presence in our daily lives.
Divided into short chapters that chronicle the most memorable moments and poignant lessons of her journey, this book is easy to pick up but hard to put down. Each chapter begins with a carefully selected quotation from Scripture and ends with a thought-provoking reflection question that invites the reader to apply Eberle’s hard-earned Camino wisdom to his or her life at home. The scriptural epigraphs and vignettes from her time on the pilgrimage make space for the reader to enter into these questions with honesty and openness. I often found myself caught off guard by the memories or emotion they evoked in me after reading just a few short pages of Eberle’s journey, even though I have never attempted anything like it.
One such question caused me to pause and reflect with profound gratitude on the way God has been present in my own friendships. After describing her first encounter with the group’s guide Fr. José Iriberri, the reader is invited to “think back to your first encounter with a person who is dear to you now. What can you remember? Savor the image of God planting the seeds of your relationship, delighting in knowing what it would look like in full flower” (38).
This is just one example of Eberle’s welcoming presence as both pilgrim and guide, which is perhaps the greatest strength of this book. Drawing on over twenty-five years of experience in ministry and “in the autumn of life,” Eberle knows how to share her authentic Camino stories in a way that is relatable, inviting, and often very funny. Whether offering practical tips on blister care or heartfelt excerpts from her prayer journal, she comes across as a real friend who is willing to share her true anxieties, triumphs, regrets, and moments of grace with the reader. This authentic sharing opens doors for the reader to reflect on his or her own life’s journey, and the places they have met God along the way.
Because of this, anyone who finds themselves on a spiritual journey can place themselves in Eberle’s hiking boots. Whether you are at the beginning of your spiritual journey or have been a veteran of “the way” for some time, interested in good travel writing or seeking a deeper awareness of God’s presence in your daily life, Eberle has pulled up a seat at the table for you.
As such, like the month-long hike itself, in the preface Eberle encourages the reader “not to race through the book” (10). I affirm this encouragement and even suggest that both the structure and content of this book would make it an excellent devotional for a liturgical season like Lent or Advent, when we more intentionally turn our attention to our spiritual journeys. One chapter alone contains enough food for thought and prayer to last at least a day or two, if not longer!
Eberle’s gracious handling of her personal experience of the pilgrimage paired with her incisive reflection questions make this book one I want to return to at various stages of my own spiritual journey. Eberle’s narrative is gripping, her wisdom is genuine, and she offers us her pilgrim heart like an open hand, inviting us to consider how God has been with us—and will continue to accompany us—along the way.
Catherine Sullivan
Catherine Anne Sullivan is a writer, reader and teacher. After earning a master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame, she spent nearly a decade teaching religion and English to middle and high school students. She now spends her time caring for her young family and writing a newsletter on spirituality and imagination called Wonder & Awe. Come say hi and find more of her thoughts on books and faith at catherineannesullivan.com.
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