Previously published on the Sisters of St. Joseph website, used with permission.

Sr. Maggie Beaudette, CSJ, has lived and served in the north for some 34 years, including the past 24 years in Hay River, Northwest Territories, on the south shore of the Great Slave Lake in the Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. She is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in Canada.

By Sr. Maggie Beaudette, Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada

July 2, 2026, marked my 60th year as a Sister of St. Joseph. Reflecting on the significance of this time, the many blessings and graces, the challenges, rich experiences, the ups and downs of ordinary life, I wanted to experience a different kind of retreat.

A friend told me about Camino Nova Scotia. Once I viewed the website, I knew this was exactly what I had on my heart to do. The pilgrimage would be an opportunity for personal growth, and spiritual nourishment, as well as a physical challenge. For me it would involve a willingness to let go of my need for control and surrender to the unfolding of each new day.

Camino Nova Scotia is sponsored by the Atlantic School of Theology. Dr. Rob Fennell, of the theology school, was aware that many people he knew would have loved to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but finances, employment, and family responsibilities were often real barriers. Thus, Camino Nova Scotia was born, using trails in beautiful Nova Scotia.

After exploring former rail tracks that were now walking trails in the province, four trails were chosen as suitable for a pilgrimage experience.

At the beginning of March 2026, I registered to be a pilgrim walking the South Shore from Bedford, Nova Scotia to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. It would be a six-day experience with 5.5 days of walking. I began training March 18 at our indoor walking track in Hay River, Northwest Territories.

When I first started, I could walk only 35 minutes before I needed to stop. Gradually I was able to walk for one hour easily. I did not concentrate on distance but on endurance. I soon realized that as my endurance improved, so did the distance. I trained every second day from March 18 indoors until our snow and ice finally left the first of May. Then I could walk outside!

Listening to my body, especially my arthritic knees, wearing excellent hiking sneakers and Merino wool lightweight socks, eating healthy snacks and drinking sufficient water, kept me in shape to advance my progress. On May 18 I walked my longest distance of 7.5 km in 2.5 hours.

I flew from Yellowknife, NT to Halifax, NS on July 3. I was filled with mixed emotions. Joy, expectation, apprehension, excitement, openness, were a bundle of emotions. I was overwhelmed with the support of prayers, encouragement and positive energy from my Sisters in community and friends. I knew I would be okay!

Our first day together was July 5, 2026. Thirteen pilgrims gathered in Bedford with a supportive team of three. I knew no one. There is a saying that “Strangers are friends we have not met.” How true! The bond that developed among us during the week was amazing.

Each day we were up at 7 a.m. A healthy breakfast was ready, supplies to make our lunch were laid out, and our sleeping gear and belongings packed and put in the cargo van. At 8:30 we gathered for morning prayer, singing hymns, and sharing a short reflection. Then we went to the trail to begin our walk.

That day I managed 14.5 km and the next day 23 km. Usually walking about six hours each day, stopping for lunch at our leisure, walking at our own pace, we arrived at our place of rest for the night. We slept in churches along the way. Each evening at 8:30 p.m. we gathered for prayer and sharing how our day unfolded. Then lights out at 10 p.m.

I was by far the slowest walker and Victoria from Ontario walked with me. We had wonderful conversation and sometimes walked in silence.

The scenery was beautiful including wildflowers, lakes and rivers, a mother doe and her fawn. One day as we walked, coming down an incline were a group of children from a day home, running and waving at us, big smiles on their faces and full of young energy. This was the last sight we ever thought we would encounter! I must say that the children gave us new energy!

I had decided to walk very intentionally for specific persons in my life who are experiencing challenges of one kind or another in their lives. These folks helped me to walk as I prayed with each step.

Our last evening, Keith, who led the prayer sessions reflected how all week we had been “gathering pollen” through what we saw, conversations we shared walking, being together at meals and helping each other whether with encouraging words or helping to roll sleeping bags and sleeping mats. Then Keith asked, ”What is the honey that you will make with this pollen as you leave from here?“

And that is the question I take to prayer these days. The experience will stay with me weaving in and out of my prayer, my ministry, and relationships.

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