Franciscan postulants join Migrant Trail Walk in May

In a powerful act of unity and remembrance, Br. Jose Luis Peralta, OFM, and three postulants joined a group of 40 participants for the weeklong Migrant Trail Walk in May. 

They traveled along the sun-scorched borderlands, bearing witness to lives lost and many missing along the U.S.-Mexico border – not only to raise awareness, but also to honor every name and narrative that might be forgotten. 

Carlos Velazquez Estrada, Kevin Fox and Francis Llamas joined Br. Jose in a 75-mile trek from Sasabe, Mexico, to Tucson, Arizona, carrying crosses with names of the deceased or missing. The group is the latest to represent the Province of our Lady of Guadalupe. 

The walkers, diverse culturally and spiritually, included people from all over the United States and Mexico. They walk for those who did not make it across the border and pray for those who might attempt the journey in the future. 

According to KOLD-13 News, over 8,000 people have died at the border since the 1990s, with 4,376 remains found in Arizona. In 2024, officials in Pima County discovered 154. 

Kevin wrote about the experience on his blog, Kevin’s Corner.  

In it, he wrote “Not everyone on the walk was a practicing Christian, and ... not everyone reading this reflection will agree on immigration policy. However, I hope all that read my reflections do have the care for human life.” 

Participants in the Migrant Trail Walk gather along the wall separating the United States and Mexico. Postulant Francis Llamas said that he walked to better understand the experience of migrants. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Fox)

‘Eye opening’ experience 

Kevin called the walk “one of the most emotionally, physically and spiritually powerful weeks” of his life, and expressed hope friars would continue to participate. 

“The Franciscan presence proved fruitful to me in my early stages of discernment because it is exactly where I hope the province will be, on the margins with those who are most vulnerable,” he said.  

The walk was “eye opening” for Francis. 

“I walked to experience what the migrants have gone through with a more visceral feeling,” he said. “To understand the plight of the migrants and to realize that they make this trek because they seek a better life, not just for themselves, but for their families.” 

He envisions a world where nations will welcome migrants with care and compassion. 

“We believers are to love one another, so let us press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, as Paul encourages us to do in his letter to the Philippians,” he said. 

Walkers covered 75 miles in the sometimes harsh conditions migrants often encounter as they try to enter the United States. “The Gospel compels us to respond to the needs of the poor, marginalized (including women) and vulnerable persons, and our common home,” reads Priority 2 of the concrete initiatives the province adopted after the synodal meetings in January. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Fox)

Synodal emphasis 

Participation and support of events such as the Migrant Trail Walk aligns with Priority 2 of the concrete initiatives the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe adopted following the synodal meetings in Kansas City in January. It reads: 

“The Gospel compels us to respond to the needs of the poor, marginalized (including women), and vulnerable persons, and our common home.” 

It also highlights Priority 7, which says: 

“In light of the Gospel, we will read the signs of the times and respond with creativity and hope to the reality we encounter.”