The Jubilee Year 2025 bears the motto: Pilgrims of Hope. From every corner of the world, pilgrims are traveling to Rome to pass through the Holy Doors and rediscover the heart of the faith.
Inspired by this spirit, Lebanon has launched Caminos Lebanon — a network of pilgrimage routes across lands once walked by saints like Sharbel and Rafqa, and even, in the southern hills, by Jesus Christ himself.
At the heart of the initiative is Suzy El Hage, General coordinator of APL and concept creator of Caminos Lebanon.
She noted, “Every human being is on a pilgrimage journey on this earth, walking to the Kingdom of Heaven. As a concept creator, I have always had this idea in mind. While the initiative highlights cultural, religious, spiritual and economic tourism, its deep significance lies in walking toward the Kingdom of Glory.”
Caminos Lebanon took shape through the efforts of key figures — including Father Abbot Khalil Alwan, president of the Association of Pilgrimages in Lebanon, and project manager Nour Farra Haddad.
Since 2017, the vision matured and finally on March 28th, 2025, it was officially launched — blessed by the Maronite Patriarch and supported by the Lebanese government. Over ten themed routes now stretch across sacred mountains, monastic valleys, and remote villages, connecting shrines from north to south.
Card. Patriarch Béchara Boutros Pierre Raï, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, emphasized, “These are paths of faith, paths of spirituality, paths of prayer—because they are filled with monasteries and churches. Those who walk them feel a deep inner peace. Because peace is born from faith, from prayer.”
The Lebanese Minister of Tourism, Laura El-Khazen Lahoud, added, “We would like to encourage ‘Caminos Lebanon’ and encourage people from all over the world to come and discover the various different Lebanese trails. From any religion, it will be a beautiful project to follow.”
On the day “Caminos Lebanon” was launched, two Israeli missiles struck Beirut—fracturing a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. A testimony to the difficult situation the country is experiencing.
But neither fear nor bad weather the next day would stop “Raya’s Camino of Hope.”
The very next morning, in the foggy hills of Miziara, young people from a group called RAYA laced their boots, rang the bells, and launched Raya’s Camino of Hope in relation to the Jubilee of Hope.
RAYA, short for Rosary & Adoration, Youth Apostolate, takes its name from Raya — a young woman killed defending her dignity, in a story echoing that of Saint Maria Goretti, who rather chose death than losing her virginity and who even forgave her killer.
After her brutal death, Raya appeared in a dream to Victoria Minaise, asking for a church, a pilgrimage, and a voice for the voiceless.
Raya’s Camino of Hope Team Member, Victoria Minaise, related the story:
“There was a strong sun hitting my back telling me, I want the piece of land here and I want it from my mum.
“I want the pilgrimage and I want it only for the youth, and I want it for the girls who don’t have voices. I do want rosaries made out of hearts and I want them pink. This was an emphasis from her in the dream. I want the church to be built in the name of Maria, but she didn’t tell me Maria Goretti.”
Marie Chidiac, Mother of Raya, also shared:
“[Raya] passed away on 22 September 2017. Raya, 26 years old, born on 14 January 1991, was our eldest daughter. [She] appeared in the dreams of many people, asking for a church to be dedicated to Saint Maria Goretti. We didn’t know about the saint before, and neither did Raya. But we later discovered that the story of the saint’s life closely mirrors that of Raya.”
Church authorities discerned the messages. The shrine was built exactly where Raya requested. The sanctuary — shaped like a rose and a candle — has become a place of grace. Moved by Raya’s story, local Church authorities have begun gathering testimony for a possible cause of beatification.
“What we went through after Raya’s death was incredibly difficult,” her mother shared. “None of us could move on easily. But it is not by our own strength that we have moved forward; it is through a higher divine power that continues to guide and sustain us in becoming who we are today.”
In 2025, the Maronite Patriarch awarded RAYA’s Youth an honorary shield — and chose Marie as the Face of Hope for the Jubilee Year.
The youth pilgrimage begins at the Sanctuary of St. Maria Goretti and winds through seven sacred sites — including the chapel of Padre Pio, Saint Neemtallah, Our Lady of Miziara, and Saint Rita. At each stop, they pause to pray and ring the bells to mark their passage.
Dona Maria is the designer of Raya’s Camino of Hope. She explained, “When I was drawing the maps for this Camino, I was thinking about a way to attract youth to walk this Camino. And, we chose seven churches. And actually, we were inspired by Saint Philip Neri. What we have here is a treasure, not only a Camino. We have 13 churches. We have youth that is willing to do anything for the Church.”
The youth added, “In Lebanon, we have a lot of gifts. And, it’s always our responsibility to show our beauty to the whole world, especially our holy Land. So, such a project is very important. Especially, we want the youth to experience this gift we have.”
What began centuries ago in Rome as the Seven Churches pilgrimage is now reborn in the hills of Lebanon—led by a new generation of saints in RAYA’s Camino of Hope. And across the country, each Camino carries its own saints, stories, and steps of hope.
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Adapted by Jacob Stein
Journalists: Marguerita Kallassy, Alexey Gotovskiy, Producer: Alexey Gotovskiy, Special Thanks & Credits: Suzy El Hage, Drone Footage: Fr. Antonio Elfeghali
