An inspiring pilgrimage: 6,000 km for Kenya's unheard children!

An inspiring pilgrimage: 6,000 km for Kenya's unheard children!

What motivates people to undertake such a long pilgrimage? The Spanish Fernando Gutiérrez dared and set off at the beginning of October 2024 to make a 6,000-kilometer pilgrimage from Spain to Bethlehem. His goal? To focus on the dignity of the lives of unborn children in Kenya. Gutiérrez, who was a long-time atheist as a former war reporter, founded the organization Mary's Children in 2022, which takes care of children at risk of abortion. Prayer plays a central role in his mission, both in Kenya and during his pilgrimage, which began at the Franciscan monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana, without any money and with complete trust in Providence. Loud Aleteia Gutiérrez finds that the children have taught him a lot about love and forgiveness and sees his journey as a sign of life.

How did Fernando Gutiérrez come to dedicate himself to such deep questions about life and human existence? His spirituality is strongly influenced by his connection to Mother Teresa, who supports him during his prayers at her grave. He began to pray for the “children of Mary”, i.e. the unborn children, and realized that he was part of a larger mission: “Whatever You want, Lord” became the core message of his request to God. This shows that he sees the fight he is waging not as a personal one, but as a common approach for all people, regardless of their faith. Gutiérrez describes this in the words: “Mary carries us to her Son” and emphasizes God's infinite love for every child, the website reports Mary's Children Mission.

The right-to-life movement in context

The concerns of Gutiérrez and his organization are part of a larger movement: the right-to-life movement, which has been organizing against abortion in the USA since the 1970s. Over the years, this movement has addressed not only abortion issues, but also issues such as euthanasia and prenatal diagnosis. Gutiérrez's commitment falls into this tradition, which is growing rapidly in many countries, including Germany. Life rights groups, also known in German-speaking countries as “life rights” or “life protectors”, argue that life begins with fertilization and are vehemently opposed to abortions. As part of their activities, they hold marches and protests to draw attention to their concerns. However, this comprehensive movement is not only celebrated: critics complain that it often does not sufficiently advocate for the rights of women and the living conditions of children Wikipedia holds on.

Fernando Gutiérrez sees in his pilgrimage a message - a message for life that spreads hope for a decisive defense of the unborn through prayer and devotion. His path leads past important shrines, which makes this pilgrimage not only a physical but also a spiritual journey. So the question remains: Can such personal sacrifices possibly raise awareness of the fate of many children in Kenya and beyond? It will be exciting to see how his commitment continues to unfold and what changes it can bring with it.