Photo: Erin Cahill Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Michael Larsen

The film follows Monica (Erin Cahill), a devoted ER nurse who—despite her reluctance—embarks on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage at the urging of her mother. Along the way, she discovers a deeper faith, unexpected healing, and the power of love.

BuddyHollywood’s Paula K. Parker had the opportunity during a media day for a quick chat with Erin about the film’s powerful messages, what it was like to shoot on the actual Comino de Santiago, and what she hopes audiences take away from this film.

Paula K. Parker: There were so many impactful lines in this film. One was when your character Monica remembered her father saying, “He trusted the journey even when he didn’t know where God was leading.”

What was one of your impactful takeaways from the film?
ERIN CAHILL: For me, it is the element of faith. I believe faith looks different for everybody.

I believe faith is an individual relationship, but I think the most important thing is that it’s nurturing. It’s a relationship with the Divine, but it’s also a relationship with yourself. (gentle laugh) You know, I only have two tattoos. 

One tattoo is my dad’s and my mom’s handwriting. The other tattoo is the word, “Faith” in my Grandma’s handwriting. It’s so important. Faith is easy to have when things are looking great. But it’s when our faith is tested that it’s the most opportunity and it’s even sweeter.

PKP: That’s when we grow. If you think about flowers and plants, when they are planted, they have to push up through the soil and that’s not easy. Like many people, I have been through a lot of hard times and I know that I have to trust the Lord and go from there.

ERIN CAHILL: I love what you just said, because you have to go through it. It’s reflected in nature. It’s reflected in the seed in the soil. It’s reflected in seasons, it’s reflected all around us.

PKP: I understand that you actually walked the Camino; what was that like?

ERIN CAHILL: Yes; we filmed on location in Spain in multiple places because the Camino is quite long. It was spectacular; it’s everything you would want it to be; it’s so beautiful. There are some parts when you’re so remote. There were some actual pilgrims hiking the trail, which was so wonderful. Then there are other parts of the Comino that are more in the city.

And what a beautiful dichotomy; this is a traditional ancient pilgrimage, but it’s still so impactful that it’s also part of the society. It’s really incredible.

PKP: This film releases during Holy Week. What message do you hope audiences will take away from this film?

ERIN CAHILL: Thank you for asking that question. You know, I preemptively want to say to everybody who watches it, “Thank you for watching. Thank you for helping spread the word.”

You know, I hope people take away some version of what I think is the message of the film, and what I took away, and what you just said; it’s the plant breaking through the seed’s shell.

I hope people feel seen by this film. I hope they feel seen in their struggles, in their growth, and in their internal journeys. I hope people feel seen and inspired by this movie, and maybe somehow feel even more connected to themselves in the Divine.

PKP: Erin, I have enjoyed talking with you, but our time is coming to an end. I want to offer you the last word. How do you want to end this interview?

ERIN CAHILL: Oh my goodness, just with gratitude. You know, I’ve said it a couple times [in other interviews] today. One of my dad’s favorite quotes is, “If the only prayer you ever say is, ‘Thank you,’ that’s enough.” I’m so grateful. I’m grateful to you. I’m grateful to each person reading this interview. And, I am grateful to the Divine.

ABOUT ERIN CAHILL (Monica)

Erin Cahill’s career launched in 2001 when she was cast as Jen, the Pink Ranger in the series Power Rangers: Time Force. Since then, she has starred in numerous television and film projects, amassing more than 100 credits. Cahill has worked in a wide range of genres, having starred in comedy on FOX; dramas on NBC, ABC and CBS; romantic comedies on Hallmark Channel; thrillers on Amazon and Netflix; video games for X-Box and an animated feature for Sony.

Cahill has starred in 11 Hallmark original movies, including last year’s Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane, a follow-up to the 2022 film Christmas on Cherry Lane, Autumn at Apple Hill, Christmas Bedtime Stories for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, Timeless Christmas and Hearts in the Game on Hallmark Channel. In 2021 she launched her Hallmark producing career with Every Time a Bell Rings for Hallmark Movies Now, the first original movie premiere for the standalone streaming service, in which she also starred. Additionally, she was part of the all-star cast in the 2024 limited holiday series, Holidazed, which premiered exclusively on Hallmark+.

Cahill’s passion project alongside her husband has been to raise funds to build schools with the prestigious buildOn organization. To date, they fundraised and completed building schools in Nepal, Malawi, and a third school, sending 10 school children from The Bronx, New York to Malawi on their own school build. They are currently fundraising for their fourth school, to be built in Guatemala in 2022.

Click here to learn more about buildOn.