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Father Gerard Postlethwaite RIP

Fr Gerard preaching at a Chaplaincy Mass

Father Gerard Postlethwaite

The Camino Chaplaincy mourns the sudden death of our friend and colleague Fr Gerard and we extend our condolences to his family and all who loved him.

 

Gerard Postlethwaite joined the Benedictines, studying at Saint Benet's Hall Oxford, and was at Ampleforth in Basil Hume's time there. As a Benedictine he took the name Basil. He went to the Edinburgh Archdiocese to do parish work and was seconded to El Salvador to work in a parish for over ten years. On his return to the UK he served as school chaplain at Saint Mary's School, Shaftesbury, and then at Saint Edward's School, Cheltenham. In both places he also assisted at local parishes. In 2013 he went as parish priest of Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster.

In that year he completed his first walking pilgrimage from Le Puy in France to Santiago de Compostela. He was very taken with the Camino and subsequently led a parish Pilgrimage from Sarria, and served with the Chaplaincy both in Santiago and as a peripatetic chaplain on the Camino Frances. He also completed the Camino Portugués, doing it again with his brother Bob. Fr Gerard wanted to develop a new model of religious retreat – a retreat whilst whilst walking the Camino to Santiago. So it was he embarked on the first retreat from Barcelos in Portugal on 12 September. Sadly only four days later having arrived in Valença do Minho he died suddenly.

Fr Gerard’s group were understandably shocked but decided to carry on their pilgrim way praying for Gerard and his family and friends. On Friday last they attended the evening Pilgrims’ Mass in the cathedral of Santiago which was dedicated to Fr Gerard and on Saturday a very beautiful Mass of Thanksgiving for his life was held in the Church of San Agustin in Santiago. Gerard’s brother Bob came to Santiago to attend this mass. The following is an extract of the Eulogy he gave:

"Gerard’s passionate commitment to the Camino is well known to everybody here.  Some years after he had completed the Camino my wife asked him what did it feel like to pack up all your personal belongings and set out on the long journey?  His reply was that it was like stepping out into space. Journeying through that space was a transformative experience, an epiphany, out of which his Camino ministry grew.

As you are probably aware exactly 1 year ago Gerard and I followed very much the route you have just traversed. On the 16^th September last year we reached Pontevedra.  The pilgrimage was all Gerard’s initiative. He reminded me that I was the first person to make him aware of the Camino when I gave him a Cicerone Guide to the Way of St James. It was important to him that I obtained a compostela before my 70^th birthday. 

In that week, when I could keep up with him, he set out his vision for the Camino Ministry. This seemed a fitting culmination to his many roles and he saw great pastoral opportunities. Additionally he was hoping to host family members, not least nieces and nephews, in Santiago.

We are all sad that his untimely death has taken all this from us and, more importantly, from other people who might have been in need of his ministry.

The family have been devastated by his untimely death but have gained considerable comfort from the fact that this fate befell him in a place he loved, doing something he was passionately committed to, surrounded by fellow pilgrims who cherished him and shared his vision".

Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

    

Mass in English in Santiago

The Cathedral of Santiago has now announced arrangements for Mass in English for this season:

http://www.pastoralsantiago.es/misas-en-ingles-en-la-catedral-de-santiago-de-compostela/

News from the Camino Chaplaincy

Services in English in the Cathedral of Santiago

The Dean of the Cathedral of Santiago has informed Fr Gerard, Director of the Camino Chaplaincy, that he is moving to appoint a priest from the Philippines to provide Mass and the Sacraments to English speakers.  The Chaplaincy is delighted to have pioneered this service over the last four years and in that time some 25,000 pilgrims attended mass in the Cathedral or at mass celebrated by a Chaplaincy priest on the Camino. During this period over 20 priests and over 40 volunteers have served.  We are delighted that the service will continue and we wish the new chaplain well in his endeavours.

For information about services in English in the Cathedral contact:  dean@catedraldesantiago.es

Walking Retreats 2017

The Walking Retreat from Barcelos on the Camino Portugués which will take place from 12 – 23 September 2017 is now completely full – and there is a waiting list!

Walking Retreats 2018

During 2018 there will be at least two walking retreats – details will be announced soon about these and other Chaplaincy activities.

The Walking Retreats will be led by Fr Gerard.

Camino Walking Retreats 2017

Camino Walking Retreat 2017

The Camino Chaplaincy invites you to join a spiritual retreat

whilst walking the Camino. The retreat

will be led by Fr Gerard Postlethwaite,

 Director of the Camino Chaplaincy.

The retreat will include joining with other pilgrims in the group

for morning prayer and evening Mass each day,

 various talks and meditations and an evening meal together

The walking retreat is from Barcelos on the Camino Portugués (186.5 kms)

12 – 23 September 2017, including final two nights in Santiago

Cost: 780€ per person in double/twin room ‖ 960€ per person in a single room

The price includes:

•                      Accommodation in good quality hotels and hostels
•                      Breakfast and dinner
•                      Daily luggage transfer to next hotel
•                      Transport from Santiago airport to Cebreiro and Porto airport to Barcelos

Places are limited – BOOK EARLY

 

For further information and to register your interest,

email the Camino Chaplaincy: caminochaplaincy@gmail.com. 

Fr Gerard Postlethwaite

Gerard Postlethwaite was born in Warrington, Cheshire and joined the Benedictine Abbey at Ampleforth, where he was given the name Basil. He was educated in Manchester and Oxford and was ordained priest in 1983. In over 30 years of priestly ministry Fr Gerard has worked in Scotland, El Salvador and England. He walked the Camino Francés, from Le Puy en Velay, in 2013 and has walked five other Caminos since then. About this exciting new initiative of

the Camino Chaplaincy, he says:

“The Camino journey is deeply personal to everyone who makes it, but there is also a value in receiving some direction. Inspired by spirituality of Saint Ignatius and the poems of TS Eliot, I very much look forward to leading these two walking retreats in 2017. I hope that, together, we can take our experience of the Camino to a deeper level”.  Fr Gerard

2016 is in full swing!

Chaplaincy in full swing!

Pilgrims after mass with Fr Stephen 

“I haven’t been to Mass since I was a little boy” said the pilgrim. “ When I was about half way along the Camino Frances I was settling down in the albergue in Terradillos de los Templarios with  my friends when a priest came in. He didn’t actually look like a priest but he introduced himself and said there was a Pilgrims’ Mass in the local church . There wasn’t much else to do so we went along. There were people from the USA, France, Spain, the Ukraine, Belgium, Italy and the UK. And me, the Irishman! The priest spoke in English and Spanish and welcomed the French  and Italian in their own languages. After that we all introduced ourselves and said where we came from and where we had started walking. Language didn’t seem to matter and we all understood each other. We also seemed to understand what the priest was saying, talking about peace that begins in our own hearts and if it does it can spread throughout the world. When he invited us to hold hands and say the Our Father in our own language then embrace each other in a sign of peace many people were crying with the beauty of it.

That evening they said that when I got to Santiago there would be a mass in English in the Cathedral. So here I am! Something is bringing me back and back.”

Meeting pilgrims in O Cebreiro

We are now over halfway through the pilgrim season and Santiago is busy. Each year around 12% more pilgrims arrive than the previous year – and 2016 is no exception! What is different is the level of support the Chaplaincy has received from the many priests and pastoral workers who have offered to serve. Already Frs Pat Brophy, Dominic O’Hara and Stephen Pritchard have been ministering in Moratinos and Terrradillos de los Templarios and Fr Ken Lavarone has been developing the Chaplaincy in O Cebreiro in collaboration with the Franciscans there.

In Santiago daily mass has been provided since the beginning of May by Fr Joe Coghlan and he has been assisted by Pastoral Workers, Alan, Robin, John, Annette and Richard. Thanks to all of them and also to Frs Owen and Tony who stand in for Fr Joe when he needs a break.

For those working in the Chaplaincy every day brings something different. Out in Moratinos Fr Pat took to using an electric bike to cycle the route between the villages to meet pilgrims whilst in Cebriero Fr Ken has been walking down the hill to meet the pilgrims coming up!

Fluent Irish speaker Fr Joe

One unique even this year was the arrival of a group of pilgrims from Ireland who had rowed a traditionally built currach named the Naomhoig Na Tinteall the way from Ireland. They did this over two years and they were overjoyed to arrive in Galicia. Fr Joe, the chaplain in Santiago, said a thanksgiving Mass for them in the Irish language and there were enthusiastic celebrations which followed. You can imagine!

We are now preparing for the arrival of more priests and a visit from Bishop Ralph at the end of the month. More news later!

   

Camino Chaplaincy 2016

Welcome - Camino Chaplaincy 2016

This year Fr Joe Coghlan, the Director of the Camino Chaplaincy returns to Santiago as Chaplain for 6 months. Helping in Santiago and on the Camino Outreach Programme we welcome:

Frs Pat Brophy,  s.m, Dominc O’Hara, Stephen Pritchard, Ken Laverone OFM, John Jhul  OFM Cap, John Larsen s.m, Alan Neville MSC, Gerard Postlethwaite, Tony O’Riordon SJ, Eoin Whooley, Juan Carlos. Chaplaincy Assistants: Alan Pearce,  John Piggott, Robin Piggott, Annette Argall, Richard Mallory, Pauline Rosseau, Morrell Rouseau, Moira Selvage.

Seal of approval

We are delighted to have the blessing and support of Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster and President of the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales. The Cardinal hopes to visit Santiago with Bishop Ralph to see our work at first hand.

We are also grateful for the enthusiastic support of the Provincial Council of the Franciscan Order and the Bishop of Lugo for the Camino Chaplaincy Outreach programme in O Cebreiro and in Moratinos and Terredillo de los Templarios.         

Bishop Ralph, President of the Chaplaincy with Cardinal Nichols

New season begins

By the end of April the Chaplain Fr Joe Coghlan will arrive and on Monday 2 May 2016 the 4^th year of the Camino Chaplaincy begins in Santiago. There will be daily mass in English in the Cathedral at 10.30am in the same place as previous years – the Chapel of Nuestra Señora  de la Soledad.

This year there will also be SUNDAY MASS in English in the Chapel at 9am.

These will continue until 14 October 2016.    

Fr Joe will be available for confessions or simply a chat before and after the morning masses and also in the evening in the Cathedral.

Chaplaincy assistants, who like Fr Joe are also volunteers, will open the Chapel for prayer and reflection at 9am and will be available to welcome and chat with visitors.

Pilgrims arrive in O Cebreiro

Camino Chaplaincy Outreach

This year from June – September the Chaplaincy will also welcome pilgrims in O Cebriero and in Moratinos/ Terradillos de los Templarios. Priests who have volunteered to help the Chaplaincy will spend some of each day on the Camino meeting and greeting pilgrims and in the evening there will be an international Pilgrims’ Mass. Most of the priests speak Spanish as well as English. Everyone is welcome.

We will announce the exact times of services before the programme starts and we will put posters up in local albergues, hostals and restaurants etc.

O Cebreiro – Diocese of Lugo

Church of Saint Peter - Terradillos de los Templarios

The Chaplaincy is delighted to be working in close collaboration with the Franciscan Order who have two priests already in the parish in O Cebreiro. However they are also responsible for 13 other parishes!

Moratinos/Terradillo de los Templarios – Diocese of Palencia

Last year piloted providing our ministry in Moratinos and the neighbouring pueblo of Terradillo de los Templarios.  These villages are situated  half way along the Camino Francés . This year Chaplaincy priests will be there for a longer period and will open the churches to passing pilgrims and provide evening mass.

When the prayers come marching in

Prayer is at the heart of the Camino Chaplaincy. Wherever we are in Santiago or out on the Camino we meet to pray with pilgrims. We also encourage pilgrims to write down their prayer petitions and leave them with us. These are prayed for every day during the season and beyond.

Earlier this year we invited people who will not be going on pilgrimage to email their petitions to us. A considerable number have arrived and every day more petitions join them.  Please circulate this information to your contacts.   

Email your petitions to prayersantiago@gmail.com