Apostolado Inglesa - Santiago de Compostela

General Information 

The mission of the English Apostolate in Santiago de Compostela is to develop ways of improving the experience of pilgrims arriving from their Camino. The Apostolate is the initiative of a small group of volunteers who in the last two years have introduced the following services:

2012 and 2013 Amigos Welcome Service

Through the Amigos Welcome Service volunteers are recruited to live in Santiago for two week periods providing an English language welcome and information service for pilgrims arriving at the Pilgrims’ Office. Whilst the volunteers are English speaking, pilgrims of all nationalities are welcomed individually. The Amigos Welcome Service is not religious or denominational.

So far a total of 80 volunteers have participated in this service and a further 50 have been recruited for the season May – October 2014. Volunteers pay their own travel and subsistence. Accommodation and some basic groceries are provided. These are paid for from grants from pilgrim support organisations from which the volunteers are recruited. In 2014 the participant organisations are:

·         American Pilgrims on the Camino

·         Canadian Company of Pilgrims

·         Confraternity of Saint James

·         Dutch Pilgrim Association

·         Irish Society of the Friends of St. James

Welcome Centre

In 2013, with practical support from the English Apostolate, the Dutch Association opened a welcome centre for pilgrims speaking Dutch and Flemish. In 2014 this has been located in the Pilgrims’ Office and is staffed with volunteers from the Dutch Association who also assist in welcoming all pilgrims. 26 Dutch volunteers have been recruited for this service.

Volunteering in the Pilgrims’ Office

The Pilgrims' Office is part of the Cathedral of Santiago and each year in addition to paid staff around 25 volunteers are engaged to receive pilgrims and issue the Compostela. In the past recruitment was ad hoc with a mixture of students, interns and those on work experience being engaged. Going forward a richer mix of pilgrims who have walked the Camino will be invited to become volunteers. This programme is now underway for 2014.

Xacobiños – Pilgrims of the Future

This is a new initiative being run by the Apostolate which will create a replicable model for introducing young people in school to pilgrimage. Focusing on young people who are transitioning from primary to secondary school the programme offers a period of education and preparation in school, a visit to Santiago comprising walking part of the Camino Francés, a guided tour of the Cathedral and presentation of a “Junior Compostela” to participants.    

Camino Chaplaincy

“The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy” (Ps 102)

Introduction

The Camino Chaplaincy was piloted in 2013 when three priests and four religious provided a place of welcome and reflection in one of the chapels of the Cathedral for 6 weeks in May/June. Daily Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation were provided as well as an opportunity for coffee after mass. In the evenings a short Service of Reflection was provided in the Pilgrims’ Office.

From every point of view the pilot was a success. The Masses and services were well attended and the Cathedral was delighted at the needs of English speakers being met. So much so the Dean of the Cathedral and the Archbishop of Santiago were keen that the service was developed and expanded to cover a longer period in 2014.

During the pilot there was the recognition that many pilgrims have deep spiritual needs which they have decided to address at the end of their pilgrimage. Some have a need to talk and share; some are vulnerable and may have been at some distance from the church; others may have had no contact with church but are considering spiritual matters as a consequence of their pilgrimage experience.

Therefore the Dean of the Cathedral has encouraged the Camino Chaplaincy to develop a pastoral approach in which pilgrims will be received in an open, non-judgemental and sympathetic way.

2014

Through personal contact and an advertisement placed in the Tablet magazine some 15 priests and around 20 religious volunteered to participate in the Chaplaincy. They provide a welcome prayerful space in a Chapel of the Cathedral, daily Mass and confessions, Evening Prayer and a listening ear over coffee after mass or in a quiet moment in the Chapel.

The Chaplaincy started on the Thursday before Palm Sunday 2014 and will run until 16 October 2014.

Accommodation  

As with the other volunteering programmes being run by the Apostolate accommodation is provided in a centrally located apartment within a short walking distance of the Cathedral. Usually teams share the apartment which is large enough to provide adequate gender separation as well as individual bedrooms and bathrooms.

Finance 

The Camino Chaplaincy is entirely self supporting. No funds are available for this ministry from the cash strapped Cathedral! However the pilot last year showed that with donations and Mass offerings all costs can be covered.

Generally priests and religious who are selected will be expected to pay for their own 

travel and daily subsistence.  Accommodation and a starter pack of groceries are provided.

Whilst we recognise that pilgrims and others attending mass may be very generous in terms of donations and stipends our aim is that ministers are not unduly out of pocket and we provide financial assistance to ministers where this is necessary.

Accountability 

The Camino Chaplaincy operates under the guidance of and is accountable to Don Segundo Perez Lopez, Dean of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and Director of the Pilgrims' Office.

Further Information:

John Rafferty

caminochaplaincy@gmail.com