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!