Camino Companions is an FCJ project in Santiago de Compostela to offer pilgrims a space to articulate and find meaning at the end of their Camino. One of the project volunteers, Nóirín, from Ireland, describes a day in the life of a volunteer welcoming pilgrims in Santiago.
Ensuring that all is ready for the arrival of Fr. Manny and the smooth celebration of the English language Mass in the Pilgrims’ Chapel, situated at the entrance to the Compostela Office, is the beginning of the day. Volunteers are in good humour and an air of enthusiasm and willingness to be of help pervades. People coming to Mass are welcomed as they enter the chapel and two from among them, who are willing to read the first reading and the psalm, are found.
The volunteer team members decide who among them is going to make the formal welcome before Mass; who is going to take care of the music; who will be Minister of the Eucharist and who will go to the Cathedral to make the announcement re what Camino Companions offers to English speaking pilgrims arriving in Santiago at the end of their Camino.
During Mass, just before the Offertory, Fr. Manny, our celebrant, invites members of the congregation to come to the altar, light a candle and pray their personal offertory prayer out loud. One can also come to the altar, light a candle and pray silently. This practice of reciting one’s personal prayer out loud can be very moving for all present, as people express to the Lord their gratitude, their hopes, their sadnesses, their prayers of beseeching. After Mass, upstairs in Room 6 (the Welcome Room), initially there is an air of busyness and chatter as pilgrims and visitors are seated and served their tea/coffee and biscuits.
During the period of ‘exchange and share’ which follows, an atmosphere of quiet is created which allows people to express their thoughts on their Camino journey, just completed, and to be listened to without interruption by their co-pilgrims or by the team members. The atmosphere created is such that people feel free to speak openly about their concerns and joys; their thoughts about what their camino experience meant to them. People mention the kindness of people met along their way, both co-pilgrims and local people; gratitude for having the wherewithal, both financial and physical, to have undertaken their Camino; an appreciation of the beauty of the countryside through which they walked and finding their God in that natural beauty.
Speaking of the Welcome Room, a man is heard to say “This (listening and sharing) is the best thing since St Jean!” Another man says “You provide a safe space where people are free to express their thoughts without fear of being judged.” Later, outside in the street, a lady says “Tell the Sisters they are providing a great service.”
Volunteers volunteer for 14 days at a time. No two days are the same. Some are busier and more demanding than others. A volunteer can find oneself with team members who come from different backgrounds or countries or with people whose perspective on life is different from one’s own. However, all are there to give of their best, to be eager and enthusiastic, and for whom welcoming the pilgrim and being an empathetic listener is what is important. It’s why we’re there. Invariably, one goes home exhausted, but very grateful for having been there.
A New Initiative
Following some discussion and encouraged by some volunteers, it was decided to offer a type of Tour/ Reflection to give pilgrims a greater knowledge and understanding of the story of St. James and the development of the Camino. One of the volunteers offered to write the script which is now shared with other volunteers who wish to be involved.
The Tour has been delivered most evenings at 5pm, starting in Plaza Inmaculada and then moving over to the Holy Door in Plaza Quintana. As many as twenty participants can arrive some days to hear the story.
Those who arrive listen intently. They can be people with a lot of knowledge of the story of James and the story of pilgrimage, or they can have very scant knowledge. One never knows! Often, at the end, clarifying questions are asked or some points of information give rise to discussion.
In general, people are grateful and enthusiastic and say that there were points of information which they did not know. They express their delight that ‘The Tour’ is on offer and say that it is an activity that adds to their end of pilgrimage experience.
Read more about Camino Companions on this website for information about where and when to find us, follow Camino Companions on facebook, read some other volunteer stories, or get in touch at caminocompanions @ gmail.com
