American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings

[Karen Mallory]

Perhaps the group should consider broadening their name to North American
Pilgrims to include the Canadians who do not consider themselves Americans
(except in the very broadest of definitions which would then include all of
the Americas).

Hope all have a wonderful holiday  - we are now in the period when the sun
stands still but in a few days will see the light come back.  Rejoice.

Karen
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Gower" <kathygoweraHOTMAIL.COM>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 6:33 PM
Subject: American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings


> American Pilgrims on the Camino
> Pilgrim Gatherings, an open letter
>
> Dear once and future pilgrims,
>
> Rosina and others have inquired about both the annual Pilgrim Gatherings
and
> the possibility of being represented in Santiago as a group of pilgrims
from
> North America.  I'd like to address this.
>
> There have been six pilgrim gatherings so far, organized and hosted by a
> sincere group of pilgrim friends across the US and Canada.   In the
> beginning these were held in Williamsburg, VA, then in San Francisco,
Santa
> Fe, Columbia, MO.  The difference between these gatherings and other local
> gatherings of pilgrims is the wide range of people coming from across the
US
> and Canada, and their programs, that are put together by the local hosts.
> Programs range from talks on Medieval pilgrimage, Art and Architecture,
> music, poetry, books, discussions of various pilgrim routes and include
> celebratory dinners, walks and story times. The time frame has been a
> weekend, usually in the early spring.
>
> The 7th Gathering will take place in March in Santa Barbara, California
and
> will also include talks by Camino scholars, "boots & socks" information
and
> a hospitalero training given by a group from Spain and a pilgrim spiritual
> retreat afterwards.  The program is stunning, and, as always, the high
> points are the meeting of old and new pilgrim friends and listening to the
> wonderful ways we have found our way to and from our beloved Camino.
>
> Some of the same far-flung group of friends has incorporated into a 501(
> c)(3),
> for public benefit corporation, to assistant in the production of such
> events, which are intended to educate and to celebrate the pilgrim
> experience.  The founding group is a loose collection of academics,
business
> people who are, above all, interested in all aspects of the Camino, be
they
> spiritual, historical, cultural, transformational, intellectual or
> recreational.  We have walked or biked the Camino and want to keep those
> experiences alive.
>
> The American Pilgrims on the Camino exists as an open entity, dedicated to
> putting on such gatherings and whatever else may be called for.  We do not
> have a newsletter or issue passports or a listserve, (American Friends
does)
> although  many of us
> have written for various media and belong to many various Camino-related
> listserves and organizations.  It is our interest and care for the Camino
> and fellow pilgrims that is our purpose for organizing  at all.  The next
> gathering in 2005 will be held in Toronto, Canada and after that in
Colorado
> (criss-crossing the continent and stopping in the middle!)
>
> If you have any comments or questions about potential directions for the
> American Pilgrims on the Camino, please contact either myself or Lin Galea
> at lingaleaahotmail.com
>
> Warm wishes for a Peaceful and Blessed New Year
> and a Camino in the near future,
>
> Kathy Gower, PhD
>
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