American Pilgrims on the Camino/Gatherings

[Karen Mallory]

Kathy,

Sorry, my last reply was a mite abrupt.  Your plans sound wonderful and, in
moving the gatherings around the continent, it makes it possible for people
from all over to attend.  That is a thoughtful way to handle it.  Will there
be some sort of formal report afterwards?  That would be nice for those of
us who cannot attend.

May your holiday be a warm one and bring you what you truly need.

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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