[Gocamino] Confraternity in the USA

[blaroli at aol.com]

Hello you all,
Wow!....I had absolutely no idea that so many of you are enthusiastic about forming a confraternity in the USA.? Like most of you, I do believe that considering the large number of USA Santiago pilgrims it is inevitable that a confraternity or two will be formed here.
And no, confraternities are not exclusively for Catholics, as indeed, neither is the Camino, and confraternities do not? proselitize, they are merely the web that holds the universitality of the Camino together?.? But the ancient bureaucratic rules and requirements need be complied with, and the process,?as I mentioned in an earlier message, may take years (sigh!).

Two young women, one?from the Archconfraternity in Santiago and the other from the Pilgrims' Office will come to New York City next December; when they are here?I'll attempt to find out whether there is a way to simplify the process. Personally, with Christmas approaching and all, I do not believe that anything can or would be commenced until at least next Spring.?
Also, the Brooklyn Cathedral of Saint James has invited the head of the Santiago Archdiocese's? Sociology Department to visit, but there is no set date yet. When and if Don JuanJo comes I may learn more about the most expedient way to go about it.

For other news, as? the latest figures posted here show, the number of pilgrims this year has exceeded, by far, that of any other non-Holy Year.? The figures posted were up to August 31st, but the pilgrims in September continued to swell the numbers.
Also, Finisterra has been officially declared to be a European Patrimony.? I'm not sure what that means exactly, but it seems to be something akin to the rubric of "National Monuments" in the U.S.
And the latest issue of lottery tickets issued by the Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos de Espanha "ONCE" (National Association of Blind People in Spain, who have the national right to sell and distribute lottery tickets in Spain) contained a picture of?Obradoiro Square and, reportedly, was the best selling issue ever.? It could be that many tickets were sold for their souvenir value since it was the first time that Obradoiro appeared on the tickets.? 

Well,... I'm looking forward to the Santiago concert next Tuesday at Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church on Park Avenue.? It is really a beautiful church and the music will be all medieval Santiago themes and canticles. Three years ago the Pamplona Cathedral choir gave a concert at a local theatre, Alice Tully Hall, and another at Saint Thomas Episcopal church on Fifth Ave. The Pamplona choir is famous throughout Europe, (as is the Santiago choir).? I went to the St. Thomas?one because I like that church a lot, and I just loved it.
By the way, Saint Thomas has a lady priest who has walked the Camino twice and gives frequent lectures about it all over the city.

Hugs!

Rosina

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