[Gocamino] Confraternity in the USA

[Mary V. Wallis]

Hi all - Before embarking on plans for a US Confraternity, it might be an 
idea to see what American Pilgrims on the Camino is doing, its membership, 
mission, and current activities. APOC is thriving with 400 + members, a new 
Board as of last year, and a new website just about to be launched, which is 
very beautiful. In  March 2008 APOC will hold its 11th Annual Gathering of 
Pilgrims in Santa Barbara (last year in Williamsburg). These gatherings are 
always a success, and people come away refreshed and inspired.

It would be important to consider the Confraternity mission very carefully 
in terms of how it relates to other groups (not just APOC) and to create a 
"perspective" in the Confraternity that is seen as collaborative, or at 
least not competitive with fellow pilgrims in APOC. Ignoring the APOC 
altogether would not be helpful, as this would insulate the Confraternity 
from important Camino activities in its own backyard.

APOC is non-sectarian but there is a strong element (almost by definition) 
of spiritual quest woven into all it does. At the end of each Gathering, a 
2-3 day spiritual retreat is held, very supportive to those who wish to 
deepen their understanding of the inner transformation possible through 
pilgrimage in this world. APOC has always provided credentials for Camino 
pilgrims too.

My only concern with a Confraternity is that the idea comes on the heels of 
a lot of squabbling on this website and the rise of a certain tone of "us" 
(true pilgrims) and "them" (those who express their idea of pilgrimage 
differently). The "tone" of the Confraternity is important, and its 
readiness to look outward and openly to other groups in a spirit of 
friendliness and perhaps at times collaboration seems to me to be the most 
desirable.

>From the discussion on this website I haven't quite been able to grasp what 
the reason is for starting a Confraternity, unless it is to be more directly 
connected with the Archconfraternity. How would it differentiate itself from 
the APOC? I don't mean to challenge the idea of a Confraternity at all, but 
it's a question I haven't seen answered here yet, and I'm curious to know. 
Also, I wonder if it would dilute the American presence along the Camino to 
have two groups, causing confusion in Spain about who is doing what and whom 
to deal with, and also dilute the resources for both APOC and the 
Confraternity. That's why I think this needs to be thought through extremely 
carefully in terms of the implications for other groups both here and in 
Spain, and how American pilgrims are perceived. The worst thing would be if 
conflict or competition was inadvertantly set up by establishing a 
Confraternity.

The APOC website is www.americanpilgrims.com

thoughts anyone?

Mary Wallis

By the way, the absolute number of American pilgrims might seem high, but 
the per capita number is quite small in comparison to other countries. For 
example, Canada has, per capita, more pilgrims than the US.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <blaroli at aol.com>
To: <Gocamino at oakapple.net>; <saintjames at yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 7:24 PM
Subject: [Gocamino] Confraternity in the USA


> 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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