[Gocamino] Confraternity in the USA

Sun Oct 7 15:42:55 PDT 2007

In response to the quearies posed by Mary V. Wallis, please note that all the countries that have Confraternities have also Associations of Camino Friends; they neither compete not interfere with one another.? As related in previous messages, the purpose of a Confraternity is to be part of the international web of Camino projects and?efforts which, by necessity, is centered in the Santiago Archconfraternity. 
Interested pilgrims who want to be members of a Confraternity may seek to do so, and those who only want to be members of a Friends' Association may do so at well, as may those?who want to be members of both.
The main difference between the two, it appears, is that Friends' Associations are more focused in Camino related activities in their own geographical areas, wheras confraternities?participate in international Camino-related efforts, as witness the recent meeting in Jaca in which 29 countries were represented.
The idea of forming a USA Confraternity is not new,?(the Galicians in New Jersey and the Brasilians in New York started the process many months ago),?and the perceived?"squabbling" has been going on since the times of the old Gocamino list; it can pretty much be traced to some?individuals who become?irritated, for whatever reason, everytime that the religious flavor of the Camino is even hinted at.? The?contentiousness has been going on for so long?that, not wanting to bother with it,?I locked out of my computer some time ago any messages from?the ?author?of the most acerbic of the "no religion in the Camino"?messages!

Again, it is a misperception to believe? that a USA Confraternity could or would? dilute the American presence on the Camino?constituted by the American Pilgrims on The Camino group, or that it would ever cause confusion in Spain about "whom to deal with". The people in Santiago have been dealing with both Confraternities and Friends' Association from a great many countries for a long time.??The Archconfraternity will, of course, deal more directly with its member Confraternities, and the offices that deal with pilgrims groups such as?Friends Associations will do so as always.? If anything, Friends' Associations benefit from having a Confraternity in their own country becvause of the increased information and sources of references available to Confraternities which they, of course, make available to Friends' Associations.
Again, many countries have not one, but several Confraternities and a significant number of Friends' Associations with neither?dilution of presence nor confusion of any kind whatsoever.
Lastly, when it comes to potentially weakening?the resources of one or another Camino group, the membership fee in a Confraternity is negligible.? As a member of the Archconfraternity my dues are 10 Euros per year ($14.00 US Dlls.) and yet they send?me the Compostela magazine by air mail to New York? three times a year at a cost to them of about 7 Euros per copy; they also send me a lot of other materials.? I just got a big package from them containing, I believe, the record of the Jaca meeting.... and I'm worried about when and how I am going to?have time to peruse it!

Lastly, that the Gocamino list-serv is not directly connected with American Pilgrims on the Camino has been made clear from the start.? I disagree, however, that the serv-list? is not moderated.? Its originator and manager certainly regulates the size and content of the messages posted.... as I've experienced personally when my messages have been overlong or have contained attachments and have been held for "approval by list owner". He can also unsubscribe those members who do not comply with the intentions of the list, or abuse it.? But I expect he will address this matter himself at some point. I, for one, cannot express my gratitude sufficiently for his making this list available to us; I know that it takes him a great deal of?time and trouble and know how.? Thanks again David...... and again, and again.

I hope this answers some of the questions asked.

Warm regards,

Rosina

-----Original Message-----
From: Mary V. Wallis <mvwallis at pathcom.ca>
To: Gocamino at oakapple.net; saintjames at yahoogroups.com; blaroli at aol.com
Sent: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 3:03 pm
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Confraternity in the USA

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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