[Gocamino] [saintjames] The Holy Year

Thu Dec 24 15:03:30 PST 2009

Well, there was an article in the Galician newspapers a couple of days ago, reporting that this year, up to Dec.10, 327,000 pilgrims had stayed in the Xunta-Archdiocese sponsored albergues in Galicia (not counting those staying in other albergues, and outside of the province), and by that date, or so, only about 120,000 pilgrims had received the Compostela, so that the 5 to 1 ratio seems reasonable.
The Xunta, and other government groups are looking for multi-lingual volunteers to help out. They are offering 90-hour courses for paid "volunteers" to assist pilgrims in the various routes of the Camino in Galicia.  Other municipalities are doing the same.
What I would like to do while in Santiago is pin down some nuts and bolts information about volunteering, about what is expected from volunteers and what they may count on on the way of accommodations and such.  I do already know that those volunteering at the Pilgrims' Office will get their meals, and that the people there will do their darnest to find them a place to stay.  Two convents have already agreed to provide sleeping facilities for (gasp!) male volunteers.
My other project is to continue to try and  convince the powers that be to issue a medal (like those of Saint Christopher that hang from our pets' collars)) to those many, many, dogs, horses and donkeys that have "walked" the Camino. While the finances for that project are assured, the approval is yet to come.  Once that the necessary approvals are obtained perhaps we can have a contest for someone to design the medal. That could be a sort of an English-Speaking-Pilgrims project. N'est pas?
Hugs!

Rosina

-----Original Message-----
From: Sil <sillydoll at gmail.com>
To: saintjames at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, Dec 24, 2009 4:43 pm
Subject: Re: [saintjames] The Holy Year

Thanks Rosina - wish we could be there with you.
 remember you gave an estimate once that only 1-in-5 pilgrims who walk the
amino actually get the Compostela.  This means that over 1.25 million
ilgrims could walk parts of the camino next year!!  Phsew - its going to be
 busy year!
il
2009/12/24 Rosina <Blaroli at aol.com>
>

 Hello you all, again.
 I will be leaving for Santiago next Saturday in order to participate in the
 pre-opening of the Holy Door festivities which commence on Sunday.
 From what I've heard the place is already a-jumping and full of novel
 activities: the Italians are reproducing the famous Nativity scene
 ("Presepio") in the Alameda, the Germans have established their spectacular
 Christmas markets all over the place, the Austrians have reproduced their
 breath-taking chandelier-style street illuminations and the 5,000 bag-pipe
 players are rehearsing all over the city.
 I suspect that in the end it will all come down to what has always been:
 the simple opening of the Door and its meaning to those who believe.
 At the last opening there was also a lot of hoopla (but not quite as much)
 with the King and the Queen in attendance, but what mattered was the
 celebration inside the church as the door came down and the explosive joy
 outside on Quintana Plaza with its (free) cava, all sorts of music and
 dancing (regional and otherwise), friendship, hugs and kisses everywhere,
 and mind-boggling fireworks. I remember writing to someone at the time that
 I have never, in my long life, had been as happy.

 -It is fair to say that during Christmas time in ordinary years Santiago is
 as lovely as a veritable Christmas card, with its stone buildings and
 streets glistening after the rain and reflecting the festive illuminations,
 and a rosy atmosphere all around that feels like an embrace from the
 thousands of souls lingering there-

 The much talked about documentary will commence filming on December 31 by
 taking-in the festivities.

 Lastly, the Xunta conservatively estimates that during the Holy Year more
 than 350,000 pilgrims will receive the Compostela and that about 10 million
 visitors are expected in the City.

 I will be in Santiago and its environs for 2 or 3 weeks. If there is
 anything I can get while I'm there for any of you, or find out about, just
 let me know. I'll be glad to do it.

 And again,

 Have a very, very Merry Christmas!

 Rosina

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

-- 
il
ttp://amawalker.blogspot.com/
ww.2009pilgrims.blogspot.com
ww.vfpilgrims.blogspot.com
ww.csjofsa.org.za

Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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