[Gocamino] July 25th, 2009

[Rosina]

Hello you all, 
The Santiago newspapers report that the fireworks celebration for the famed “burning of the Cathedral” were considerably scaled down this year  An Italian firm was engaged to produce them on the premise that they would be “smokeless” and that explosions, etc., would be kept to a bare minimum.  To make up for the diminution in the explosive sensational activities, a lavish laser show was prepared to simulate on the façade of the Cathedral  the riotous celebrations of prior years; the program, however, had a glitch, stopped several times, and had to be restarted t more than once.

While many spectators were disappointed, the majority of Santiagoans were pleased that the “London-blitz-like” excesses of past years has been discontinued, particularly after damage to the Cathedrals outer walls and towers was detected.

I, for one, am very glad.  It simply doesn’t make any sense to drastically prohibit vehicular traffic throughout the Casco to protect the ancient buildings from damage through car emissions, etc., and then submit the Cathedra, no less, to the gunpowder prolonged assault that you can see in the videos and pictures of last year’s celebrations.

On a sad note:  On July 25th itself Don Juan Jose Cebrian died.  He and his brother, Don Jenaro (the head of the Pilgrims’ office) became priests in their twenties; both went on to earn several doctorates and to teach at the Diocesan University in Rome and in other univ
ersities and seminaries.  Don Juanjo became the head of the Sociological department of the Santiago Archdiocese and pioneered and implemented the use of computers at the Archdiocese, and through the Xunta-sponsored albergues and other sites. He also wrote 74 (seventy-four) Camino-related books. 

While Don Jenaro is a country-priest type, ala Barry Fitzgerald in that old movie “Going my Way”, and can be seen at the Cathedral most of the time saying Mass or hearing confessions, and after serving as an active bishop for a while refused a permanent post as such because he missed “priesting”, Don JuanJo had that disant attitude characteristic of those possessed of remarkable intellectual stature. Nevertheless, he was friendly enough and extremely generous with his resources.

Since he became a “canonigo” recently, he was buried yesterday in the Cathedral cloisters, where the Cathedral’s canonigos are buried.  Because of his accomplishments and distinctions, and because he was an “hermano mayor” of the Archconfraternity, the burial services were presided by all the officers of the Archconfraternity and conducted by the Santiago Archbishop, Msgr. Barrio.

Requiescat in Pax

Those of you who may want to send condolences to Don Jenaro may do so sending a message to the pilgrims’ office at

peregrinos at archicompostela.org

Don Jenaro is a sweetie pie of a priest and of a human being, if there was ever one. and he revered his brother. I’m sure he would be wa
rmed and consoled by any expressed sympathies. 

As  to other things:  during the month of July the Pilgrims’ office has been dispensing an average of 800 Compostelas daily, except for the 24th  when 1,500 were granted.. This is the largest number, ever, for a non-Holy year. Of course, the numbers grow during August.

 

Hugs!