Paul and Lenore and daughter Lily, report from Foncebadon

My (our) FONCEBADON experience is very vivid in my mind ! It truly was a unique albergue experience: welcoming different pilgrims every day, communal dinner,breakfast, oracion/quiet time, sharing stories, meeting the village people, hikes before opening time, and not forgetting the clean-up.

Rafa welcomed us at the Ponferrada bus station, took us to San Nicolas de Flue where he introduced us to the hospitaleros/as, had ourown room for 3 days before starting our 2-week stay in Foncebadon.  We went to Foncebadon on a Saturday to meet Miguel the hospitalero and be acquainted with the albergue, etc., took us around to meet Miguel and Luis, the tienda owners; introduced us  to Monte Irago/restaurant/bar owners. We did some shopping in the afternoon, went back to Fonce. the next day to participate in the prep time -dinner orientation, Paul spent Sunday night there to learn more from Miguel; and went back Monday, June 1 to officially start !
Every 3 days or so, I`d make a  shopping list for Rafa, send it thru a pilgrim staying in Ponferrada, and he`ll come the next day; the tienda which opened last year has almost everything - we order our daily bread, our last-minute we-need-more-chorizos -or-tuna-lechugas,etc. and most of all vino!  Luis and Miguel were very helpful. Luis even made cakes for Paul`s birthday . Rafa , while busy coordinating Domus Dei, El Acebo and San Nicolas de Flue and working as an archivist for the diocese, was always there for us (Lily was fond of him, too.)

Our first week was chilly and windy; and because the roof was being repaired, the tarps were making loud noises(at some point we were worried it would rain and leak) but everything `was fine, a few complaints of being cold or `noisy, but in general, they were happy to have a bed/cama or leftover soup or pasta for lunch.
We had 33 pilgrims one cold and windy night ( 3 had to share 2 mattresses in the chapel) - and 6 pilgrims on our last night (it was a very hot day so pilgrims had to keep going). Many days the 4 albergues (a new one opened a few days we were leaving) were full.

Most pilgrims were always willing to help during prep time, communal dinners were always joyful,  volunteers to read the Blessings before Meals in their languages  were eager (now we have Korean and Japanese translations), the oracion/quiet time after dishwashing was always
humbling - pilgrims joined us to have that reflection time, sharing in their own language, one even sang in Portuguese. 
One day, I got a text from Rafa (in Espanol) - something ``reserva14 camas para gentes rehabilitados`` and something I didn`t quite understand ; so I ran to Luis and Miguel - there were 2 counsellors plus 12 ``rehabilitated`` men and women coming , not to worry.  They were very nice, friendly and polite , even brought their own food and made dinner for everybody !

Getting up at 5:30 in the morning was a little difficult, but got used to it, it`s a good thing Lily was fine being left alone in our room, slept in till 8:30, would have our breakfast and started cleaning up. She was in-charge of getting the wheelbarrow from behind the tienda and bring garbage bags to the dump, with Paul. We (Paul and I would take turns)were able to have short hikes on some days before opening time; one has to stay around to open up for the roofers when they`re `late`.
Pilgrims`experiences staying in an albergue where there`s communal dinner have been were positive, some mentioned Najera, too.

 We walked from Pedrouzo to Santiago. We met some of the pilgrims  in Pedrouzo, Monte de Gozo and Santiago - what a great feeling, a reunion !

Our Hospitalero Training was very useful `; some pilgrims, i.e. Dutch, Swedish, wanted the Meals Blessings in their language, but mentioned "the future``-. We could work on that.

I would go back to Foncebadon again !  Indeed, an unforgettable experience. Lily would `complain`there were no kids her age that stayed at Domus dei, but everyday, she made friends with pilgrims - young and old  (there was a day when there were young Americans, in their 20s- singing,dancing, beading, nail polish), couples who remind them of their granddaughter; and for Paul, who would love to go back to do the camino himself !

Walking and working on the Camino

We have more and more people being posted to albergues in France and Spain this season. Please let me know if you receive  your posting and I will add your name (first name only) to our list. And if you are walking by, stop in and say hello to a fellow Canadian.

Follow along with two of our hospitaleros

Julie and Joerg are now in Estella serving as hospitaleros. They are keeping a blog so that you can follow along on their adventures in town, on the job, with the pilgrims, and with the locals.
http://camino.julieros.islandnet.com/

More Canadians on their way to Spain

We had another terrific group in Victoria this past weekend, from Winnipeg, Oregon, Vancouver, Victoria, Portland and the Gulf and San Juan Islands. Many great discussions, lots of laughter, good food and always a stimulating exchange of information ensured that everyone now feels confident about returning to Spain or France to serve the pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Thanks to Joerg for taking so many photos and we wish him and Julie "buen camino" as they go off to serve in Estella in June. As hospitaleros this will be a very different camino. We are all very excited for them. For a list of others serving this year, please click here.

 Commissioning ceremony

 Preparing lunch: caldo verde and sopa de ajo

Enjoying lunch: We cooked it ourselves!!!

More Hospitaleros off to Spain and France

We've had two terrific training session in Calgary and Toronto and already have some people posted.

See the updated list here.  And please let Tom or Mary know if you receive a posting and we will add your name to the list. 

The Commissioning of the Toronto group




And what a wonderful group of people. They will all be wonderful hospitaleros!

 

 And the Calgary group in during the Oracíon in full song!

Basic Dictionary for Hospitaleros available!

Thanks to Laura Monastier, there is now a dictionary that hospitaleros can use that will greatly assist them in helping those pilgrims speaking French, German, Italian or Spanish. It is a wonderful resource and Laura has kindly given permission to use it, print it, share it. Find it here

Thank you Laura!!

Hospitalero Training in Calgary and Toronto!!

We have had so much demand for hospitalero training this year that we are offering the training in Calgary on the weekend of March 14-16, in Toronto, March 21-23 and in Victoria, April 11-13. Please click on the city for the link to the registration form and see the sidebar for more information on the training schedule reports from Canadian hosptialeros who have served in the past year(s).