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| The Amigos number One with Eva who couldn't resist being an Amigo! |
On their first day they were shown round the office and the domestics were
dealt with as well as introductions to everyone. They spent some time seeing
how the Office works and the way in which pilgrims are dealt with and data
collected.
We then had a briefing meeting which was attended by Mari who
coordinates the morning shift. We went through the FAQs I had sent in advance
and then we had a session on the city map so that they could familiarise
themselves with how to locate the main places which pilgrims ask about.
The weather was not good in the preceding days with fairly constant
heavy rain. We decided to establish an information/reception desk at the top of
the stairs and that both Larry and Sean would take turns during the day at
staffing it. We also agreed that two of us would attend the entrance and the
courtyard to chat to pilgrims coming in and out. This worked very well indeed
and the information desk was particularly welcomed by everyone. We have an
excellent supply of city maps to give to pilgrims and they very much appreciate
the welcome and practical help they are receiving.
In the first two weeks of the service we have been inundated with
pilgrims despite the early bad weather. In the two weeks Sean and Larry were
welcoming pilgrims around 10,000 arrived. They have been working from 9- 3pm
which is the busiest time in the office when 70% of pilgrims arrive. Larry and
Sean have therefore personally greeted some 7000 pilgrims on their arrival in
Santiago.
We have had a queue down the stairs of the office frequently. When this happens
one of us marshalls the pilgrims at the front of the queue to keep them moving
into the office when a member of staff is free. This gives some time to chat
but the biggest thing is that it keeps the queue moving and waiting times have
been no more than 15 mins.
All in all this has been a very good start. The atmosphere in the office
and on the staircase is quite different. It is lighter. There is a lot of
joking and laughter. Our words of "welcome and congratulations" are
spreading. Goodwill is infectious.
In the last two weeks there have been instances where pilgrims have
needed practical help - how to change a flight, how to get in touch urgently
with another pilgrim, where to print a boarding card, where to buy a SIM card
and so on. There have also been instances where pilgrims have been in tears just
because of the kind words of an Amigo congratulating them on getting their
Compostela.
I was looking out of the window the other day. It was pouring rain.
There was Sean under a big umbrella out in the street in his blue Amigo's T
shirt shaking hands as the pilgrims came in and answering question after
question as pilgrims left.
Our first two Amigos have embraced the flexibility which is needed in
this role. At times they engage in crowd control. If there is no one to take a
rucksack in left luggage - they step forward and do it. They very much
understand we are exploring how this can best work.
As well as helping with rucksacks there have already been many occasions
where their kindness and pastoral approach has been necessary and welcome. Cynthia
an 83 year old pilgrim who walked from Sarria was greeted with huge
congratulations on her arrival. Another pilgrim who had walked from St Jean
Pied de Port to Burgos when physical problems prevented him continuing was
profoundly disappointed not to receive a Compostela. The Amigos provided
support. The Pilgrims’ Office wrote a letter of sympathy for his problems and
of welcome to Santiago. Much help was provided as he changed his plans and
contacted his insurers. Pilgrims helping pilgrims.
The staff of the Pilgrims' Office could not be more welcoming. They can
see the power of pilgrims helping pilgrims as they witness the conversations on
the stairs about blisters, and the weather and how good a poncho is compared to
a rain jacket. Some of them even tried to get in on the act.
Don Jenaro went out of his way to welcome both Amigos. He has clearly
been thinking about this project. Without prompting he said, "On the Way
pilgrims greet each other with "buen camino!" now when they arrive in
Santiago they have fellow pilgrims greeting them with "welcome and
congratulations!".
At the end of the two weeks the next two Amigos arrived, Laraine and
Patro. So too did representatives of the Confraternity of St James and The Irish
Society of the Friends of St. James. They were joined by Bishop Ralph Heskett
who with Don Jenaro the Canon Delegate of Pilgrimages celebrated the Pilgrims’
Mass on Wednesday 16 May. This was a splendid occasion. All of the visitors
wore the distinctive blue Tshirts of the Amigos. We sat within the altar rails.
After the Mass the Botafumeiro flew. Then the Bishop and Don Jenaro stepped
forward. They said:
“We are delighted to be here today to celebrate this new
service where pilgrim volunteers are coming to live and work in Santiago to
serve their fellow pilgrims. The pilgrim organisations in the United Kingdom
and Ireland are to be congratulated for supporting this initiative. The first
volunteers appropriately called “Amigos” are here with us today in their distinctive blue Tshirts– on behalf
of all of the pilgrims who will be welcomed by them to this great city I offer
our warmest thanks for all of the work they do.
Father God we ask your blessing on these pilgrim volunteers
who have come to Santiago to serve their fellow pilgrims. We ask you to
strengthen them in faith as they work each day in the Pilgrims´ Office
providing a warm welcome and information to all pilgrims who have travelled to
honour the tomb of the Apostle Santiago.”
A resounding “AMEN” sounded in the Cathedral.
After the Mass we assembled in the cloister of the Cathedral
so that both Bishop and Canon could thank the Amigos personally. Later the
Amigos Number one, Larry and Sean were presented with gifts and a special
Certificate from the Pilgrims’ Office accompanied by this message:
In the last two weeks you have made history
by being the first two Amigos to work in the Pilgrims’ Office welcoming
pilgrims, listening to their stories, answering their questions and ensuring
that their waiting time is kept to a minimum. This was very important in these
last two weeks when the weather was so bad pilgrims arrived soaked and
exhausted. They were met by your ready smiles, your words of congratulations
and at times your wise advice. We watched as Sean stood in the street often
under an umbrella directing pilgrims into the office. At the top of the stairs
Larry soon proved that he had truly kissed the blarney stone. When the queues
formed you both got into action ushering pilgrims to our desks so they could be
dealt with quickly. As you leave with our fondest best wishes we also want to
say Bienvenido, welcome, to Patro and Laraine we know they will carry on the
good work you have started.
We hope that you have begun a new tradition of welcome in
Santiago. The pilgrimage continues to grow. Prior to the Holy Year of 1993
numbers had grown over the previous 10 years from less than 2000 pilgrims in
1983 to almost 10,000 in 1992. But in the Holy Year 1993 the numbers swelled 10
times and in that year 100,000 pilgrims arrived. We hold this to be the year of
the birth of the modern pilgrimage. You are the symbols, the embodiment, of
this new era but in bringing something new you are also reviving the old
principles of pilgrims offering a service of love to other pilgrims. Therefore
we ask you to accept these commemorative medals from that Holy Year of 1993. We
also ask you to accept these certificates recording our thanks – they are
printed on familiar paper! And they say:
"To Larry Farrell and
Sean Hampton
On behalf of the Pilgrims’ Office and the pilgrims we serve
I offer you our sincere gratitude for the service you have given as a volunteer
in the new Amigos Welcome Service. For
many centuries pilgrims have arrived in this city of Santiago de Compostela to
venerate the tomb of Saint James. On the Way they face many hardships and also
experience many joys. One of these joys on arrival is to be welcomed and helped
by other pilgrims. You have given your time to your fellow pilgrims freely and
generously. We give you our thanks in abundance.
Signed
Don Jenaro Cebrián
Canon Delegate of Pilgrimage"
That evening 16 of us sat down to dinner to celebrate the launch
of the Amigos Service. It was a happy occasion with speeches of thanks and much
fellowship. At the end the lights were dimmed and the traditional Galician
Queimada was prepared. However rather than the usual words which are proclaimed
to ward off evil spirits one of the guests read a ext which was much more in
keeping with the day. It ended a great
day perfectly:
"Tonight we celebrate being together at
the start of the Amigos Service here in Santiago de Compostela. We close our meal with fire and a toast.
As the Queimada is prepared we remember its Celtic origins. When the people of
the cold countries discovered how to distil alcohol this heady brew was soon
invented. Traditionally the ritual preparation of the Queimada was intended to
ward off evil spirits but tonight we use it for a different purpose. Just as
the family gathers around the hearth we gather around this fire tonight as
friends, as Amigos, at the launch of a service of welcome as potent as the brew
before us, as needed as the heat on a winter’s evening and we hope with a flame
which will last for a very long time. Traditionally the Queimada is accompanied
by a spell, the “conxuro”. Tonight we use no spell. Rather we celebrate with
other words written in these last few days by Sean Hampton one of the Amigos Number
One:
The rain is lashing down again Others
travelled shorter ways
But still the Pilgrims come To reach this mighty place
Some have walked for 30 days Tired, strained or battered legs
And rarely seen the sun And blisters slowed their pace
But an overwhelming thought engulfed So to the square, the pilgrim makes
Their mind to force them on And sits or lies and stares
The pain will stay just a short while And feels the pulse of a million hearts
But the joy will linger on Who have also stood, just there
The tall facade of the Cathedral now Of their journey and their sacrifice
Begins to draw the Pilgrim’s mind And their friends along the way
A tear descends from a weary eye And the overwhelming comradeship
As the memories remind All combined to give this day
Into the nave for Pilgrims Mass The Botafumeiro is hoisted up
A time that some rejoice And the Cathedral feels a hush
Others just reflect a while A very special moment
But all hear an inner voice To prolong the Camino rush
But the journey isn’t quite complete Just through the Arch and up the stairs
Another place in sight The journey meets its end
Across the Praza das Praterias That final stamp and acknowledgement
Then slightly to the right From that last Camino friend
But still the Pilgrims come To reach this mighty place
Some have walked for 30 days Tired, strained or battered legs
And rarely seen the sun And blisters slowed their pace
But an overwhelming thought engulfed So to the square, the pilgrim makes
Their mind to force them on And sits or lies and stares
The pain will stay just a short while And feels the pulse of a million hearts
But the joy will linger on Who have also stood, just there
The tall facade of the Cathedral now Of their journey and their sacrifice
Begins to draw the Pilgrim’s mind And their friends along the way
A tear descends from a weary eye And the overwhelming comradeship
As the memories remind All combined to give this day
Into the nave for Pilgrims Mass The Botafumeiro is hoisted up
A time that some rejoice And the Cathedral feels a hush
Others just reflect a while A very special moment
But all hear an inner voice To prolong the Camino rush
But the journey isn’t quite complete Just through the Arch and up the stairs
Another place in sight The journey meets its end
Across the Praza das Praterias That final stamp and acknowledgement
Then slightly to the right From that last Camino friend
Ladies and
Gentlemen please be upstanding as together we toast “The Amigos”.
