Adeline, an FCJ Companion in Mission from England, volunteered recently in Santiago de Compostela with Camino Companions, a project from the FCJ Sisters in Europe based in the Pilgrims Office, the welcome centre for pilgrims of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Recently I was invited to join Camino Companions, an FCJ Sisters project based in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Having walked several Caminos in the past, I first encountered the Camino Companions volunteers in October 2022. Fast forward a few years, and I am now in formation to become a Companion in Mission with the FCJs. This opportunity felt like the right thing to do at exactly the right time.
Trust in the Slow Work of God
Trust in the Slow Work of GodThis phrase from a prayer by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, sums up my short two-week stint as a volunteer. Camino Companions provides a welcoming space for English-speaking pilgrims, a place where they can sit down over a cup of tea or coffee and share their Camino experience. We certainly washed a lot of cups!
Some pilgrims were eager to talk about their journey and only needed gentle encouragement to reflect on what they had experienced and identify what they wanted to take home with them. Others arrived carrying very raw emotions, looking for someone who would simply listen as they tried to make sense of everything they had been through. Some felt disappointed that their Camino had not met their expectations or that they had not received the spiritual insights or revelations they had hoped for. Whatever brought them through our door, we listened. Perhaps a gentle hand on the shoulder, a packet of tissues when needed, and above all, trust in the slow work of God.
Some conversations were emotionally demanding, and I often returned home exhausted. Many of the stories shared resonated deeply with my own life, sometimes re-opening old wounds and memories. One pilgrim spoke about beginning her Camino carrying the prayer intentions of people back home. She described feeling weighed down by their pain and suffering, yet finding herself lighter after offering those intentions to God in prayer.
During my day off, I travelled to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Covadonga in the Asturias. There, I prayed for my friends and family, as well as for the pilgrims I had encountered. As I sat in prayer, the words of the Serenity Prayer came to mind, encouraging me to let go of what I could not carry or change myself.
Ultreia et Suseia
Of course, it was not all tears and boxes of tissues. We also shared plenty of laughter, joy, and more than a few cañas. I thoroughly enjoyed living in community. Together, we spruced up our small flat in Santiago with a few colourful pieces of furniture, organised the cupboards, and even cleared out the freezer by eating our way through the leftovers!
I also had the honour to do the second reading (in English) at the Cathedral Pentecost Mass in front of the Archbishop, and again the following Sunday for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity. As volunteers and readers, we were seated in the front-row pews marked “reservados”. And yes, on both occasions, the botafumeiro was swung.
At the end of my time with Camino Companions, I spent an extra day in Madrid by myself. It became my own “Camino debrief” – a chance to reflect on the many encounters and conversations of the previous two weeks. This year I may not have walked the physical Camino, but perhaps I may have walked alongside others of their Caminos.
Read more about Camino Companions on this website for information about where and when to find us, follow Camino Companions on facebook, or get in touch at caminocompanions @ gmail.com.
