SVP Pilgrimage to Santiago
The Camino Ingles is the traditional route for pilgrims from the UK and Ireland to Santiago de Compostela. Setting off from Southampton, crossing the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay the pilgrim would arrive at Ferrol in Northern Spain. From there it is a mere 120km walk to Santiago de Compostela to the shrine of St James. It was one of the routes chosen for the SVP national fundraiser in April this year and the one taken by Nick de Caestecker and Mary Waight from the SVP conference at St Edmunds.
The group of 16 SVP pilgrims who met in Ferrol to complete the Camino Ingles came from across England and Wales, from north (Preston), south (Godalming), east (Ely) and west (Abergavenny). We had local guide to help ensure that we kept to the right path. With clear direction markers of yellow scallop shells on royal blue, yellow arrows and on the ‘milestones’ a countdown to the nearest metre of how far we were from Santiago the route wasn’t difficult to follow but we did manage to miss the occasional arrow!
We set off on Sunday 12th April and over hills (some very steep up and down), though villages, alongside roads, through forests of eucalyptus and oak, alongside rivers, past churches and houses, through mist and sunshine we walked from Ferrol to Neda to Pontedeume to Betanzos to Bruma to Sigueiro arriving Friday 17th April at Santiago de Compostela. Along the way we stamped our credentials (Camino passports) at churches and cafes demonstrating that we were true pilgrims, earning our Compostela. In Santiago outside the cathedral, we met up with the other two groups from the SVP who had either walked the French Camino (from Sarria) or the Portuguese Camino (from Baiona).
The Sunday we set out the gospel was about Thomas and his reaction to Jesus’ resurrection and the Sunday after we finished it related the story of the road to Emmaus. The two gospels felt very fitting. We walked in faith, trusting in the signs and that we would eventually reach Santiago. As we walked we learnt about our fellow pilgrims, how they lived out their Vincentian vocation as members of the SVP. We walked with Jesus, walking in fellowship as he did with the two disciples to Emmaus. There was much laughter, some despair (especially at the next steep incline) and much fellowship. Like Jesus and the disciples tramping the Holy Land as he spread the good news, we encouraged and helped each other, were encouraged and helped, compared aching legs and blisters. Life became simpler – getting up, having breakfast and walking until we reached the next stop. Away from our usual concerns and worries, it was a time to think and to just be. The Camino was a journey of faith sustained by morning prayer and occasional evening mass in village churches where we were welcomed and blessed as pilgrims. The knowledge that there were friends and family praying for us back in the UK certainly helped with some of the hills. Finally at the pilgrims’ mass in the Cathedral in Santiago on Friday evening, we celebrated our achievement and the Botafumeiro was swung.
The Camino was an unforgettable experience, a challenge physically and spiritually. It was also a fundraiser, we raised over £4000 which will be split between the Godalming Conference and National SVP so many thanks to all who donated and supported us.
Mary Waight