Camino de Santiago de Compostela

The CAFOD PilgrimageInformation for pilgrims about CAFOD’s unique and meaningful challenge.

A Step Closer Jesus you call us to follow you,

as James and his brother John followed you.

Walking this way, well-travelled,

we think of those who face a constant struggle,

who live on the path of poverty and hunger,

and must journey a long way for justice.

Remembering them,

help us to make light of our travels,

to rejoice in the companionship we find en route,

and to step out in solidarity

with our brothers and sisters around the world.

Jesus, in your mercy, ease our burdens,

comfort us when we are tired or in pain

and inspire us to see each step

as a step closer to a world

where all can flourish.

Amen

Catherine Gorman/CAFOD

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The Camino de Santiago de Compostela “The Way Of St James’

Did you know?

The scallop shell has long been

the symbol of the Camino de

Santiago. The grooves in the

shell, which come together at

a single point, represent the

various routes pilgrims traveled,

eventually arriving at a single

destination: the tomb of James

in Santiago de Compostela.

For over a thousand years pilgrims have been walking this route, which ends in a Pilgrims’ Mass at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Also called the ‘route of the stars’ because it lies beneath the Milky Way, this journey takes pilgrims along the beautiful and peaceful countryside across the north of Spain, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

We invite you to walk the last 100 miles of the journey, and in doing so raise funds for our work to make a real difference to the lives of those in need.

St James was one of the first apostles to leave what he knew and follow Jesus’ call. He went on to be present at the Transfiguration and was one of those called apart in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is said that Our Lady appeared to James when he was preaching in Iberia, Spain; and so when he was martyred his followers took his body for burial at Santiago de Compostela.

Pilgrims are invited to reflect and pray on James’ commitment to the Gospel, and what we can do in our own lives to share compassion, love and hope for others throughout the world.

Taking part in the Camino for CAFOD is about walking in community and making a difference. We will be able to put you in contact with other pilgrims who are walking the Camino for CAFOD and support you as you collect sponsorship for your challenge.

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Pilgrim’s progress Mary Clare Faulkner from Cheltenham reflects on her pilgrimage, when she walked 500km in 14 days and raised over £1000 for CAFOD’s work.

I chose to do the Camino de Santiago de Compostela with CAFOD because I have raised money and campaigned with CAFOD since I was at school. I wanted to raise at least £1,000 because the needs of the people supported by CAFOD are so huge. It’s about the necessities of life: clean water, reliable food and protection from disease and war.

At the first day’s end I found a bed and began the routine I would go through so many times: Shower, washing clothes, a drink and some food. Most days I found a church for Mass and then went back to the hostel to sleep.

In that weather it was so lovely being outdoors from sunrise to sunset, to watch your shadow grow and shrink again, as your back and left side felt the heat of the sun. Throughout the Camino I was struck by new experiences: hearing different languages, bird choruses at dawn and Church bells.

I feel privileged to have followed in the footsteps of countless pilgrims through the centuries, and to have had the physical ability to do so. I’ll never forget the final day. It was an overwhelming experience to turn into a huge square and suddenly find myself in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

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Did you know?

This cathedral, through its

monumental dimensions, is the

largest Romanesque church

in Spain and even one of the

largest in Europe.

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Your pilgrim passport We will provide you with a pilgrim passport to collect stamps as evidence of your visit to an area and help you along the way. Your passport will allow you to stay at pilgrim hostel accommodation and be eligible for cheaper ‘pilgrim menus’ in restaurants. It is exchanged at the end of your journey in Santiago for a certificate.

The CAFOD pilgrim guideOur booklet contains a space to record your daily reflections and prayers and also includes some basic Spanish; it can be a ‘Diary of a journey.’ We will also supply a guide to the pilgrimage walking route broken down into manageable daily sections.

Making a differenceAn important part of the challenge is to raise funds for our work around the world. Sponsorship raised through your Camino pilgrimage can make a crucial difference to CAFOD’s work with poor communities and help us to transform lives:

£750 could provide a community with a clean water supply In Ethiopia, your sponsorship could provide the materials and know-how to build wells, water tanks and reservoirs, and to install and lay pumps, water pipes and taps to provide clean, safe water to entire communities.

£1,500 could provide five remote communities with their own health team In El Salvador, your sponsorship could provide a rural health clinic staffed by a skilled team to bring antenatal care and other life-saving health services to people living in remote places.

Fundraising supportThe CAFOD events team are here to support you, to give you advice about how to maximise your fundraising and to promote what you’re doing locally. We’ll provide you with a sponsorship pack, materials for fundraising events and anything else you might need.

There are lots of ways to record the highlights of your trip to show others back home and to keep your fundraising going while you’re away:

• Start a JustGiving page which you can update with your training and progress.

• Take lots of pictures of your surroundings and update your online page with your images.

• Blog about your journey, the challenges and highlights, or tweet your thoughts; perhaps any short prayers or reflections that come to mind.

• On your return, why not organise a fundraising party, to share your photos and experiences with your family and friends?

How CAFOD supports you

Sign up! For more information or if you would like to sign up, please visit

cafod.org.uk/camino email the CAFOD events team at

cafodchallenge@cafod.org.uk or ring us on

020 7095 5329.

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The RouteThere are many routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. If you are walking with a CAFOD group you will meet at the village of Piedrafita O Cebreiro, and walk along the last 100 miles of the ‘Camino Francés’ route. This route is the most popular. But if you’re not meeting other CAFOD pilgrims for the walk then there are a number of different routes you can choose to take, including the ‘Camino Inglés’ and ‘Camino Portugués’. These routes are less busy than the others but are still very well sign posted. A yellow sign painted on to markers such as signposts, fences and walls points out the route to pilgrims. If you would like to know more about the routes available then please visit cafod.org/camino where there are links to detailed maps and starting points for the different routes.

Will I need to be physically fit? You should be prepared to walk between 12 and 18 miles each day so generally it will take about 7-10 days. You will be carrying your own luggage along the route (so pack lightly!). The route is well maintained but paths range from well surfaced roads to less defined tracks, so a walking pole could be a good idea. People of all abilities complete the Camino each year, but some preparation and training is recommended beforehand to minimise the risk of injury on the journey.

Who is responsible for my wellbeing, and travel to the start? You are responsible for your pilgrimage, your travel and your expenses. We will put you in touch with the other pilgrims in your group making travel plans, but you will need to make your own arrangements to travel to the agreed meeting point for CAFOD pilgrims. Many pilgrims purchase a return flight to Santiago and travel in a taxi or by bus to their start point at Piedrafita O Cebreiro.

What accommodation and food should I expect? There is a variety of shelter at each stage along the route, some in the form of ‘Albergues and

Refugios’; basic accommodation designed for pilgrims, consisting of a large room and washing facilities for between 4-40 people. They don’t take advance bookings, and operate a strict policy of early mornings. If they are very busy you may have to sleep on a roll mat rather than a bed, and though some have kitchens, the majority do not. This accommodation is quite cheap and can vary from 10-25 euros a night depending on where you are staying. There are also hostels which have bedrooms and bathrooms for smaller groups, costing around 20 euros, and a few hotels, which are substantially more expensive.

Every town has a bar that serves the ‘Pilgrim’s Menu’ a three course meal with wine or water in the evening. There are small shops you can buy food in if your hostel has a kitchen, which also sell cold snacks such as bread and cheese for picnic lunches along the way.

WeatherThough this area is usually hot and dry, temperatures can range from 14-24 degrees. Mornings can be chilly so it’s advisable to prepare for that by bringing some thinner waterproof layers, such as a poncho.

FAQs

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Printed on 100% recycled paper

Registered charity no. 285776

CAFOD, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB.Tel: 020 7095 5670Email: cafod@cafod.org.uk

cafod.org.uk

Photographs: Helen Hinde and Kit Lewis

CAFOD is the official overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International.

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“The friendship and good humour is very rewarding, as are the beautiful churches and landscapes. And the reward is the cathedral, which is breathtaking and the joy of reuniting with the others you have met along the way.

Nick, Cardiff, UK