The Ministry of the Redemptorists to Pilgrims in Astorga 2016

The pastoral project for the pilgrims on the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago) was conducted for the fourth consecutive year at “Alphonsus House in Astorga”.  The volunteers formed an international community that helped pilgrims passing by Astorga in July and August.

This year the community was formed of Religious and lay Redemptorists of the Province of Madrid and of other Units from Europe and North America. 61 volunteers (adults, youth and children)  worked during these two months. Each one worked at least one or two weeks. 11 volunteers were Religious Redemptorists (six from the Madrid Province, two from Warsaw, one from London, one from Michalovce and one from Denver). The laity came from Spain, Scotland and Portugal.

This year during these two months, the community members met thousands of pilgrims on the streets of Astorga, and 1383 pilgrims took part in the prayer service in the church of St. Alphonsus. Many other pilgrims came to talk with volunteers or to pray in our church. Each evening the community led the special Night Prayer and the Blessing of the Pilgrims in several languages.

This year the community collaborated with the Association of Disabled People of Astorga and with the center “Albergue de las Siervas”.

We thank the Redemptorist Community in Astorga for their generous hospitality and for the presence of some of its members in the daily work with the pilgrims, and also all the volunteers for their dedication to this evangelization project of the Madrid Province and of the Conference of Redemptorists of Europe.

Pedro Lopez, C.Ss.R.