The congress, which will take place at the Monte do Gozo Private Hostel (Santiago de Compostela) from October 19 to 22, will welcome representatives from the five continents.
Santiago de Compostela will host the Second World Meeting of Associations of Friends of the Camino, an event that will take place between October 19 and 22 under the title “Associations. Memory and future.” A meeting organized by the Spanish Federation of Associations of Friends of the Camino de Santiago, the Xacobeo and Turismo de Galicia.
Hundreds of volunteers from all over the world will meet to address and try to respond to the problems of the Camino del Santiago. A very necessary meeting that will allow room for debate and work, but also strengthen the ties and collaborations of the Jacobean associations among themselves and with the civil and religious institutions of Galicia.
As of today, groups from South America, the United States and Asia have confirmed their presence, in addition to the vast majority of Spanish representatives and a good number from the rest of Europe. All of them will meet from October 19 to 22 at Monte do Gozo to debate, attend conferences and round tables and participate in work sessions.
The event will begin on Thursday, October 19, with the reception of attendees, the presentation of the supporting institutions and the opening ceremony, which will include a conference by Miguel Taín, the director of the Chair of the Camino of the University of Santiago. After the conference, a cocktail party of welcome will take place.
The day on Friday, October 20, will begin with the welcome to the work sessions and institutional greetings from authorities and representatives of the Xunta de Galicia and the European Council and Parliament. Throughout the morning there will be round tables on the problems of associations in Spain and Europe, one of them focusing on good practices. In the afternoon there will be two more round tables on heritage and associations in the world, with representatives of non-European Jacobean associations. Likewise, around the round tables, some civil and religious institutions involved in informing and welcoming pilgrims or in the management, protection and promotion of the Camino will be presented.
On Saturday the 21st in the morning there will be two round tables dedicated to the Jacobean movement in America and hospitality. The presentations of Jacobean institutions and associations will continue, which in the afternoon will be extended to public institutions that offer support to the Camino de Santiago and its pilgrims. On Saturday afternoon, an important debate on Europa-Compostela will also take place, as well as a pleasant surprise: the screening of the film “Le Chemin de St. Jacques”, a film made in 1952 by Abbot Henry Branthommeque who counted as a scientific advisor to René de La Coste-Messelière. The closing of the congress will take place with a final conference by Manuel González Castiñeiras, current president of the International Committee of Experts of the Camino de Santiago, and the presentation of the PENTAFINIUM awards.
After the end of the congress, participants will be able to enjoy a Gala Dinner on Saturday night and, on the morning of Sunday the 22nd, attend the Pilgrim’s Mass in the Cathedral of Santiago.
