SFASJC delegation to St-Jacques de Compostelle on St Louis Day for its 75th anniversary

It was chosen on August 25, the feast of Saint-Louis, patron saint of the French abroad, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle.

A delegation of 25 people travelled to Santiago for 3 days of visits and meetings, some of them following a pilgrim walk on the Camino Primitivo, del Norte, or Português.

A day in Fisterra and Muxia, guided by Linda, a Mayenne native who has fallen in love with Galicia, reminded everyone of their own arrival at the end of their pilgrimage.

In Padron, after a stop at the Santiago church, where tradition has it that the disciples of St. James transporting the apostle’s body from Palestine tied the stone boat to the Pedrón (a sacrificial stone used in ancient times and later used as the altar of this church), the group set off on the 25 km or so that takes pilgrims on the Camino Português to Santiago Cathedral.

Pilar and Fernando Mena de Pinez, pilgrims from Madrid who represented the Société Française at the inauguration ceremony of the new Madrid hostel this spring, joined others at the aperitif served at the Parador, the former pilgrims’ hospital in Plaça del Obradorio.

The highlight was the pilgrims’ mass on August 25, presided over by outgoing Dean Don José Fernández Lago, who warmly received the delegation; the intentions of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle were conveyed by the president, including the memory of Monique.

The spectacular Botafumeiro ceremony delighted the members of the delegation and the entire assembly. At the anniversary lunch that followed, we were honored by the presence of Mr. Ildefonso de la Campa, director of Xacobeo, an organization created in 1991 by the Galicia region to restore, develop and promote the paths.

The warm meeting with volunteers from the French-speaking welcome center in Santiago, managed by Webcompostela, also took place around the slide show presenting the Apostle Saint James and his Cathedral: located above the Pilgrims’ Office, this welcome in the Jeannine Warcollier room (named after the general secretary of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle until her death in 2016) offers pilgrims a chance to end their journey in a spirit of sharing and friendship.

The members of the delegation left with the impetus of a pilgrim who has reached the end of his journey, to write the future of the venerable Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle.

For those who weren’t there, another event will enable all the Society’s members and supporters to celebrate the 75th anniversary: it will take place on October 3 at Forum 104.

Some souvenir photos

Testimonials and further information to come…