Letter from the Chair – Autumn 2024
Letter from the Chair – Autumn 2024
by Joe Curro, Board Chair, American Pilgrims on the Camino
Dear Fellow Pilgrims,
As autumn leaves begin to fall, the waves of pilgrims arriving in Santiago begin to subside. The Camino gets ready to exhale and to hibernate. Handfuls of hearty winter pilgrims continue their treks, but much of the Camino is turning to rest and rejuvenation.
As we wait to step foot on the Way once again, we keep Camino memories alive through our stories. At their core, pilgrims are storytellers. We share our tables, our food, our water bottles, our time, our talents, and even our ailments. But the things we love sharing most are our Camino stories. We love hearing tales from the trail, and we thirst for opportunities to swap accounts of our adventures.
American Pilgrims strives to create spaces where these opportunities abound. One such space is this publication, La Concha. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to the volunteer editorial team of La Concha for helping our members bring their stories to life. We should also thank all the other volunteers around the country who serve as chapter coordinators and event leaders, gathering committee members, and much more.
Thanks to these volunteer efforts, this summer pilgrims gathered around the country for St. James Day celebrations, shell ceremonies, potluck dinners, hikes, and more. Chapters held tertulias and Camino 101 sessions. A large gathering in Northern California drew pilgrims from across a wide region who enjoyed wine tastings, walks, and Camino-themed storytelling through artistic performances.
Please stay tuned for more ways to gather virtually, as we prepare a program of online national events and plan our Annual Virtual Open House for December. Additionally, watch for details regarding our joint gathering with the Canadian Company of Pilgrims in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, next May and other local and regional celebrations.
Whether in person or virtual, real-time or shared in the digital pages of La Concha, it is always a great joy to meet, to renew old friendships, and to make new ones. That is the spirit of the Camino.
¡Ultreia!
Joe
Your MEMBERSHIP in American Pilgrims on the Camino makes it possible for everyone to make the pilgrimage that is best for them. Thanks, as always, for your support and if you aren’t already a member, you can become one here.