Chapter Happenings – Spring 2025
Regional St. James Celebration Planned for July 24-27 in South Bend, IN
by Tom Labuzienski | South Bend Chapter
Miss out on registering for the May Gathering in Vancouver? Too hot or crowded to do a Camino in late July? Want to connect with other fellow pilgrims from across the country? Want to learn something new about the Camino? Hungry to feast on delicious Spanish-inspired dishes? Want to share your special Camino experiences with others? Enjoy dancing and singing in Camino celebration? You’ll find the answer to these desires at a St. James Celebration hosted by the South Bend Chapter July 24-27 on the campus of St. Mary’s College in South Bend, IN.
The event theme, “Journeys of the Heart,” will guide attendees through engaging presentations, meaningful service projects, music, entertainment, and the joy of gathering with fellow pilgrims.
Visit the celebration page to learn more. You’ll find details on what to expect, a developing list of speakers and sessions, registration fees, and a link to register for this limited-capacity event.
Chapters from Texas and Oklahoma Meet Up for San Antonio Missions Walk
by Roni Jackson-Kerr, Northeast Oklahoma (Okies on the Camino) Chapter
On February 28, more than 100 pilgrims gathered in San Antonio, TX, to walk the San Antonio Missions trail. This walking route connects five historic Spanish colonial missions: Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Mission San Francisco de la Espada, and the Alamo. Over the weekend, pilgrims walked, broke bread, drank vino, and enjoyed the beloved and familiar experience of connecting with other pilgrims on and off the trail.
Several American Pilgrims chapters in Texas and Oklahoma came together to plan this inaugural event. Chapter organizers are hopeful it will inspire future inter-chapter collaboration around the country, as seen with similar regional events like the upcoming St. James Celebration in South Bend, IN.
In addition to the historic and cultural importance of the missions, the trail holds a particular relevance to Camino pilgrims. El Camino de San Antonio Missions is a program offered by the Archdiocese of San Antonio that encourages and supports pilgrimage to the missions and San Fernando Cathedral. In partnership with El Camino de Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims who complete the El Camino de San Antonio can obtain a certificate of completion and receive 30 kilometers credit toward the required minimum 100 kilometers to qualify for a Compostela when walking the Camino Inglés to Santiago de Compostela.
This was a weekend full of joy, beauty, connection, and laughter, and the participating chapters look forward to more opportunities to walk together.
Memphis Chapter Plans “All Shook Up”
by Tresha Manel, Memphis Chapter
The Memphis Chapter was undaunted by the cancellation of two hikes they had planned in January. These were part of the Virtual Global Camino encouraged by pilgrims in Tasmania, Australia, in conjunction with the annual Way to St. James Cygnet pilgrimage. The first two hikes were called off when record snow and ice hit the Memphis area. When a third scheduled Virtual Global Camino hike attempt was met with torrential rains, the chapter decided instead to meet up for coffee and breakfast in true Elvis spirit and style!
The Glue that Bonds the Portland Camino Community
by Cindy Kleinegger, Portlandia Chapter
Rain or shine, Portlandia Chapter hikes, shell ceremonies, and pub gatherings are always well attended. In the first three months of 2025, the chapter hosted 147 hikers, including several repeat participants, and they presented 19 pilgrims with blessings and shells to carry on their upcoming Caminos. These monthly get-togethers are the glue that bonds the Portland, OR, area Camino community. Portlandia Chapter coordinators are especially grateful to their long-serving and hardworking hike leaders Kathleen Burtchaell, Karolin Lennon, and Pete Lennon, without whom these events would not be possible.
“The Way, My Way” Comes to Portland
by Cindy Kleinegger, Portlandia Chapter
Portland, OR, was among 44 cities across the United States and Canada to be included in the The Way, My Way movie screening and Q&A tour. The Portland screening was held in early March at the iconic, 300-seat Alberta Rose Theatre to a sellout crowd composed mostly of Portlandia Chapter pilgrims. Portlandia Chapter pilgrim Rachel Ganzon facilitated a post-screening Q&A session with Bill Bennett, The Way, My Way filmmaker and author of the Camino memoir by the same name; actor Jennifer Cluff, Bennett’s wife who appears as herself in the movie; and Johnniewalker Santiago, Camino guidebook author, blogger, and writer who also appears in the movie. While the event was not sponsored by American Pilgrims on the Camino or the Portlandia Chapter, the chapter was given permission to host a table in the theater lobby to share information about the organization.
Valley of the Sun Chapter Hosts a Mountain of Winter Events
by Tina Strickler | Valley of the Sun Chapter
Winter in Arizona seems to be the best (and busiest) time to be involved in the Valley of Sun Chapter. Just some of the events the Phoenix-area chapter hosted in March included a trekking pole demo with a 5-mile hike, Spanish for the Camino classes, a Zoom webinar offering Camino packing tips, a stroll for the Camino curious, plus the Are You Ready Series of back-to-back 10-mile walks with a shell ceremony.
