St. James’s Day Celebration: Pilgrimage, A Circular Journey

Registration is open for the St. James’s Day celebration hosted by volunteers from the local Midwest chapters of American Pilgrims on the Camino!

The team of volunteers has been working hard finalizing the program and the weekend will be a wonderful and inspiring time! Disappointed you won’t be in Santiago de Compostela on July 25th? Come celebrate with us!

Planned activities include informative and inspiring presentations, morning walks (bring your walking shoes, hat, and sunscreen), and service and social activities while building community with other pilgrims. There will be several musical performances, presentations by George Greenia, Stacey Wittig, Annie O’Neil, Willie Williams, Kurt Koontz and Erin Dooley, and enjoy a wine appreciation course. We’ll also be joined virtually by Johnnie Walker, Dave Whitson, Dan Mullins, Alexander John Shaia, Victor Prince, and several others. Sunday afternoon we’ll have a shell ceremony for first-time pilgrims, an optional Catholic Mass to celebrate the Feast of St. James, and evening fireworks courtesy of Visit South Bend.

Full registration is $419 ($369 with the American Pilgrims member discount) and includes
• Eight meals (Friday dinner through Monday breakfast)
• All beverages (including receptions)
• Three nights’ lodging in Le Mans Hall in a dormitory room (shared bathrooms)
• Participation in all activities
• Musical entertainment

Couples will share double-occupancy accommodations; all other attendees will be single-occupancy (with no single supplement required). Bathrooms are shared and linens will be provided, but bring your own toiletries, hairdryer, and other personal items.

Do you live locally or have family and friends in the area? Commuter registration is $289 ($239 with the member discount) and does not include lodging or breakfast.

Registration is limited to 150 attendees and is filling up. Registration closes on July 6 at 11:59 p.m. so don’t delay!

Check-in begins at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 23 and the program begins Friday evening and continues until noon on Monday. We’ve scheduled a walk at 3:00 p.m. for those arriving on Friday afternoon who want to stretch their legs after traveling.

Please note: Attendees must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination upon check-in (no exceptions) and comply with all COVID-19 protocols established by the CDC, the University, and the local health department (including masks and social distancing as appropriate) at the time of the event.

Membership in American Pilgrims isn’t required to attend, but members receive a $50 registration discount off the registration cost. You’ll need to log in to your membership account to get the promo code before registering. The code is on the welcome screen once you sign in to your membership account.

Click over to the Celebration page on the American Pilgrims website for a link to the draft program, full registration and cost information and the link to register.

We look forward to gathering with you in South Bend and celebrating the 2021 Jubilee!