A Fond Farewell to Two Hospitalero Trainers
A Fond Farewell to Two Hospitalero Trainers
by Becky Rush-Peet, Hospitalero Trainer | Enumclaw, WA
“The hospitalera is like a rock in a stream,” said Cheryl Grasmoen. “Pilgrims experience the Camino as part of a stream of pilgrims, all flowing towards Santiago de Compostela. The hospitalera remains in place, meeting many new pilgrims each day as they pass by. And, like a rock, sometimes the hospitalera is buffeted by that daily swirling stream of pilgrims. The hospitalera simply must hold firm and be strong as each day presents new delights, challenges, personalities, and nationalities, making it an incredibly rich and unique experience.”
Cheryl knows those waters well, and has helped many others to anchor their place in the stream, too. She’s one of two American Pilgrims hospitalero trainers, along with Emilio Escudero, to retire from their training roles at the end of 2025. Since 2004, American Pilgrims has offered an hospitalero training program under the authority of the Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino (FEAACS).
Emilio walked his first Camino in 2007, and joined American Pilgrims in 2008. Since then, he has walked eight Caminos. He trained to be an hospitalero in 2010, and has served as an hospitalero three times and once as a Ribadiso Welcome Service volunteer. He has also served on the American Pilgrims Board of Directors, and has presented at multiple annual gatherings. He founded the Northern California Chapter and remains active with his local pilgrim community. For the past two years, he also served as an hospitalero trainer.
Cheryl also walked her first Camino in 2007, and her experience was profound. She trained to be an hospitalera in 2009. After serving her first time, she joined the American Pilgrims board, serving for six years, including three years as board chair. She was invited to become a trainer in 2012; since then she has taught more than 15 hospitalero courses, working with more than 280 trainees.
As an hospitalero, Emilio learned it was more important to work for the benefit of the pilgrims than to share his own Camino experiences, and he realized he could use his own Camino experiences to benefit the pilgrims under his care. As an hospitalero trainer, he found it tremendously satisfying to watch trainees internalize the difference between being a pilgrim and being an hospitalero, and to gain the skills to support and enhance the experience of others.
Cheryl echoes Emilio. “Time and time again, I witnessed the transition of pilgrims into hospitaleros as they realized that it is no longer their Camino,” said Cheryl. “Rather, their role is to create a space for pilgrims to fully experience their own Caminos. And, after many hours of reviewing what is really involved with being an hospitalero, our trainees reach the key understanding that being an hospitalero is simply about serving the pilgrim.”
With much gratitude and many fond memories, we bid Emilio and Cheryl a happy retirement from their work as trainers and as they rejoin the stream of pilgrims.
The Many Moments of an Hospitalera
Just as no two days on the Camino are the same for a pilgrim, each day in the life of an hospitalera offers varied experiences. Cheryl Grasmoen reflects on a few.
- The wonderfully wild moments: A pilgrim on a donkey with a parrot.
- The heart-tugging moments: “I really need to talk with you for a while.”
- The nasty times: Morning bedbug-catching and clean-up.
- The frustrating times: Where did all the toilet paper go?
- The uplifting times: Amazing Grace sung before a meal.
- The funny times: “What is this underwear doing in our cupboard?”
- The inspiring times: All ages and many languages laughing together and supporting each other,
- The moments that stay with you: “This Albergue was what I hoped my Camino would be, thank you.”
Interested in training as an hospitalero/hospitalera? American Pilgrims offers four courses annually, and sends an email announcement to members as registration opens. Learn more about the program, prerequisites, and 2026 course schedule here.
