Matthew Crawford writes from the Albergue of Santa Cruz:
Before I arrived in Spain, I had also pictured sunshine as the norm. I arrived in Sahagún in early March and was greeted by a light fall of snow. However, compared to New Zealand winters, I did not mind it all, as the wind was not such a big factor. Early morning walks were a good way to acclimatise myself. From the beginning, my community here at the Albergue of Santa Cruz has been incredibly welcoming, even though my Spanish is pretty rusty. The first month was quiet, giving me the chance to settle in and learn the daily rhythms of the Albergue. When we are not full, there is more space to spend time with the pilgrims, and in those early weeks I had the privilege of hearing many deeply moving stories of life, faith, and the journeys that brought people to the Camino.
By “Semana Santa” (Holy Week), the flow of pilgrims had quickened. May and June brought full rooms almost every night, and with them the busyness and energy of a house alive with travellers. We have been blessed with many volunteers and hospitallers from all over the world, each bringing their own culture and experiences to enrich our shared work. As July and August arrived, numbers dipped with the summer heat — as they always do — but we know September will see the trail fill again.
Looking back over these first six months, I see a ministry that is both repetitive and endlessly varied. The tasks may be the same, but each day is new because each pilgrim is new. Our pilgrim café, shared dinner, and daily Mass mark our Albergue as a place where the Church is present on the Camino , and where we seek to share Mary s gentle presence with the weary. Here, much like Mary, we trust God’s providence — believing that He works quietly through us for the good of both pilgrims and hosts.
