Camino life changes and a community life.

[Ian Holdsworth]

A few folk I know who have had experience of pilgrimage are wondering about forming a
community.This will an actual group of Christian people who have learned the lessons of
the Camino and want to live them out together in a shared space, working for a
better world through Prayer, Social action and Justice to other pilgrims and the wider
world. We have also thought about a virtual branch to this work, where those who are
part of an existing life community, remain where they are,but take on a
commitment to follow a rule of life in common with the greater community.
This post is to find out if there are other pilgrims who are attracted to this life choice.
What do you think?
If you want to do more than post a message here send me a private email.

I will answer everyone who expresses interest!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There may already be one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria,_Florida

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Ian

An interesting idea. I think that level of commitment would be too much for me, although I'd be interested in retreats and such like.

One of the things that struck me on my Caminos was the diversity of purpose and meaning of pilgrimage. I wonder about the extent to which that could be pulled together into a common life choice. For me pilgrimage is quite a personal experience.

I'll be interested to hear the thoughts of others.

Buen Camino!

 

[JohnnieWalker]

There may already be one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria,_Florida

Falcon the community to which you refer is one of many in the world however it has nothing to do with pilgrimage which was the point of the original post.

Ian I think this idea has real merit are you thinking of somewhere in the UK or here in Spain?

 

[Ian Holdsworth]

John
As my base, as you know is in the UK. I think that the first steps would be here. However I am reminded of the religious houses of former times all the way along the Camino. That must be an inspiration and an aspirational model. Most orders have a 'Mother houses' and
'working houses'so why not. Any plans are still 'clouds in the coffee' at the moment.
I really want to establish what is the mood of the greater pilgrim fraternity. I think
that December is perhaps not the best time to ask the question, perhaps late Summer
would have been better, when folk were coming home and asking
'There must be something better than this' about their home life.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Begging pardon once again. I should have used some Smileys. Mel Gibson has endorsed Ave Maria. He would make a good pilgrim.

 

[tyrrek]

I think
that December is perhaps not the best time to ask the question, perhaps late Summer
would have been better, when folk were coming home and asking
'There must be something better than this' about their home life.

I'm not sure, Ian. Maybe this is the perfect time to ask! Summer peregrinos have had time to reflect on their experience and consider ways of taking it further if they wish. I'm still working out what it all meant (I finished the Frances at the end of May), but I'm a bit slow at the best of times I admit.

Buen Camino!

 

[nellpilgrim]

Ian what a great idea and I agree with Tyrrek on the December appropriateness of your post. Surrounded by seed catalogues and optimism I always start envisioning my spring and early summer gardens in this slow dark time of the year-it seems to be a natural planning time.
Nell

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Sign me up, Ian.

Reb.

 

[Ian Holdsworth]

Thanks Reb I'll be in touch. Ian

 

[LTfit]

What a wonderful and inspirational idea Ian, I will be following this thread with interest. As far as location is concerned, I lean towards Spain for many reasons, sunshine not being the least important!

Cheers from the rainy Netherlands,

LT

 

[ksam]

As someone feeling that my feet are finally, maybe, under me again after Camino...Yup...interested!

 

[Trudy]

Hi Ian, are you looking to setup a virtual or physical community? The problem with a physical community is that it would unfortunately exclude those of us who live outside the EU - visa problems etc. But a virtual community is something in which any of us, with an interest, could freely participate.

Trudy

 

[Ian Holdsworth]

The community idea is taking shape. I do agree that it should both virtual and actual. Some years ago I founded the Confraternity Peterborough Pilgrims to Santiago ( full name "The Confraternity of the glorious Apostle St James in Peterborough diocese".) This has flourished to the point where we have 127 members on the email list. When we have gathering we get about 50/60 turning up. Most of these have already been on pilgrimage. So there is a good core to build on. We have just introduced the membership category of Senior Brother/ Sister . This is in effect the start of the community. Those who want this are those who want to live out the values of pilgrimage in daily life.
For many this is the deciding point where a choice has to be made between being a real pilgrim or playing at it with a touch of tourist thrown in. ( The classical understanding through the ages of a true pilgrim is one who undertakes a spiritual journey and is changed by it. Their life when they return mirrors these changes and develops what has been learned). IN addition to that we have here in Northampton a building which is becoming a a community house.
We have three who are looking at being members.( This will mean that those who want to come and visit for a few days will have somewhere to stay.)

I would like to add two other layers.
1) A house in Spain on Camino,that functions as the monastic houses of old( a spiritual house that supports pilgrims in prayer and service). For this we will need money and people, lots of both, who will give more that the the odd week, and will be part of the wider community. Because of the scale of this we will not be in a position to do this anytime soon .
2) The second layer is a virtual section. This has its problems. For sometime I wrote a blog. I knew folk were reading it, by the counters, but not many responded. In short there is a certain voyeurism to the world wide web. This could kill a virtual community stone dead. A community depends for its life on communication and interaction between it members. Without this interaction it becomes one handed clapping; great for Buddhists and those who meditate but not community.
So that is the thinking so far. Responses... public or private welcome.

 

[methodist.pilgrim.98]

Ian, an interesting idea but a virtual community is not for me.

I could not even get to the CSJ AGM or your own gathering last week. The thought of having to log on to interact with people on line is personally not going to work for me, though I suspect there will be those who would spiritually grow and benefit through it.

Have you any experience or knoweldge of how the Iona community or the Anglican lay order of Fransicans operates? I believe that both impose a rule of life even though they are spread across the UK and beyond.

One of the reasons why I am a methodist minister is that there is only one order of presbyters. Some are appointed into positions of authority but they remain a presbyter. Even while undertaking the task they do not become in any way a "Senior". If they cease to undertake the task they simply return to being under authority rather than dispensers of it.

I would respectfully suggest you don't start differentiating between senior and juniors but keep to one order. If some have authority for a purpose and period of time it should be exercised without a change of status.

Though I cannot sign up to anything like this I wish you well.

 

[David]

Ian, I think that you have already started, it is just that you are so far a membership of one! All communities started with the vision of one person ....

.... one way that you could short-cut the process is to niche into something already existing. Could I suggest that you visit Othona - there are two, one in Essex and one in Dorset, I am thinking of Essex Othona, Bradwell. It was started by the father of a friend of mine and I have visited many times. http://www.bos.othona.org/Home

Although Christian it is not dogmatic in the least, visitors are quite eclectic and from diverse backgrounds. All staying are allocated work whilst there, from food preparation to vegetable gardening. The most common sound there is laughter. Their chapel, of St. Peter-on-the-Wall is a barn shaped stone building built by St. Cedd in 654. The interior is utterly simple, utterly beautiful. They walk to the chapel each evening, by the reed beds near the sea and their service is quite simple. Someone will have been asked to do a reading or poem, or similar. A pilgrim themed service would be welcomed.
I would expect that at least some of the members are Camino veterans.

They are always looking for 'theme' ideas - so the possibility of hosting pilgrims for a retreat they would meet with open arms. Definitely worth a visit Ian.
They also regularly have openings for 'core members' who live there, all found plus a tiny salary, and help run the place - you might just love it!

By the way - was it you who asked folk to look at your new website and give feedback? I did, and wrote to you two days ago - nice site, with very good copy.

all the best - I could be interested in being associated in some way with such an idea - please bookmark me
David

 

[Tia Valeria]

Although not thinking of community life personally I can see that for some folk the 'virtual' community has its attractions as being available wherever one lives.
Have you thought about Skype and sharing 'community only' skype names for calls/conferencing; with or without video.
Just a thought