Mass at SDC or Pontferrada?

[Deacon Harbey Santiago]

Hi there fellow "Peregrinos"!

Happy Easter every one!

I'm a Catholic permanent deacon. Me and another brother deacon will be taking the Camino at Pontferrada. We have decided to take a day off at the beginning of out pilgrimage to adjust to the time change. We would like to start our pilgrimage by attending Mass but we have not decided if doing this in SCD (the day we arrive) before we depart to Pontferrada or in Pontferrada (After spending the night in a hostel) before we start our walk. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!

Also we are planing on 10 days from Ponferrada to SDC. Is this doable?

"Buen Camino!"
"Viva Cristo Rey!!"
Deacon Harbey Santiago

 

[koilife]

Ponferrada puts you at roughly 220 km from Santiago. In ten days, that's an average of 22 km (or ~13 miles) per day, which is probably doable if you're in moderate shape and have trained some. If you plan any rest days or you have physical issues, such as tendonitis, it will likely put pressure on your schedule. Also, if those ten days include an extra day in Santiago or your transit days to Ponferrada, you'll also add to your schedule pressure.

Most morning Masses (when they are available at all) are too late in the day to get long walking in unless you are going to walk late into afternoon (most folks start walking around 7am or so, and the earliest Mass I found was 9am). Most towns along the way will tend to have evening Masses (link to one source of Mass times), which is convenient for the pilgrim.

The noon Pilgrim's Mass lines start early, so plan on starting early on your final day, or stopping just shy of Santiago (e.g. Monte do Gozo) for a short walk in (and factor your stage lengths into that).

 

[tpmchugh]

The albergue in Ponferrada has an attached Chapel. It doesnt have regular masses as far as I know but at least its somewhere to pray

 

[PANO]

Ponferrada ........The noon Pilgrim's Mass lines start early, so plan on starting early on your final day, or stopping just shy of Santiago (e.g. Monte do Gozo) for a short walk in (and factor your stage lengths into that).

Making a last stop short of Santiago is a good idea, I did that. Stayed the last night in Labacolla near the airport at the San Pajo Hostal, which has an excellent restaurant, all coming at Peregrino-compatible prices. The next morning a 2h stroll in time for the noon mass and plenty of time to explore SdC in the afternoon. A perfect way to arrive.

 

[indyinmaine]

Don't miss the one in O Cebreiro. That is a centerpiece. Palas de Rei has a pilgrim mass just up from the main street. Other than that I didn't notice any others.

 

[annakappa]

There is also an evening Mass every day at the Cathedral in Santiago. Anne

 

[fraluchi]

[...] Any words of wisdom would be appreciated![...] Also we are planing on 10 days from Ponferrada to SDC. Is this doable?

The distance from Ponferrada to Santiago is about 230 km. An average daily walk of 23 km is very doable, accounting for some days more, some days less.
From Ponferrada to Villafranca del Bierzo is an easy walk for about 23 km.
I suggest to do some research about Villafranca del Bierzo and the Camino, and you may find a good reason for attending Mass when there. You may not pass the "portico", but it's the intentions that count.
The day after, you can reach O'Cebreiro (approx. 28 km) after a long and pretty steep ascent from Herrerías through La Faba and Laguna de Castilla. There are several albergues along this stretch so that you can adjust your pace according to how your body reacts.
Ultreya!

 

[koilife]

The day after, you can reach O'Cebreiro (approx. 28 km) after a long and pretty steep ascent from Herrerías through La Faba and Laguna de Castilla. There are several albergues along this stretch so that you can adjust your pace according to how your body reacts.

Fraluchi's spot on. Watch your body and know your fitness level. The climb up to O'Cebreiro is something of a sorting hat. There are three types --- those who are quite fit and used to mountain backpacking, those who started far back on the Camino and have built up their strength and endurance, and everyone else. My son and I were part of the second category, and we did just fine, but we also started it fresh from the base. We would have suffered mightily if we slammed into that climb at the end of a 28 km day while still early in our Camino.

Also, if you're planning to go through Samos (33km from O'Cebreiro) the next day, that is more strenuous than the guide books let on, especially if you're recovering from a 28 km day the day before. The Samos detour adds roughly 10 km to the distance (thus the discrepancy between 220 km in my earlier post and 230 km in Fraluchi's post), but is worth it for the chance to see a truly magnificent Benedictine monastery.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Don't forget to stop in O Cebreiro and get your Credential for the Cotolaya!