Singing Nuns of Carrion de los Condes

[Cathy G]

Hello everyone.

Does one have to stay at Santa Maria in Carrion to experience the singing nuns and the pilgrim blessing or is it open to pilgrims staying at other albergues?

 

[VNwalking]

I think so, but am not sure; it's something they offer to people staying at the albergue. Why not stay there instead? It's a very special place. One of the few where genders are in separate dorms, too. A joy.
Edit. Corrected. Thanks, @J Willhaus.
Also to echo what you said about making sure the Srs are there. The 2nd time I stayed there I'd been looking forwarf to gender separation. But the nuns were all away and the volunteer hospis put us all in one dorm. It was not a comfortable night - I was the only woman. 🤣

 

[J Willhaus]

Hello everyone.

Does one have to stay at Santa Maria in Carrion to experience the singing nuns and the pilgrim blessing or is it open to pilgrims staying at other albergues?

No we had people wander in from the street including some school children. There is a "schedule" and you might have to go by to see what that is. There is a Vespers service at the church, a sing along at the albergue, a pilgrim mass at the church, and then communal supper. I think you would be welcome at all but the shared supper if you were not staying there... Just be sure the sisters are actually there. In 2021 when my husband stayed they were not there probably due to Covid restrictions. We stayed with them in 2016 and since my husband had a CPAP we were not in the big dorm, but in a smaller room with better electrical access.

 

[jeanineonthecamino]

Ah... I really wanted to stay there but they were closed due to COVID when I did the Frances

 

[J Willhaus]

No we had people wander in from the street including some school children. There is a "schedule" and you might have to go by to see what that is. There is a Vespers service at the church, a sing along at the albergue, a pilgrim mass at the church, and then communal supper. I think you would be welcome at all but the shared supper if you were not staying there... Just be sure the sisters are actually there. In 2021 when my husband stayed they were not there probably due to Covid restrictions. We stayed with them in 2016 and since my husband had a CPAP we were not in the big dorm, but in a smaller room with better electrical access.

Generally they approach pilgrims to do various parts of the service such as the readings, collect the offering, etc. My husband was asked to bring up the "prayers of pilgrims" which were little slips of paper in a basket with prayer requests left by pilgrims throughout the day and the evening. The Sisters pray for each pilgrim individually after the Mass. Phil was moved to tears by the request. He told the Sister that he did not know Spanish and he wasn't Catholic and she said she would look at him and "nod" when it was time to come forward and it didn't matter if he was Catholic or not. He was very humbled the the experience.

 

[Cathy G]

Generally they approach pilgrims to do various parts of the service such as the readings, collect the offering, etc. My husband was asked to bring up the "prayers of pilgrims" which were little slips of paper in a basket with prayer requests left by pilgrims throughout the day and the evening. The Sisters pray for each pilgrim individually after the Mass. Phil was moved to tears by the request. He told the Sister that he did not know Spanish and he wasn't Catholic and she said she would look at him and "nod" when it was time to come forward and it didn't matter if he was Catholic or not. He was very humbled the the experience.

That is a beautiful story and wow! What an experience!

 

[JustJack]

This sounds fantastic, and I'd love to stay at Santa Maria. According to Gronze.com they don't take reservations. For anyone that's stayed there, is it difficult to get a bed? Is it somewhere that I will need to ensure I'm there as soon as they open to secure a bed?

 

[J Willhaus]

Get in line and wait. They have 50 beds, but it is popular in the summer.
Edit: I think we arrived around noon and waited in line until they opened.

 

[JustJack]

Get in line and wait. They have 50 beds, but it is popular in the summer.
Edit: I think we arrived around noon and waited in line until they opened.

Thanks, I'll make note of that and be sure to arrive early. I will be there in early June. Where did you spend the previous night?

 

[J Willhaus]

Get in line and wait. They have 50 beds, but it is popular in the summer.
Edit: I think we arrived around noon and waited in line until they opened.

Actually waiting in line for many other small popular places with a unique pilgrim experiences is pretty common. We waited in line at Viana's parroquial, too. People also wait in line at San Nicolas on the Meseta where they do the foot washing.

 

[J Willhaus]

Thanks, I'll make note of that and be sure to arrive early. I will be there in early June. Where did you spend the previous night?

We have stayed at La Finca outside Fromista twice, but I think it is permanently closed now which is sad because it was an awesome albergue.

 

[JustJack]

Actually waiting in line for many other small popular places with a unique pilgrim experiences is pretty common. We waited in line at Viana's parroquial, too. People also wait in line at San Nicolas on the Meseta where they do the foot washing.

I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with someone washing my feet, but hearing the nuns sing and receiving a pilgrim's blessing would be an incredible experience.

 

[J Willhaus]

Lots of cool places with pilgrim blessings, but most you cannot reserve.

 

[Katherine Radeka]

Hello everyone.

Does one have to stay at Santa Maria in Carrion to experience the singing nuns and the pilgrim blessing or is it open to pilgrims staying at other albergues?

I was able to attend just by walking in as they had started singing. I didn’t get the sense that they checked at all. Then we all walked to Mass together. It was lovely. one of my favorite memories.

 

[KJFSophie]

I was blessed to have had the opportunity to stay there on one of my walks. The singing, the beautiful community created meal was lovely. One of the most memorable stops for me. My recollection was there was a mass at night in the church near the convent where we were gifted a handmade star from the sisters along with a pilgrim blessing (laying of hands) which was quite emotional. I believe the mass was open to all pilgrims regardless of whether one was staying in the convent albergue or not.

 

[Robert Long]

We were there in Oct 2022. Sisters were there in full voice.
Mass was very special. Did not need to. Be staying there.
Bob

 

[tpmchugh]

Hello everyone.

Does one have to stay at Santa Maria in Carrion to experience the singing nuns and the pilgrim blessing or is it open to pilgrims staying at other albergues?

Dont know but you should be able to catch them at the pilgrim mass. You will also get a blessing after mass ends