The hostel in Garlasco, which is located on the Toledina farmhouse and is run by the Exodus Foundation, resumed normal operations on 1 June. The foundation is currently undergoing restructuring, so regardless of the presence of educators and youngsers at the institution, our hospitaleros are responsible for welcoming pilgrims. The hostel is open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., offering 12 beds in two dormitories and two bathrooms. Breakfast and dinner are prepared and shared with the pilgrims, and with the community, when on site.

Pilgrims who have walked the Francigena or other devotional routes can obtained the Testimonium at the Pilgrims’ desk  located in the long corridor that leads to the tombs of the Popes; facing St. Peter’s, it is on the right side. (see pictures).

Here the credential is stamped and the testimonium is issued. To obtain the Jubilee Testimonium, please go to the Jubilee Info Point at Via della Conciliazione 7.

                    TRADITIONAL TESTIMONIUM                JUBILEE TESTIMONIUM

On the sunny weekend of 11-13 October, this year’s 5th course for new Hospitaleros Voluntarios was held at the Benedictine Abbey of Praglia, near Padua.
The magic of the Francigena and Jacobean way led the 17 participants, aged between 30 and 60, to want to give back what they had received during their pilgrimage. Their first service will take place in Italy in 2025 to welcome pilgrims arriving for the Holy Year, but many of them will repeat it in Spain.
A great harmony was immediately established between the participants and trainers. As always, training sessions  are a gift of friendship, complicity, serenity, humility and, above all, a commitment to serve others.
Special thanks to the two AP veteran hospitaleros who prepared a simple and inclusive menu.

For almost two years, the associations Compostelle France, the Asociación Belga de los Amigos de Santiago, the Federación española FEAACS and the Nederlands Genootschap van Sint Jacob have been working on a wide-ranging project with ambitious and now imperative objectives to bring together all those involved in the maintenance and development of the routes and the preservation of the Jacobean tradition.
At the end of the project phase, during which the new association was chaired by the President of the Nederlands Genootschap van Sint Jacob, Peter Hesseling, a meeting of the 20 member associations representing 13 European countries was held in Santiago on 2 July for the operational start-up phase. The Assembly appointed the Executive Committee, which is composed as follows:

• Peter Hesseling, Honorary President, Het Nederlands Genootschap van Sint Jacob, The Netherlands
• Jorge Martínez-Cava, President, FEAACS, Spain
• Pascal Duchene, Vice-President, Association Belge Amis St Jacques Compostelle, Belgium
• Philippe Dionnet, Treasurer, Fédération Française Associations Chemins Compostelle, France
• Umberto Gallo, Assistant Treasurer, Accoglienza Pellegrina, Italy
• Vedran Prazen, Communication Manager, Confraternity of St. James, Croatia
• Patrice Bernard, Secretary, St Française Amis St Jacques Compostelle, France
• Heidi Verbruggen, Board Member, Vlaams Compostela Genootsschap, Belgium

… read the full article on the page https://www.accoglienzapellegrina.org/en/miscellaneous/1913-2/