LIFE IN AP

The Accoglienza Pellegrina meeting for the year 2025, held from 31 October to 2nd of November in Rome at the Franciscan Fraternity of Bethany was an important opportunity for members to meet and share experiences. The event was attended by about 70 people from all over Italy, who were able to enjoy an experience based on the values and principles of Accoglienza Pellegrina: welcome, hospitality, generosity, and appreciation of the pilgrimage routes.
Various activities took place over the three days: a beautiful walk to Rome with a short guided tour around the Vatican area; evening entertainment aimed at increasing the sense of belonging and team spirit; and free time.
The highlight of the event was the annual meeting, during which the results of the past year were reviewed, with ample opportunity for constructive discussion among members. Members will receive the minutes of the meeting by email. The meeting ended on a positive note, leaving participants with a strong sense of community, as evidenced by the feedback received through a survey, the results of which we are publishing.
Special thanks go to the board and all the organisers for their fundamental contribution to the success of the event. Photos and highlights are already available on our social media channels.

Survey results (46 responses received)

On 17 October, a conference on the States General of Religious Routes and the Via Francigena was held in Piacenza. Representatives from the Emilia Romagna institutions, the European Association of Via Francigena Ways and the main representatives of the Via Francigena and related routes were in attendance. The meeting aimed to network the routes in the Emilia Romagna region (the Via Francigena, the Via degli Abati towards Rome and the Cammino di San Colombano with reference to the Abbey of Bobbio) and to promote an authentic, physical, spiritual and cultural pilgrimage experience while supporting the region in terms of hospitality, services and infrastructure.

Our president spoke about the concept of donation-based hospitality: what donation-based hospitality is, where it originated, what it offers, whether it still makes sense today, and who the volunteer hospitaleros are. Our values and the role that Accoglienza Pellegrina wants to play on the routes were emphasised. Finally, a brief presentation was given on the facilities with which we collaborate.

The 2025 Accoglienza Pellegrina meeting and general assembly will be held from October 31st to November 2nd. The meeting will take place in Rome at the Franciscan Fraternity of Bethany at Via D. M. Brun Barbantini, 151 which can be reached by train from Termini (Giustinian stop). Below is some useful information.

• We look forward to seeing you from 3 p.m.
• Please bring your own towel, sleeping bag or sheets; blankets are provided by the accommodation.
• We kindly request that you be punctual for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Click HERE to download the programme for the event

The 2025 Accoglienza Pellegrina meeting and general assembly will be held from October 31st to November 2nd. It will be an opportunity for a day of sharing, inspiration, and vision for the future. The meeting will take place in Rome at the Franciscan Fraternity of Bethany at Via D. M. Brun Barbantini, 151 which can be reached by train from Termini (Giustinian stop).

We will have 77 places available, divided into triple, quadruple, and quintuple rooms. Priority will be given to novatos who have completed their service, followed by veterans who have also completed their service. Ordinary members will remain on standby until ten days before the event. Once all places are filled or those who join later will be guaranteed participation in the meeting and scheduled activities but they will be responsible for their own food and lodging.

Registration must be completed by the form at the link and attaching a copy of proof of payment of the €75/person contribution (IBAN IT87N0306967684510787288103).

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, October 31st, starting at 3:30 PM. Dinner is scheduled for 7:30 PM, along with members of the community who will be preparing the meals.

We have planned a day of walking to reach St. Peter’s, walking part of the last path of the Via Francigena. Registered participants will be sent the final three-day program.

The Credential is an essential travel document for pilgrims, certifying their identity, the route taken and their status as a pilgrim. We remind you of the importance of using it responsibly and correctly,
The Credential issued by Accoglienza Pellegrina is recognised for the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago de Compostela and the Via Francigena. To request a credential, contact us by e-mail at info@accoglienzapellegrina.org and we will send you all the necessary information. Credentials are free of charge, but we do ask for a donation that will be used to help run the hostels where our volunteer members provide a considerate  and reliable support to pilgrims, guaranteeing them a safe and authentic experience during their journey.
See the dedicated page on the website:  https://www.accoglienzapellegrina.org/varie/la-credenziale-del-pellegrino/

On the last weekend of October, the annual meeting of Accoglienza Pellegrina hospitaleros voluntarios took place in Pietrasanta and Valpromaro. During the event, about sixty volunteers from Italy, Holland and Spain, as representatives of Hosvol Spain, were hosted at San Francesco hostel and Casa Diocesiana della Rocca in Pietrasanta. During the day, other hospitaleros joined in to take part in the planned activities.

On Friday evening, after dinner, hospitalero Filippo organised a leisure activity aimed at getting participants to know each other and bringing them together. On Saturday morning, a tour of Pietrasanta was led by Gabriele Veschi, a passionate connoisseur of history and art, to discover the monumental beauty and history of the city. After lunch, taking advantage of the sunny day, the participants went for a pleasant walk to Marina di Pietrasanta to enjoy the beach and each othe’s company.

In the late afternoon, the annual meeting was held, during which the Accoglienza Pellegrina Board of Directors summarised the activities of the Association for the year 2023, commenting on the various points together with the numerous members present. Late evening, hospitalera Marinella, led a group activity with a focus on hospitality.

On Sunday morning, the participants moved to Valpromaro to attend Holy Mass in the Church of St. Martin.  After Mass, the twinning of the pilgrims’ hostel “St John the Baptist” in Grañon and the pilgrims’ hostel “Giuseppe Mancino” in Valpromaro was celebrated live on Zoom. The Spanish parish priest, Father Alejandro, and Marina Saiz exchanged moving words with Iacopo Menchetti, Enza Bini and the parish priest of Valpromaro, Father Alessandro, and hoped to meet in person soon. The celebration continued with the testimonies of the people of Valpromaro, the Spaniish hospitaleros voluntaries represented by Anai Barreda and Manuel Oliva, Herman Velvis, hospitalero from Holland, and the AP hospitaleros.

The celebrations continued in the pilgrims’ hostel, where the participants cheerfully welcomed the banner that marks ten years of collaboration and a large wooden muñequito with dozens of replicas of it inside, on which the participants had written their names.

A rich lunch, prepared by the local people and attended by the Bishop of Lucca, Paolo Giulietti, was shared in the old village school.

Joy, generosity, fraternity, sharing, emotion and enthusiasm accompanied the participants throughout the meeting.