The hospitaleros voluntarios welcome pilgrims in hostels and help to spread the moral, historic, cultural and spiritual content of the devotional routes. Those who wish to collaborate with the large family of hospitaleros shall meet three requirements:
- Have been on a pilgrimage to Santiago or to Rome or to another devotional route of sufficient length (at least 400 km) to become aware of the needs of pilgrims and experience traditional hospitality;
- Have attended a short training course to learn about the work in the pilgrim hostels and the principles that guide hospitaleros voluntarios ;
- To be available for service in the same year as the course, to complete the classroom training. In Spain, the shifts last 15 days, in the first or second fortnight of each month. In Italy, the service is usually weekly, from Saturday to Saturday.
Between February and April each year, Accoglienza Pellegrina, in collaboration with Hospitaleros Voluntarios, organises a series of preparatory courses in Italy for those who wish to work as hospitaleros on the Pilgrim’s Way to Santiago and on the Pilgrim’s Ways in Italy.
These courses are compulsory and take place at weekends, from Friday evening to Sunday after lunch. Accommodation is usually in pilgrim hostels at a low cost.
LIST OF PREVIOUS COURSES
- 2010 – Monteriggioni
- 2011 – San Miniato and Roppolo
- 2012 – Altopascio and Colle Val d’Elsa
- 2013 – Altopascio and Troia
- 2014 – Sarzana and Valpromaro
- 2015 – Filattiera and Valpromaro
- 2016 – Vercelli, Valpromaro, Garlasco
- 2017 – Vercelli, Valpromaro, Garlasco
- 2018 – Vercelli, Valpromaro, Vercelli, Pozzillo (Sicily)
- 2019 – Vercelli, Acquapendente, Valpromaro, Pedara (Sicily)
- 2020 – Courses called off due to pandemic (Candeggio, Valpromaro, Garlasco)
- 2021 – Pontremoli
- 2022 – Velletri, Pontremoli, Valpromaro
- 2023 – Velletri, Cavagnolo, Ponte d’Arbia, Valpromaro
NEXT COURSES
In 2024, the courses for would-be hospitaleros will follow the following schedule:
- 23-25 February Velletri (Rome)
- 8-10 March Praglia (Padua)
- 22-24 March Pianezza (Turin)
- 5-7 April Valpromaro (Lucca)
For info write to Laura Monastier accoglienzapellegrina.corsi@gmail.com
The above schedule can also be found in the ‘Hospitaleros Voluntarios’ section of the Spanish Federation: https://www.caminosantiago.org/cpperegrino/hospitaleros/cursos.asp