There are many reasons why someone might decide to serve as a Hospitaller on the Camino de Santiago or other pilgrimage routes. These motivations are often deeply personal and can be of a spiritual, social or practical nature. Here are some of the most common reasons that drive people to become Hospitalero.
Why become a hospitalero?
Spiritual and personal motives:
- Sharing your own pilgrimage experience: Many hospitaleros have been pilgrims themselves and want to give back the support and hospitality they have experienced along the way.
- Spiritual enrichment: For some, serving as a Hospitaller is a way to deepen their own spiritual journey by helping others on their path.
- Personal growth: The challenges and experiences that come with serving as a Hospitaller can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.
Social and cultural motivations:
- Foster a sense of community: As part of the pilgrim community, hospitaleros help to create a supportive and friendly environment.
- Experience cultural exchange: Hospitaleros meet people from all over the world and have the opportunity to experience cultural diversity at first hand.
- Making friends: Many hospitaleros build lasting relationships with other volunteers and pilgrims.
Practical and altruistic motives:
- Offering help and support: The desire to help others in a practical and direct way is a strong motivation for many Hospitaleros.
- Contributing to the preservation of the Way: Serving as a hospitalero is also a way of contributing to the long-term preservation of the Pilgrims’ Way and its tradition of hospitality.
- Expanding skills and experience: Working as a hospitalero offers the opportunity to learn new skills, for example in hospitality, organization and first aid.
In summary, serving as a Hospitaller can be a profound and enriching experience for many, allowing them to contribute to a centuries-old tradition of support and hospitality while finding personal and spiritual satisfaction.
How do you become a hospitalero?
To become a Hospitalero, especially on the Camino de Santiago, you usually have to fulfill some basic steps and requirements. Here is a general overview of the process:
1. You own pilgrimage experience
- Gain pilgrimage experience: It is often assumed that you yourself have been a pilgrim on the Way of St. James or a similar pilgrimage route. This experience helps you to understand the needs and challenges of pilgrims.
2. Education and training
- Participation in a preparatory course: Many organizations offer special courses or training for prospective hospitaleros. These courses cover a wide range of topics including hospitality, first aid, conflict resolution and hostel management.
- Language skills: Basic knowledge of Spanish or the language of the country in which you wish to serve is helpful in order to communicate effectively with pilgrims and suppliers.
3. Application and selection
- Application to an organization: After completing the training, you must apply to an organization that places hospitaleros. This can be a national St. James Society, a religious institution or a local pilgrim hostel administration.
- Selection process: Some organizations conduct a selection process to ensure that candidates are a good fit for the requirements and atmosphere of their hostels.
4 Allocation and use
- Assignment to a hostel: After making your selection, you will be assigned to a hostel. The duration of your assignment can vary, usually between two weeks and one month.
- Gain practical experience: During your assignment, you will gain practical experience in looking after pilgrims and managing the hostel.
5 Ongoing commitment
- Further training and meetings: Many hospitaleros also take part in further training courses and meetings after their first assignment in order to exchange ideas and receive further training.
Important notes:
- Motivation and aptitude: It is important that you have a strong motivation and a genuine interest in serving the pilgrims and contributing to the pilgrim community.
- Physical and mental resilience: Working as a hospitalero can be physically and emotionally demanding. Good health and mental stability are important in order to meet the requirements.
Field report
“I had to take a forced break in Ponferrada. And I was allowed to stay an extra 2 nights and helped out as a thank you. So I know roughly what a (several) hospilateros have to do. It’s not a vacation job that you do for fun. It’s a tough job.”
Commentary by Kurt Deege.
Concrete step
The nonprofit organization American Pilgrims on the Camino usually offers training courses for prospective hospitaleros
More information is available at their site from the German St. James Society.
