In 2019, more than 347,000 pilgrims arrived in the city of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, Spain). Among them, 25,000 have attended the various prayers and activities of the Ignatian program Peregrinus scheduled throughout the year and especially in summer, which have hosted 1900 of them. These figures consolidate this program that was born five years ago.

During this last year 2019 we have been able to welcome throughout the year groups from different origins: Australia, Boston College, Jesuit schools, Teresianas Foundation, some pastoral activities around the path of the Jesuit schools in Galicia, Jesuit schools in Italy… All this added to the frenetic activity of the months of July and August with all the schools, youth groups, universities (Spain, Italy, Malta, Romania,...)...), some diocesan youth ministry delegations, parish groups, and a long etc. And we have also received a group of university students who have been leaking during the year and the summer wanting to make several days of retreat upon their arrival in Compostela, to whom we have accompanied them personally.

We also noticed an increase in the number of people attending the Taizé prayers and the prayers of the Ignatian examination of the day, which continue to be a haven of peace and a help to rest the experience of the journey.

Peregrinus offers two services, one more practical regarding accommodation and the other spiritual. We offer material with guidelines for personal prayer and group sharing as well as for reviewing or making the couple's project. They also guide two prayers open to the whole city, one in the Taizé style in the afternoon in the chapel of the Pilgrim's Office, and the other in the evening in the Church of St. Augustine, in line with the Ignatian Exam. In addition, personal and group accompaniment is provided, as well as a quiet place to rest and re-read the experience lived along the way. For the youngest (primary schools) and also for teenagers there is a gymkhana of tests for Santiago that emphasizes the values present in the Way and gives a little more knowledge of the city of Compostela.

In summer, in order to carry out "Peregrinus", there are volunteers (mostly university students) who, through three work camps of 15 days each ("Apertas"), cover the attention to the pilgrims. These camps are launched along with the other MAG+S Experiences of Summer 2020. During the rest of the year the welcome is given by the Jesuits who live in Santiago and some university students from the MAG+S Galicia groups.

This project now faces two challenges: the great Compostela Holy Year 2021 and the human and economic sustainability of a project that does not receive any aid or subsidy, but is sustained by the donations made by the groups that stay in our humble facilities, where we offer them a mattress on the floor and a shower with hot water, maintaining the authentic spirit of the pilgrimages.

The organization informs that the period for reservation and application for accommodation is now open for this year and especially for this summer.

More information at: http://iperegrino2015.wixsite.com/peregrinus