As pilgrims wind their way through Spain while walking or biking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trails, they reflect on their lives and the seasons of transition they may be in. Once they arrive in Santiago de Compostela, they have various needs and appreciate having space and time to reflect on their pilgrimage, talk to others, and find resources to help them go deeper in engaging with whatever has been stirring in their hearts during their Camino.
Our team is here in Santiago de Compostela at the end of the Camino de Santiago. Through the Pilgrim House Welcome Center, we offer warm hospitality to pilgrims to help meet the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs they may have at the end of their pilgrimage. We do this through providing a welcoming space, resources such as debriefing guides and articles, and intentional conversation to help them reflect on their pilgrimage. We also offer practical services that are often needed by newly-arrived pilgrims, such as laundry and printing boarding passes.
We are looking for a Pilgrim Hospitality Specialist who will serve regular shifts in Pilgrim House and help us meet the practical, emotional, and spiritual needs of pilgrims finishing the Camino. This role includes:
1. Walking at least the last 100km of the Camino de Santiago on any route that ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. We require all of our staff to have walked and been pilgrims, to better serve their fellow pilgrims.
2. Caring for pilgrims by providing comprehensive hospitality during regular shifts in Pilgrim House. This role includes (but may not be limited to):
- Welcoming in and celebrating pilgrims who have completed their Camino in Santiago de Compostela
- Helping to meet practical needs by offering laundry and printing boarding passes
- Providing a listening ear and bringing pilgrims deeper in conversation to help them debrief their Camino
- Directing them to resources and tools to help them in further reflection
- Participating in and leading various debriefing activities
- Supporting Pilgrim House managers in project work to help achieve team priorities
Communication and sociability – it’s crucial that a Pilgrim Hospitality Specialist has the ability to get to know people quickly, and be able to engage in deep conversations as well as small-talk in order to make pilgrims feel welcome and at home. It’s also helpful to have experience and be comfortable leading group discussions.
Flexibility - every day is different around here, and an attitude of flexibility will be very helpful in transitioning to life in Spain (where things move much more slowly than in the US) and to the rhythms of work in Pilgrim House (where some months and days are much more busy than others).
Learner – a willingness to learn the culture and language in Spain without criticizing it and a willingness to learn from the team best-practices for life and work will go a long way.
Organization and multi-tasking - during shifts in Pilgrim House, there can be a lot of things going on at the same time. An ability to multi-task and stay calm is needed.
Able to live independently - as we cannot guarantee that Goers will have roommates, applicants need to already have experience living on their own, being independent, and managing their own time.
Spanish – if the Goer already has some Spanish, he/she will have an easier time.
Placement Details
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