Sunday in Zamora - Madrid manana!

Buenas tardes!
We have been very busy here in Zamora, but all is well and we have had a wonderful Sunday here. Yesterday we took a 100 km bus trip to the campo (country) just south of Galicia - north of here. We spent several hours in the afternoon at Custo Llago - a beautiful glacial lake. Many went swimming and even took a little pedal boat around the lake, while others just waded and enjoyed the green landscape and clean air. It is very beautiful here and there is a great diversity between areas in terms of topography and agriculture. Here in Zamora there are few trees and it is quite flat - but at Custo Llago it is much hillier and greener.

Last night we walked about 2 miles to a soccer stadium and arena where we played soccer for a while, and then went in to a concert with all of the other pilgrims from around the world who are spending these days in Zamora. It was a lot of fun.

This morning we had morning prayer with our families. Our experience of the faith here has been so rich as we are staying with families who are part of the ¨neocatechumenal way¨. This is a renewal movement in the church and is bearing much fruit here. Families pray the liturgy of the hours together, including the extended family. It was so wonderful to see little children praying together with parents and grandparents for all of their intentions before leaving for Sunday Mass. We had Mass in a garden next to the Rio Duero. It was very beautiful.

This afternoon many of the pilgrims went to country homes (camps) with their families, while others had a quiet afternoon and siesta. Fr. Paul provided a quiet respite for some of us, offering a time of silent prayer and the opportunity for reconciliation at the parish church, Cristo Rey.

Tonight we will pack a picnic supper (bocadillo) and take a 5 km pilgrimage walk to a church west of Zamora.

Tomorrow, the Feast of the Assumption, we will have Mass at the cathedral and a lunch of paella together with all of the pilgrims from our parish. After that, we depart for Madrid.

Our experience in Zamora has been amazing. We are in awe of the generosity, love, and faith of these wonderful people who have opened their hearts and homes to us. We have enjoyed learning about their life - in their homes and parishes - and tasting their cuisine. Tomorrow we depart for the second part of our pilgrimage and a very different experience. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travels and God´s continued providential care. We have been SO blessed in so many ways on this journey so far.

I hope to have one of the young pilgrims update tomorrow evening from the hotel.
Hasta pronto!
Joy