(Here is the latest in on things Phil Camino the Film. Later this month My Rebecca and I are off to California to be with Annie doing events from LA to San Diego. Then in September there is the Port Townsend Film Festival up here in the Seattle area which we all will be at. So join us if you can, always fun! Felipe)
Hey there Felipe-
I am excited to write to you this morning. We had a wonderful screening yesterday, so it feels like I have something wonderful to share! A year ago, the Church of Santiago de Compostela — yes, only the second church with that name, the first being the Cathedral which is the traditional end to the Camino de Santiago — hosted a beautiful event. An amazing and dynamic woman there named Ann-Marie Blaney wanted to offer her church a retreat: we screened Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago, had a Q&A and lunch, then I showed them some clips from the upcoming, work-in-progress film called Phil’s Camino. Wow! We then had a procession from the room where we screened to the outdoor fountain where we dropped rocks at a Galician cross, sent by their sister church in Spain, to symbolize the Cruz de Fero ritual along the Camino. That is where pilgrims drop rocks that symbolize releasing a resentment, or care, or worry they have ben holding on to. It was beautiful. So you can imagine how meaningful it was to return there on Saturday with the finished film, Phil’s Camino. Beautiful!
In addition to the screening, Ann-Marie organized an Interfaith Panel to follow the film, with religious leaders all talking about how pilgrimage is part of their faiths. It was magnificent. Ann-Marie had been at the first Interfaith Panel I hosted, back in February, and was inspired to include a panel as part of Saturday’s retreat. I am so glad that she did, because it feels like getting to know, to chat with, to break bread with people who are different from us is more important today than ever. In fact, I listened to the President giving his speech on the way down to the event. I have felt so helpless as I watch events unfold that indicate that our country is in the middle of tough times. In such a divisive climate, it felt even more significant to bring together a Catholic priest, a Muslim Imam, and a Jewish cantor to talk about pilgrimage. I think the audience was as rapt as I was to hear eat of them speak about pilgrimage, and their rituals. Although we learned that Judaism does not really have pilgrimage as part of its rituals, there is strong symbolism about how each day, and our entire lives, are a journey, a pilgrimage that we undertake and can walk as best we can. The Imam had everyone’s attention as he talked about the Haj, the Pilgrimage that each Muslim hopes to take during their lifetime. There are a lot of things that they do before hand to make themselves ready, knowing that they are embarking on a transformational experience: they clear up any debts, they make right any wrongs that they have committed, and other preparations of the soul. Of course, we also spoke of how the Pope has suggested pilgrimage as one of the rituals Catholics can do in this year of Mercy. Caminoheads, it was beautiful! We did some filming, so I hope that I can put something together for you at some point. Stay tuned for that one!
The other big news is that we will be screening in Los Angeles! Yay! We will have a special Los Angeles Premiere on Thursday July 28, with special guest Felipe himself in attendance! Then we will screen at 12 Noon for one week, from Friday July 29 – Thursday August 4. Noon every day. There will be some panels following the screenings on Saturday and Sunday. More details to follow. If anyone feels called to help, I could use some help for these screenings. You can contact me through my personal email, [email protected]
Of course, we are have also started taking reservations to stay at Ft. Worden during the Port Townsend Film Festival. They have set aside 16 rooms for Team Phil’s Camino. I think there are about 5 also ready spoken for, so that leaves 11 rooms. It is an old army barracks, so it is dormitory style living, but I have heard that the setting is quite lovely, with walking paths, and beautiful views. It is a flat rate of $125 for the entire weekend, so if you are interested, please let me know ASAP.
Lots of wonderful things shaking with Phil’s Camino, don’t you think, Egg Man?!?! I think it is absolutely wonderfully and ridiculously fantastic! We just can’t help ourselves!
Lots of love, lots of peace-
Annie
PS I am about to send you a picture of the panel.
Annie O Neil
Director/Producer: Phil’s Camino www.philscamino.com
Co-producer and Pilgrim: Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago www.caminodocumentary.org
Author: Everyday Camino with Annie www.everydaycaminowithannie.com
310-403-4228