Arriving in Madrid and mobile phones

Welcome to Madrid! Today, August 15, the feast of the Assumption, is the day the majority of the pilgrims from the Diocese of Madison are arriving to begin World Youth Day 2011.

My husband and I arrived from Paris early enough for Mass at the church here in Vilella de San Antonio, where we experienced not only our first Spanish Mass, but also the warmth of the volunteers’ welcome. My Spanish is a bit rusty, but several of the volunteers speak English, so communication was not a problem.

Shortly after Mass, Fr. Paul Arinze, the director of vocations for the Diocese of Madison and the leader of the diocesan pilgrimage, arrived by taxi. He was quickly greeted officially by the local WYD leader, and we set off to set down our nonessential baggage.

The three of us, the first pilgrims to arrive here, were shown to the municipal sports center, where we will be spending the next few nights. Showers, bathroom stalls, and plenty of room for sports and games. Fr. Paul, however, discovered immediately upon putting down his bags that he had forgotten his phone in the taxicab he had taken from Madrid.

Luckily, Pepe, one of the wonderful volunteers we have so far met here in Velillas, was a driver with the same company Fr. Pauls had used and he called and soon got the taxicab turned around and headed over to drop the phone off with Fr. Paul. When it arrived, he was thankful to discover no one had called in its absence: no lost travelers, trying to find their way to Velillas!

However, we still had to get a SIM card for him, so it was off to the shops. This being the Assumption, there were a number of stores closed, but at last we located a shop off the main street where Fr. Paul could purchase a SIM card. The adventures did not end there, though, as Fr. Paul’s passport did not work as registration for the card. Pepe to the rescue again! Afterward, however, he did comment that he was hoping he wouldn’t have to do the same for all of the travelers that arrived. The government might get suspicious if 79 SIM cards were suddenly registered under the same name.

Soon, seminarians will begin to arrive in Velillas, followed by the group coming from Zaragoza, who were sent on their way this morning following Mass. The Camino group, fresh from their walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostelo on the Way of St. James, will be arriving on August 16. All together, we will begin World Youth Day at the opening Mass held in Madrid, where we 79 pilgrims will meet the hundreds of thousands, perhaps more, who will be sharing the next few days with us.

Pictures to come soon! We’ll keep in touch with photos, videos, and blog posts.