The University of Navarra’s ongoing formation program for American diocesan priests offers a distinctive journey of spiritual renewal, complemented by an intensive language course to enhance oral and written communication skills in Spanish.
The Camino Program of the School of Theology at the University of Navarra is designed as an ideal extension to existing initiatives for the ongoing formation of diocesan priests. Specially tailored for younger priests, the program integrates three elements of special interest for their priestly life and ministry.
The spiritual experience of participating in the 1200-year history of pilgrimage to Santiago.
A deepening in the theology and teachings of the great Spanish saints.
The opportunity to have a first contact with the Spanish language or to advance to the next level through an intensive language course tailored to the participants’ level
Walking the Camino de Santiago will lead them to a unique spiritual experience of pilgrimage. By visiting the landmarks of the Catholic tradition in Spain, they will find themselves face-to-face with the inspiring lives and teachings of saints like St. Theresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross or St. Josemaria, among others.
With the Intensive Spanish Language Course, young priests will enhance their oral and writing communication skills, making a difference in their future apostolate and pastoral work with multicultural communities.
Audience
The Camino Program is ideally oriented to younger priests, who have been ordained within the last 6-7 years, from dioceses in the United States of America.
The spiritual experience of pilgrimage with the Camino de Santiago and the prayerful encounter with the Spanish saints who have nurtured the Catholic Church serve as sources of inspiration for priests, enriching their spiritual lives and contributing to their ongoing theological formation.
Participants seek to learn or improve their Spanish language skills to better qualify them for pastoral work with multicultural communities.
Program
The following program is subject to changes based on the needs of the course and other possible conditions.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
(USA)
Depart for Pamplona.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
(Pamplona):
Arrive to Pamplona.
Monday, July 1, 2024
(University of Navarra):
1st Week of Intensive Spanish Language Course.
Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Sunday, July 14, 2024
(Camino de Santiago):
Walk seven emblematic stages of the Camino de Santiago.
Monday, July 15, 2024
(University of Navarra):
2nd Week of Intensive Spanish Language Course
Friday, July 19 – Sunday, July 21, 2024
(Lourdes-Torreciudad-Zaragoza):
Pilgrimage to the Shrines of Lourdes (France) and Torreciudad (Huesca), and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza.
Monday, July 22, 2024
(University of Navarra):
3rd Week of Intensive Spanish Language Course.
Friday, July 26 – Monday July 29, 2024
(Salamanca-Ávila-Toledo):
Visit to the historical cities and footprints of St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
(Madrid-USA):
Return to USA.
Activities
Camino de Santiago
With more than twelve centuries of history the pilgrimage to Santiago constitutes one of the most venerable traditions in Christendom. In this part of the program, participants will walk for 9 days along selected stages of the Camino Francés, the most iconic of all the pilgrim routes to Santiago. They will make their way through emblematic pilgrim cities and villages such as Puente la Reina, Estella, Burgos, Astorga, and O Cebreiro, while praying together in monasteries, cathedrals, and churches that have been receiving pilgrims for more than a millennium. Each participant will receive a certificate, issued by the Chapter of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago, accrediting their arrival at the tomb of St. James.
Intensive Spanish Language Program at the University of Navarra
A highly effective Oral and Written Spanish Course given by the ILCE, the International Research Institute for the Teaching, Testing, and Learning of the Spanish Language and Culture at the University of Navarra.
The intensive Spanish course consists of four classes per day from Monday to Friday for three weeks. It is specially designed to take participants to the next level. Students will be grouped according to their proficiency level, determined by a pre-test. To optimize personalized learning, class sizes will range between 5 and 10 students. Participants will receive an official certificate for credits issued by the University of Navarra.
Weekly co-curricular activities
Cultural and spiritual visits to distinctive places: Shrines of Lourdes, Torreciudad and Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza; birthplaces of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier; the historical cities of the Spanish Mystics: Avila and Segovia.
All visits will be preceded by lectures given by professors from the University of Navarra. The historical and cultural significance of the places and the lives of the Saints will be explored, along with their spiritual and theological teachings.
Housing and fees
Housing and full board:
The program provides lodging and meals in one of the halls for priests associated with the School of Theology of the University of Navarra.
Tuition & Fees:
The fee for the program is €5,600. It includes tuition, transportation in Europe, single occupancy room and board, academic and honorarium fees, basic travel health insurance (see conditions of the reimbursement policy here) and entry fees to museums and historical sites.
The following are not included: airfare to/from Madrid, personal expenses, and personal/optional activities outside of the program.
Payment method:
Payment will be made directly after completing the registration form on the online application web page.
Application
Application deadline:
Applications for the program must be received on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
How to apply:
Priests interested in applying to the Camino Program must be recommended by their Bishop or the Vicar for Clergy of his diocese.
The application process includes:
1. Fill in the application form.
2. Upon receipt of the application form, our Program Coordinator will contact the applicant via email (borjamfm@unav.es) to request the necessary documents:
- A current color photograph of yourself (passport quality)
- A copy of your passport
- Signature of approval and letter of recommendation from your Bishop or Vicar for Clergy
- Letter of Suitability
3. The Program Coordinator will confirm the acceptance into the Camino Program.
Contact
Program Director
Rev. Miguel Brugarolas
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology
mbrugarolas@unav.es
Program Coordinator
Mr. Borja Mora-Figueroa
Director of Development, School of Theology
borjamfm@unav.es
School of Theology
University of Navarra
31009 Pamplona - Navarra. Spain
Tel. +34 948 42 56 00 ext. 802611
caminoprogram@unav.es