Saturday, April 18, 2026, marked a historic day in Astorga (Province of León, Spain) with the blessing of a new Conventual Franciscan presence along the Camino de Santiago: the Santa María de los Ángeles Fraternity and Hostel. This new presence is dedicated to welcoming pilgrims and offering them spiritual guidance through the simple, fraternal witness of our charism.
The fraternity is currently composed of four friars: one from Spain, one from Italy, one from Argentina, and one from India. It has not yet been possible to canonically erect this presence as a friary, as we are still awaiting the appointment of a new bishop for this historic diocese in northern Spain. Therefore, the official opening will take place at a later date.
The day began with a welcome from the Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of Montserrat in Spain, Friar Juan Antonio ADÁNEZ SILVÁN. Next, Friar Jordi ALCARAZ CUENCA, the head of the Astorga fraternity, gave a lecture on the historical presence of the Conventual Franciscans in this area of León along the Camino de Santiago. He also reflected on the journey undertaken to open this long-desired permanent presence, after years of temporary summer ministry in Ponferrada (León).
Then, the fraternity and hostel were blessed, after which the Minister Provincial of the Province of Spain presided over Mass in the nearby church of the Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order Regular (TOR). Those concelebrating included the Minister Provincial of the Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Northern Italy), Friar Roberto BRANDINELLI; the Vicar General of the Diocese of Astorga; and many other religious and diocesan priests.
The festive day concluded with a fraternal lunch for all of the participants in the refectory of the Santa María de los Ángeles Fraternity and Hostel. May the holy Apostle James the Greater, friend of the Lord, intercede for the friars of this new fraternity and for all the pilgrims who have passed through it and who will pass through it. Ultreia! Suseia! [Onward and upward!]
Friar J. Abel GARCÍA-CEZÓN ROLDÁN
