The United Thank Offering (UTO) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the UTO Camino Challenge Grant. UTO will match up to the first $60,000 in donations to create the Anglican Pilgrim Centre in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
The vision for the Anglican Pilgrim Centre is “to provide a place where the more than 100,000 Protestant pilgrims who walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela each year will have a place to end their pilgrimage by celebrating the Eucharist together,” said Sherri Dietrich, UTO board president. The Centre will welcome pilgrims of all faiths, encouraging youth development, spiritual formation, and interfaith dialogue, providing space for pilgrims to process their journey together and share their experiences. “An Anglican Centre in Santiago will show the continued strength and faith of the Spanish Reformed Church in Spain, and UTO is grateful to be a part of this project,” Dietrich added.
The Camino de Santiago de Compostela is one of most ancient routes of pilgrimage in Christianity, and Santiago de Compostela was the third most holy site in Christianity in the Middle Ages, after Jerusalem and Rome. Since 2015, plans to build an Anglican Centre in Santiago have been developing, and UTO now joins in that work.
In October of this year, the UTO pilgrims walking part of this ancient route will end their journey in Santiago de Compostela. Follow their progress on the UTO Facebook page and webpage, or on the Friends of the Anglican Centre Facebook page and webpage, and contribute (or contribute again) to the UTO Camino Challenge Grant. Donations may be made one of three ways:
- Text “Camino” to 41444;
- Donate online at https://unitedthankoffering.com/camino/ and select “UTO Camino Challenge Grant”; or
- Send a check with “UTO Camino Challenge Grant” in the memo to: United Thank Offering | DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church | P.O. Box 958983 | St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
“The Anglican Pilgrim Centre in Santiago is a wonderful way to share God’s hospitality with all pilgrims in Spain,” said Dietrich. “UTO is grateful to be a part of this project and grateful for your participation with us in this challenge grant.”
Questions may be directed to associate staff officer for the United Thank Offer, the Rev. Canon Michelle I. Walker at miwalker@episcopalchurch.org.