Yesterday was the feast day of St James, one of the original apostles, a cousin of Jesus and brother of St John, “the beloved disciple.” St James was the first apostle to be martyred in about AD 44. The veneration of St James was responsible for the importance of the Camino de Compostela in Spain that is walked by many people and where there is a magnificent cathedral built in the honor of St James. Spanish people, especially those from Michoacan in Mexico, also share a strong devotion to St James.

Last night the “mother church,” of the tiny mission that I attend in Ingis, FL celebrated this important feast in the Christian Church. I invited Nancy, a Spanish-speaking friend who went with me to Cuba in 2007, to go with me to this St James festival. Some of my various impressions are recorded on my journey daybook page above. The amazing impression that both Nancy and I came away with was the overwhelming Spanish presence. The colorful costumes, and the singing made both of us feel as if we were in another country – certainly not 30 miles from our homes – in a tiny, rural county in the South! The few Anglos who were present were treated as very special guests by the diverse Spanish celebrants who came from Spain, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominical Republic, and Mexico. What a very special evening we all had!