From the Heights to the Depths, by Tony Smela

Sunday was a free day for most of us.  After experiencing a beautiful Mass in French and Latin, we were free to spend the day as we chose.  While most of our group stayed back at the guest house to recover and prepare for the next part of the pilgrimage, there was a small group of us that wanted back into the Old City of Jerusalem.  Of the many adventures we had, one encounter stands out that I would like to share.

Joe Campbell and myself were at the Western Wall, and we were on our way to the Dung Gate when I saw a group of 30 young adults sitting on the ground.  That is not such an unusual sight, for many groups will do that.  But this group caught my eye because many of them were sporting the block M from the University of Michigan.  I had to ask.

So, I quickly sat down next to a few of them and ask them if they are from the University of Michigan and they said yes!  But, at that moment, I noticed that Joe did not see me stop, so I had to quickly get up and chase after him.  As I did so, I yelled back "Go Blue!"

But God is not without a sense of humor.

I quickly chased down Joe and told him what just happened.  But, as I said the words "University of Michigan", a young woman walked right by us, and she asked if we were from Michigan.  We said yes, and she proceeded to inform us that she was an Ohio State fan.  My first response was "You've got to be kidding me!"  As she walked away, she seemed quite pleased with herself, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

From the heights of consolation to the depths of desolation.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mary's Day by Joseph Campbell

After driving by bus for about 30 minutes from our guest house in Kyriat Yearim, we arrived at the church in Bethany which commemorates the place where Jesus began his entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Nearby the church was a tomb from the first century which, most likely, closely resembles the tomb in which our Lord was buried. Next we made our way to the Mount of Olives to visit the Russian Orthodox church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. With its seven onion-shaped cupolas plated in gold glistening in the Israeli sun, it looked like something right out of Aladdin. 

The inside was beautifully decorated in mosaics and frescoes, and the large group of Russian pilgrims chanting in the background made for a prayerful environment. From there we descended to the foot of the Mount of Olives and entered the shrine of Mary's tomb. Modern Jerusalem's ground level is much higher than that of the first century, so we had to descend deep into the ground to reach her tomb. With mother's day being so close, I prayed especially for my mom at the place where the mother of Jesus rested before she was assumed into heaven. Right next to the shrine of Mary's tomb is a small cave turned into a chapel which traditionally is the place where the disciples fell asleep while our Lord was in agony a stone's throw away in Gethsemane. 

During the Mass that was celebrated there by Msgr. Trapp, I was struck by the humanity of the disciples. Even though Christ was at the most difficult point in his ministry and the culmination of his entire earthly mission, his disciples--those closest to him--were sleeping! Yet these same men became the foundation of the Church that is still thriving throughout the world today. It certainly gives us hope, for we are often not only "sleeping on the job" when Christ needs us but even actively sinning against Him. With God's grace, we can overcome our weakness and sin and become great saints that transform the world like the Apostles did.

Mary, mother of the Church, pray for us!

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On the Palm Sunday Route

Palm Sunday Walk One by SirGuy1001 on Photosynth


Continuing on the Palm Sunday Route
Palm Sunday Walk Two by SirGuy1001 on Photosynth

Grace Filled Day by Craig Marion

Today, we visited Judea Ein Karem, the place of the Visitation and birth place of St John the Baptist.  We were blessed to attend Mass at Visitation Church.  We then traveled to Emmaus, mentioned in Luke, Chapter 24.  This holy place is maintained by the Community of the Beatitudes.  After visiting Emmaus we traveled to Jaffa where there is a church dedicated to St. Peter, this church overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.  We were blessed to read from the Acts of the Apostles, right in front of the Church.  After this visit we had lunch in the city.  We then traveled to St George's Church and were able to pray beside his tomb.  The day was filled with many graces, we were blessed with good weather and great fraternity.

From our walk from the Church of the Visitation
From the Church of the Visitation by SirGuy1001 on Photosynth

Can't Rain On Our Pilgrimage, by Tony Smela

Today was a sad day for all of us.  Today we had to say goodbye to the Bridgettine Sisters who had welcomed us into their home for the last week.  Perhaps an anecdote is needed to illustrate their incredible hospitality towards us.

During dinner on Tuesday, Marcus stood up and announced to everyone that my birthday was the other day.  Everyone sang a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, and I thought that was the end of that.  Unbeknownst to me, the sisters were busy conspiring in the other room.

After dinner, the sisters generally have a small dessert for us, and that night they had fruit for us.  But we noticed that they were taking longer than usual to bring out the dessert.  Something was up.

When they arrived, they didn't have fruit, but ice cream!  And one of the bowls was decorated with roses and had a lit candle in it!  They heard Marcus announce my birthday and quickly got ice cream for all of us!  It was a beautiful gesture of hospitality that the sisters showed.

The front of the Bridgettine Sisters Home In Jerusalem

So, at 7am, in a torrential downpour, we had to say goodbye to the Bridgettine Sisters.  We then headed to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Msgr. Trapp celebrated Mass on Cavalry for us.  The re-presentation of His sacrifice at the place where all of our sins were nailed to the cross.

After that, we jumped in line to be able to pray inside the Holy Sepulcher tomb.  Once we finally got into the tomb, we were able to spend about 20 seconds each on the place where he rose from the dead.  Within an hour, we were praying through the Paschal mystery of his death at Calvary and resurrection at the tomb.

All of this before 9am.

By 9:30 we were well on our way to the Archeological Gardens that surround the southern wall of the Temple Mount.  Archeologists have excavated much of that area to reveal the first century roads and walls.  These were the very roads and walls that Jesus walked on and saw (Insert joke about Michigan roads).  We climbed to the point on the southern wall where there used to be three doors in the first century.  You can still see the arches, but the doors have been filled in.  Most likely, these were the three doors that the Holy Family would have gone through for the presentation of Jesus to the Temple, and this would be the doors where Mary and Joseph would have gone through to find Jesus teaching in the Temple area.  We stopped here and prayed those two decades of the Rosary.

After that, we had some time to wander the city before we were to meet up by the Jaffa Gate and head to our new home for the next ten days.  And now, at 3:38pm I sit here at our new home in Kiriat Yaerim, about 6 miles outside of Jerusalem.

Thank you for your prayers, and know of our prayers for you!

The Jewish Quarter by John Bettin

The Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem is located in the south-east sector of the city.  It is a newer, more modern section of Jerusalem since it was badly damaged in the siege laid to it by the Arabs from December 1947 to May 1948.  because of its modern construction the streets are very clean, paved, and has excellent signage for points of interest.  Adjoining the Jewish Quarter is the Wailing Wall.

Jews continue to come to the Wailing Wall to pray and to lament the destruction of the Temple.  My brothers and I had a great opportunity to pray at the Wall.  This experience provided an opportunity to recall that in the midst of so many walls, fences, barricades, strife and hatred, we joyfully anticipate the coming of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace who will make all things new again, and return all of us with him to our Heavenly Father.

Shalom and Peace of Christ!

And here's a bonus! Here is a picture of most of the pilgrims as we began the walk from the Cenacle (the site of the Last Supper) to the Garden of Gethsemane.

On a hike to Ein Karem.

To Ein Karem by SirGuy1001 on Photosynth

More to come soon, our apologies for the slowing down of updates. Holy Sepulcher, 6:30am
Same Hike

To Ein Karem 2 by SirGuy1001 on Photosynth