We started the day with a visit to a mosque, which has the Chapel of the Ascension at its center. Here, we are praying in the chapel, at the traditional location of the ascension of Jesus. Fr Carl celebrates Mass for us in the Grotto of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested. Hiking down the […]
Continue ReadingWeek 3 starts for us heading to a place a little closer to home but finding much of the same as we found on our trip to Mexico.
Continue ReadingWe started the day at the École Biblique, a pontifical school for biblical studies. Fr Giambrone, an Eastern Province Dominican and New Testament professor, is speaking to us in the Basilica of St Stephen, where, liturgically speaking, it is always the day after Christmas! We begin to pray the stations of the cross on […]
Continue ReadingHome again. Despite the snow and ice, we made it.
Continue ReadingWe started this morning at St Anne’s, built at the likely site of Mary’s birth. Our class sings the Magnificat in front of the sanctuary of St Anne’s. Trevor Peterson praying in front of the cave where Mary was born. The Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the man who, for 38 […]
Continue ReadingThe last full day is a day at the museums and a confrontation with some final, difficult questions plus a quick look at more recent Mexican history.
Continue ReadingToday was probably the hardest day on our pilgrimage because it raises the difficult questions of “why, Lord?” Yet even in the poorest place, Jesus Christ is still King.
Continue ReadingWe are staying at the Greek Melkite Guesthouse. The Greek Melkite Catholic Church is an eastern Church in communion with Rome. Last night, Monsignor Jule, the retired Greek Melkite Archbishop of Jerusalem, shared with us about his church and his faith life. Monsignor Jule is a gentle and wise spiritual father! This morning, we visited […]
Continue ReadingPerhaps the most moving and amazing stop on the trip: a visit to Mother Inez and her orphanage of disabled children.
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Yesterday, we had the great honor of meeting the Bishop of Rome, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Servant of the Servants of God – Pope Francis. We were large group of seminarians, so he said (in Spanish) “When people tell me there is a vocations crisis in America, I don’t believe them!” He followed […]
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