What has the group done since last time? Most significant was our 3-day trip into Galilee. I’m going to run you through all three days, so prepare yourself.
Day One: We cruised out of Bethlehem and up the coast of the Mediterranean to our first destination, Caesarea. The extensive ruins of this ancient city are quite amazing. The entire group stood in awe as we looked up at the enormous Roman aqueduct that still stands there today. Words fail to describe it. Haifa was then our city of choice for lunch, and the hummus there was delicious. After our meal we took the bus to the top of Mount Carmel for some prayer at Stella Maris Basilica (Our Lady, Star of the Sea). Stells Maris is an appropriate name for this church because it’s view of the sea is magnificent. (A note to those who don’t already know: I was born at Mount Carmel Hospital on the west side of Columbus.) That night we ended up in Nazareth, the first of two nights in that medium-sized city. We crashed at a pilgrim house run by the Sisters of Nazareth (an appropriately named community of religious sisters).
Day Two: We ran all over God’s creation. First stop: the church in Cana where Jesus kept the party going. Second stop: the church on Mount Tabor where Jesus was transfigured. Third stop: the church in Naim where Jesus brought a young man back to life. Fourth stop: the ancient ruins of Megiddo where Jesus didn’t do anything. Fifth stop: the Basilica of the Annunciation where Jesus was conceived. Sixth stop: back at the pilgrimage house where my roommate and I enjoyed some wine he picked up at Cana. (A note to those who might one day visit the Holy Land: You do not have to try the wine from Cana. The word “putrid” comes to mind.)
Day Three: The main stop was Jericho, which is advertised as the oldest city in the world. It’s a fascinating place, an oasis in the middle of the desert. (Any oasis in this land is fascinating to me. One can travel through miles and miles of desert without seeing anything but rocks and an occasional camel. Then there appears a town speckled with farms and fountains.) Just outside Jericho towers a huge precipice, the Mount of Temptation. Tradition says that it was upon this mountain that Jesus was tempted by the devil. We took a cable car (which I’m discovering are rather popular in Israel due to the fact that many of the tourist/pilgrim sites are quite lofty) up the mountain in order to visit the Greek monastery there. The monastery sits on the face of a cliff and provides the monks with unparalleled views of the Jordan Valley. Being in that place was powerful, visually and spiritually speaking.
That was basically our trip to Galilee. Much fun was had by all. We are now back in Bethlehem in the midst of classes and Christmas celebrations. Two things stand out on our upcoming calendar. Tomorrow we are throwing a party for the children at the local orphanage, and Sunday we will celebrate Midnight Mass at the University of Bethlehem with one of the bishops of Jerusalem.
I have one final comment about the Mundelein Seminary community that is here in Bethlehem. Early this morning I went to our house chapel for Adoration. At one point during prayer I looked up to find myself with three other seminarians. One was from Venezuela; another from Vietnam; another from Poland; and myself from the U.S. There were four seminarians from four continents, praying together in Palestine. Very cool.
Have a safe and holy Christmas. Much love from the birthplace of the Lord. Until the next update,
dave
12/22/2006
P.S. If you’d like to check it out, the group journal is up at
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