Dear Parishioners:

It’s good to be back! By now, most of you know that I spent the last several days following Christmas on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Since I had not had the opportunity, I would like to wish all of you a very Happy New Year!

This year was the first year that I can remember that I did not celebrate the New Year at home. Even so, what better way to celebrate a new year than to celebrate in the land where God called together His Chosen People and where He wrought our salvation in Jesus Christ?

I had not planned on a trip to the Holy Land, but about a month-and-a-half ago, I received an invitation to join a group of pilgrims as their spiritual director. I was hesitant to go because there was so much going on during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Nevertheless, I ultimately opted to go and it turned out to be a wonderful personal blessing.

We arrived in Tel-Aviv on December 28th just in time for Jewish Shabat (Sabbath). Essentially this meant that all shops and businesses were closed so all we could do was take a night-time walk along the Mediterranean Sea. I didn’t complain too much! Dinner at the hotel was a combination of breaded fish and slices of beef. It was delicious, considering I was expecting something more exotic; something with eyes staring back at me!

The next morning, we ate breakfast, which included slices of cold fish marinated in something that had a “twangy” taste to it. Being the adventurous type, I tried it and actually liked it! Go figure! Then we loaded up the bus and headed south toward Joppa, the city where Jonah departed prior to being swallowed by the whale and where the Apostle Peter brought Tabitha back to life.

From there we traveled north to the ruins of Caesarea, a town built by Herod the Great who was the King during the time of Jesus’ birth. Then we made our way to Mt. Carmel which was the site of Elijah’s great demonstration of God’s power as he opposed the priests of the pagan god Baal. Mt. Carmel is also where a group of Christian monks came together to form the Carmelite Religious Order. Amazingly, from Mt. Carmel one can look out across the distance to see the town of Nazareth on a hill.

That same day, we visited Megiddo, the remains of the city that had 20 levels of occupation throughout the centuries. Solomon also had control of the city at one point. This is the site that some believe will be the location of the battle of the so called “Armageddon” in the end times.

I shall write a bit more about the trip to Israel in another installment. Until then, God bless!

Fr. Paul