Long time OLMC parishioner, John Sullivan sent us some pictures from the truncated Holy Land tour he had taken with the Franciscans. Read his message to us and check out his amazing photos below!
John poses along the Camino with a bronze friend, on a previous trip to Spain.
“I am in Tel Aviv waiting for a flight out on Saturday. The country for all practical purposes has shut down. Unfortunately I cannot do my Jesus Trail hike due to the shutdown and my bothersome knee.
I have had quite a journey. We started with Mass atop Mount Carmel which is actually a range of mountains separating the Mediterranean from the desert beyond.
We then continued to Nazareth where we remained for several days. We could not cross over to Jordan nor could we visit towns like Bethlehem which are in the area controlled by the Palestinian Authority. I have some great stories to tell when I get back.
The pictures are from Jerusalem and include the Dome of the Rock is in the background, the Garden of Gethsemene, an evening of Adoration at the Basilica inside the Garden. Others are of the Greek Orthodox priests and our Franciscan tour leader at the tomb of Our Lady. The little Greek I know had these Greek priests thinking I was a Greek Catholic from America! They were really helpful explaining the intricacies of the Church. Another picture is from the upper floor of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Normally this space is very crowded. The Coronavirus has limited significantly the number of pilgrims. Another picture features the church that is built over the traditional place where Jesus was condemned to death.
At the Church at Bethpage where Jesus began his triumphant journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Mass was offered by the four priests on our tour. Finally, the courtyard where by tradition Jesus began his journey into Jerusalem. It is here that the Faithful begin their Palm Sunday procession.
John T. Sullivan
