Pilgrimage

Sunrise while waiting for the bus

Yesterday was a very busy day as I consented to bring a group of migrant chinese catholic workers to visit the north. They've been here for a year or so but have never been out of the city as they don't speak any other language except chinese. They join in the Mass at weekends  .... and that is wonderful because they don't understand the language spoken or preached but still make an effort not to miss Sunday Mass. So for their sacrifice and hardworking, they asked if I could bring them to the north to see the churches there. It was wonderful to have them. They were serious about a pilgrimage ... in fact they all went for confession the evening before the trip.

Archbishop with some of the group

Leaving early at 7am we travelled by minibus to the north to the Sea of Galilee and visited Capharnaum, Miracle of 5 Loaves and 2 Fish, Mt. of Beatitudes and the Church of the Primacy of Peter. Then an hour's drive to Nazareth to visit the Annunciation Basilica and the House of the Holy Family. We brought a picnic lunch and ate in the garden of Casa Nova Nazareth ... which was lovely. They were overwhelmed by the places ... touching every stone. It was a tremendous experience for them. We studied the Bible along the way, and also on site.

We ended up in Jaffa 200 kms south to celebrate Mass ... and had a wonderful surprise .... our Archbishop was there with the Vicar General for migrant catholics. Both met our little group and encouraged them to persevere. Then the Archbishop blessed them. They were thrilled. A perfect ending to a perfect pilgrimage day.  

For me it was extremely tiring as I was unwell. But I needed to accompany this group as they are really devout catholics who had very little in terms of time and knowledge of the land .... but lots of faith. I did my good deed.