Leaving Israel & Palestine

The Holy Land is known as the 'Fifth Gospel' and after this month I know why. As I say goodbye I am conscious of many things, not the least is the need for peace in these lands. Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt 18 times history records!

 It is not easy to understand the levels of intense beauty crossed with the pain of man made suffering; the great mix of strong religious devotion crossed with the common knowledge  and love of the One God; the fight for freedom and the apparent need to keep people humiliated, and, the ancient paths and ramparts of a history that retell the same story, with the same characters and the same endings. I wonder what mankind has truly achieved over the centuries.

 The pics show Troy outstretched to show the thickness of the ramparts that we walked all around at the Old City. Can you see the horrible 8 metre high wall that now separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem (double click the pic)?

To demonstrate the ironies: the holiest site in Christendom, the Holy Sepulchre here in Jerusalem did not have any toilets in it. The main three custodians, the Greek Orthodox, the Armenian Orthodox and the Roman Catholics under the sponsorship of the Franciscans, along with other Christian Churches took 10 years to finally agree on the need for this basic resource, and then install and pay for it. The problem exists now about who provides the toilet paper! My strongest advice for your visit here...bring your own toilet paper. 

The last three pics are of t-shirts that caught my eye as I leave. They sum up my travels to some degree, and some of the emotions I experience.

I am off to Italy now where I will start a new adventure. Troy leaves me here and I have to say he was a great companion. We never had one word of negativity between us. Pity there was not more of that in this special place, and in the world. I am going to keep trying to make a difference wherever I travel.
This page is dedicated to Troy as he struggles to work out the difference between 'The Cisterns', 'The Sistene Chapel' and 'The Sixteenth Station of the Cross'. You are too funny. Pace e bene.

Masada for Beginners

What a great day at Masada and the Dead Sea. If you have never seen a Dead Sea wave, well, here is one ...

The temperature was 43 degrees outside of the water, and we all felt it. Sadly, one of the priests who is a diabetic, walked to the sea shore bare footed, then swam, or rather floated as we did, and then returned to the shore to find that his feet had blisterd to bleeding and he did not realise. Oohh!

I had no lunch that day! But, as this pic shows, I could do without lunch.

I like this pic of the tree by the Dead Sea. Hope you do too.

Masada is a hugely interesting site for tourists and an immensely important site for the Jewish people. My pic below was taken from the bus but you can see the dimensions and what the countryside is like. Makes our drought look like a day in the park! It is near the Dead Sea: 450 metres above it, and is 650 by 350 metres in dimension. It was a palace for the paranoid King Herod in Jesus' time. Mind you, Herod had several palaces scattered all over the country and each outdid the other in oppulence and secrecy. 

Masada is symbolic of the Jewish struggle for freedom and is the memorial site of the last stronghold of a group of 960 zealot rebels who held seige for three years against the Romans in 73AD. When eventually the Romans built a ramp to push up catapaults, and then break into the tower, the zealots had all committed suicide rather than be taken as hostages and slaves. Interesting, that they would compromise the sacredness of their lives against their most sacred Law! I am not sure I understand that one. Even today, all Israeli military conscripts make their vow of allegience here.

 The story and the determination from both sides have always captured my imagination, so I enjoyed the visit in the melting heat, even making a little Aussie presence from the very top with the Dead Sea in the background. http://www.parks.org.il/ might help you grasp Masada better.

This page is dedicated to our Australian military personnel, who so often have to carry out decisions that are made for them, while they do not understand the reasoning. The Church and the military have so much in common at times. Bless ém all.

SOME PICS OF JERUSALEM

At the end of this week, and with one week to go, I thought I would put together some of the faces of Jerusalem. Some of these make me smile, some make me curious, while others cause me some concern. Double click the pic to make it bigger.  On the above left you can see the two extremes on our Course: Fr Greg is a normal 175cm tall while Fr Julian is a whopping..well what is 7 foot in metres?

Above right you see a young man on his way to his Barmitzvah. This is like Jewish 'Confirmation' in the Christiann understanding. I have to say, if our young people celebrated the sacraments this way we would have no worries filling our churches. The lads in front of him are whooping and hollowing to cheer him on. He is sitting on his Godfather's shoulders. I don't think they are so enthusiastic with the circumcision ceremony! He even has four shade bearers. How cool is that, excuse the pun?

The next two pics are a little sad: A peace dove with a flack jacket and rifle target aimed at the heart, and then some of the Israeli police arguing with a Muslim chap on his way to Friday prayers. I did not stick around, but I am sure the Palestinian lost the argument. (If there are no more Blogs from me then you know the Israeli intelligence is monitoring this site.) What am I saying? Israeli Intelligence...they are so secret they do not even know what they are doing.

I like this pic of the two Fransicans on the right as we finished the Stations of the Cross down the Via Delorosa. One is carrying a portable loud speaker system and they are both so pleased to escape the thousand pilgrims that they have just led. There is a big statue of St Francis in the background seemingly saying "welcome back boys. You made it...'til next Friday"!

I hope you get some understanding of my trip and especially the Holy Land. It is a mass of contradictions that require loads of PEACE, PRAYER and us to take on a PROJECT that might help what is left of the 2 percent of Christians that are left here. The t-shirt on the left summs up the local sentiment from the Jewish world. How about we do something for the Christians who are still trying to survive here? The Latin Patriarch for Jerusalem says we should keep sending PILGRIMS. Any takers next year?

This page is dedicated to all those who pray and work for peace in the Holy Land, and especially to those Christians who live their lives as true Christians. "Pace e Bene" , as St Francis said.

Back in Jerusalem

After returning to Jerusalem I have been revisiting some sites I went to in February this year. These last few days have also included some new sites which I have found very interesting.

I have started my last days by saying Mass at the Holy Sepulchre: firstly at Calvary and then inside at the Tomb of Christ. Only six people can fit at the tomb and we organised it for 6.00am before the daily pilgrims arrive. This is the most sacred place to Christianity and to say Mass there is a life changing event.                       It gets even better!

 For my 25th Jubilee Year of Priesthood I was asked to say Mass and preach for the entire crowd who came to the Tomb early in the morning, including those priests from around the world who are doing the same Renewal Course as me. I cried twice. (I know: Take a concrete tablet and harden up, I hear you say). All I could think of during the Mass were the events that occurred HERE and the people in my life who have lead me here. I thought of Young, Temora, Cootamundra, Stockinbingal...and even Wombat, Monteagle, Koorawatha and Murringo, not to mention my friends from Navy days and the SLC in Sydney. How blessed am I? Truly, how blessed am I? The pics at the top show the entrance to the Tomb and yes I think I am getting balder and greyer!

The pic above left shows the bronze olive tree in the Cennacle. This is the Upper Room where the sacraments of  Eucharist, the Priesthood and Reconciliation (Confession) were instituted by Christ. Today it is actually a Mosque, but the olive tree represents the three branches of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Amazing! This room is built above the the memorial tomb of King David, the first king of Israel.

I am taking some time now to to be quiet as I am in need of rest while I decide how to get all of this experience to you. Thank you for following me on my journey.

This page is dedicated to those who have loved me, and those who still do. Pace e bene.  

Travelling in the Holy Land 3

My last day in Galilee started with a sunrise boat ride on the sea of Galilee (Tiberius/Genessaret) where we eventually said Mass on the water in the peacefulness. What can I say? Brilliant!

Next we travelled to Mt Tabor where the Transfiguration took place. The Sea of Galilee is 212 metres below sea level and Mt Tabor is 450 meters above the Sea of Galilee...and Jesus walked a lot on both! Honestly, one has to be here to experience the dimensions of these holy places as well as their human history.

At Mt Tabor we spent 3 hours, including a wonderful private luncheon. Yes, we had a glass of red, but I hope that did not effect my photography. The two angels above are from the church, and I was trying once again to be creative with the Blog page. Hope you enjoy.

The pic on the left is the Basilica on top of Mt Tabor and it is truly magnificent. It has three chapels in it: one remembering Moses, one remembering Elijah, and of course the main chapel for Jesus which commemorates constantly the Transfiguration. The pic on the right is trying to give you a view from the inside with the main chapel. I celebrated Mass there in February this year and had to come back. I hope you can see why.

We finished the day at Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world...10,000 years. As you can see by my pic, I decided to leave my mark. From Galilee to Jericho is nearly three hours by bus. It is basically a treeless, rocky desert, except for the newer date palm trees. It must have been so hostile for Jesus to cross with donkey or sandals. It is truly a barren, stony deserted place. This is also where the Temptations of Christ took place...so Jesus went out into a real desert.

Today, sadly, it is also the place of much tension between Israel and Palestine as the new border crosses through here.

I think I will dedicate this page to peace in the Holy Land. I have experienced peace. May they too.

Double click the pic to bigger view it.

Travelling in the Holy Land 2

Since I last had a swim in the Sea of Galilee (Tiberius), which was this morning in case you were wondering, I have had more time on the road in the homeland of Jesus. Today we visited the amazing and beautiful Church of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered by Jesus. It overlooks the Sea of Galilee and Tabgha, where the 'loaves and fishes' occurred. The pic I have included on the right shows the Byzantine floor mosaic recording the event. The first church at Tabgha was built in 313AD, and this original mosaic shows the two fish and four loaves...but there were five loaves I hear you ask! This ancient mosaic tells us Jesus is the fifth loaf as He breaks His body and feeds the world. The rock at the top of the mosaic is the original rock that Jesus used as the table. This site is now a Benedictine Convent. And some people just think we dream this stuff up!

The pic on the left does show the stuff we dream up...wine from Cana. This is the town where Jesus allowed the water to turn to wine at a wedding feast with his Mother: His first miracle.  Check the labels!

We then visited the magnificent Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. This Basilica was opened in 1969 (so is quite modern) and includes mosaics from many countries of the world depicting the Annunciation. Here is also a pic below of Troy and I by the Australian contribution which is up close to the upper church main altar.

This Basilica honouring Our Lady's trust has three levels. The pic on the right shows the below ground grotto where Mary's house was, while the pic on the left is the entrance to the Basilica. We said Mass in the Grotto where you can see the entrance to Mary's original house at the rear.  The grotto pic also shows the three open levels of the Basilica. The excavations here are quite incredible as they have uncovered graffiti which was scratched into the walls of the original 'Mary' house before the first church was built in the 300'sAD. This graffiti scratches the words "Ave Maria" in Greek...hail Mary. This is not dreamt up either.

This page is dedicated to the women in the Church who continue to make a difference to our world...and to those who would like to, but lack the courage, or faith. God bless you all. 

Remember to click the pic to increase it.

Travelling in the Holy Land 1

My retreat has finished, and yes....I passed...I guess. Am I going to become a monk or an Ignatian? All I can say at the moment is that I have to work on what I have, and make what little that may be, a lot. 

We have left Jerusalem for Ein Karem, the birth place of John the Baptist.  We celebrated Mass at the Basilica of the Visitation and that is significant. Why? This is where Mary and her cousin Elizabeth came together and began to live they mystery that their children's destinies were going to alter the course of the world. John the Baptist and Jesus: one who held the sandal that would hold the greatest footprint in the world.

We travelled through to Caesar Maritama where you can see me gently being a proud Aussie in the Mediterranean. This place was one of Herrod the Great's building projects that became the summer residence of the Roman leaders of  Judea. After travelling to Mt Carmel at Haifa we stopped to look at the Ba'hi Gardens which are truly magnificent. They go down seven terraces and embrace the tomb of the founder. The water in the background leads to a view of Lebanon on a clear day.

I am still in in awe that I am in this place where these events occurred and are recorded. I am actually in Jesus' backyard, His playground and His workplace, His homeland. So, I had to also include a little pic of me trying to walk on water in Lake Galilee (known now as the Sea Of Tiberius). It has been 38 degrees here and sweltering. I hope these pics cheer the people of Young and Canberra up as they freeze. This is just my way of saying "Ï am thinking" of you.

The top pic is of Troy and I by Galilee after celebrating mass for our parishes, the Bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians and Religious from the Archdiocese. We are at the Church of the Primacy of Peter where St. Peter received the "Keys" from Christ. This page is dedicated to you.

Remember to double click the pic to enlarge it

The Holy Sepulchre

Managed  another visit to the Holy Sepulchre.

When I say another, I mean I am staying 15mins walk from there and that is where I go for private time. The pics to the left and right are the colonnade and dome at the tomb of Jesus. The pic in the centre below is the rock on which His body was anointed.  This is very special place and I have placed in my prayers all the sick and those who care for them that I am aware of, here.

This is at the entrance to the Holy Sepulchre, so can be busy, but I really feel peace here. I especially like the mosaic of the death, taking down from the Cross, and burial of Our Lord. I include some pics. The mosaic is the gold piece behind the hanging burners, and the Rock of Anointing is the rectangular piece at the bottom of the pic.

So what exactly is the Holy Sepulchre?  In a moment, it is the place of Christ's death, burial and Resurrection. It was originally built by Emperor Constantine, or rather his mother St Helena in 335AD. It has suffered fire, earthquake, wars and deterioration. Today it is maintained and venerated by the Catholic Church under the protection of the Franciscans, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Armenian Orthodox Church. Confusing? Well wait till you visit! Faith passes through all countries Customs' offices.

All three ancient traditions carry on their religious and cultural veneration of this holy site with all the emotion and the piety that belongs to each. For some it may be a bit confronting, but for the  faithful, it is an experience that will not be witnessed anywhere else in the world. I love the chaos. It makes organising the childrens' liturgy look like a day in the park!

This page is dedicated to our Catholic teachers and the parents who support them. I especially remember Michael Philpot and Br Chris Peel CFC, who with their teams pass on the faith in Young.

All is well in Jerusalem

The luggage arrived 40 hours later! So everyone can stop praying to St. Anthony now. Thanks anyway.

Our retreat has begun, but I visited the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) before we started. This visit also involved a trip to the Dome of the Rock, sacred to Jews and Muslims alike.

The Western Wall is all that remains of the Temple Mount which was destroyed by the Romans in 68CE. Before that it was rebuilt by Herod the Great on the site of the First Temple which was built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BCE. Herod the Great's Temple was known as the Second Temple period, and this was the Temple of Jesus' time.

Today, all that remains accessible at the Wall is about 55 meters. There is a further 80 plus meters to the right and some 320 meters to the left which adjoin tunnels. Jerusalem was reunified in in 1967 after the Jordanian occupation of the Old City, and today the Wall is a unique place of prayer, and a symbol of Jewish national unity. It draws all cultures to its embrace and is a very special showcase of Creation at prayer. Looking closely you can see the Prayer notes which have been pushed into the cracks in the Wall.  I prayed for peace, both personal and international here.

The pics I have included are intended to give an overview of the elderly, the young father passing on his traditions, and the young with his own 'beach 'culture, and of course a middle aged Aussie still trying to be young. It seems mobile phone cameras are also popular here, recording the moment I guess. This is not a bad website: http://www.thekotel.org/ .

This page is dedicated to all who work and pray for true peace and unity among all peoples. 

Double click to increase the pic.