26 All Hallows Rd, Bispham , Blackpool FY2 0AS .Tel .no. 01253 352587 E mail: subirous@fsmail.net frstevepearson@hotmail.com
Holy Land 2010
Parish Priest:Fr Stephen Pearson Assistant Priest: Fr Andrew Allman
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land : Some thoughts. Thank God it went well!!! After all the arrangements and planning, and everyone gathering in time for a 5am set off to Manchester Airport (which meant a 3.30/4am alarm call...yes it does exist!!!) for a 10am flight ...all the arrangements went very smoothly. As pilgrims our two parish groups (the other group being from Our Lady & St Oswald in Oswestry) gelled very well, and we shared all the blessings, prayer and camaraderie of a pilgrim people. Yes there were some details which needed ironing out at the last minute...but that happens in any sphere of human activity. There was a real sense of being together with The Lord through our prayer and through our togetherness. I think the personal highlights for me were: 1)Walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem (upon which our 15 stations of the Cross in church are based) through the hustle and bustle of everyday life...ending up in the church of Holy Sepulchre. 2) Offering Mass at the church of Gethsemane, in front of the big rock on which The Lord became at one with the will of The Father. It was a special time of grace and we remembered all our parishioners in our daily prayers.
Holy Land Pilgrim’s Progress: 2nd Chapter ...by Pat Gregory
The pilgrimage to the Holy Land has left me with many memories of people, places and emotions. Each day took us to sites central to the life of Our Lord and each day was crowned by mass at one of these sites.
It is a land of contrasts – the peace and tranquillity of a morning sail on the sea of Galilee where the fishermen cast their nets and we enjoyed the warm sunshine whilst singing hymns. In Jerusalem we followed the Stations along the Via Dolorosa, the traditional route Jesus followed when carrying his cross through the narrow cobbled streets of Old Jerusalem, but instead of Roman soldiers today there were Israeli soldiers carrying modern sten guns. The greatest contrast is entry into Bethlehem which is now surrounded by a Berlin type wall. This really brought it home to me the need for continued prayers in the Middle East. However, this was an enjoyable holiday. A time of prayer, singing, laughter and friendship, with comfortable hotels and good food.
Holy Land Pilgrim’s Progress: 3rd Chapter ...by Joan Dean So many memories, but the one that will stay with me is the visit to Mount Tabor (the mountain of the Transfiguration.) Thankfully we didn‟t have to climb the mountain (150 feet above the biblical plain of Esdraelon.) We were conveyed up the hairpin bends in taxis. When we went into the Basilica, there was a group of young people from the Far East, who were singing a hymn to the Lord. It was beautiful and moving, and although we didn‟t have a vision of Moses and Elijah, the words of St. Peter could be echoed when he said to Jesus, “It is wonderful for us to be here” and so it was.
Holy Land “Pilgrims (slightly off track) Progress” Chapter 4.
by Dave Wright. From the time we landed in Israel the sky was a royal blue and not a cloud in sight and so it was for the days we were there. Many hundreds of memories come to mind. Walking through the bazaars, being stunned into silence over the many wonders that litter the country. Which one to choose?....the view from the Mount of Olives down to the old City of Jerusalem
was spectacular; over looking the thousands of Jewish, Muslim and Christian graves in the Kidron Valley, where it is believed the dead of the faithful, (of the 3 faiths) will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement; walking down from the Mount through hundreds of olive trees...you could understand why Jesus used this mount as a favourite retreat place. In the heat of the day, the shade would make the heat more bearable. Taking this side road in between the groves led us straight to the “Lions Gate” one of the few entrances into the Old City, (which is near to the start of the Via Dolorosa, the route where Christ struggled with his cross towards Calvary). This Gate and the entire city wall standing now was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538. The original gate of the Old City which Jesus would have known, is also known as St Stephens Gate, where it is thought that St Stephen was stoned to death. Ironically just inside this gate is the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. Now when we hear certain passages from the New Testament we can say, “Been there, seen it, got the t-shirt” !
Holy Land “Pilgrims Progress” Chapter 5
by Julia Rice, Bernadette Hayes and Maria Finlay. Our fellow pilgrims have mentioned many highlights of our trip, triggering fond memories for all of us. We also wish to share some special moments: Our first Mass, offered at the site of the home of Peter’s mother in law, in Capaernum. We sat in a semi-circle around the altar, with wonderful views of the fields, olive and palm trees ,bougainvillea and birds singing. A kitten came and sat with us. It was so peaceful and emotional and brought home to us that we were really journeying in the footsteps of Jesus. After three wonderful days in Galilee we travelled down to Jerusalem via Masada. This area is barren but breathtaking, so different from Galilee. We reached the top by cable car. We felt very sad thinking about the Jewish people who thought it better to die by their own hand rather than be prisoners of the Romans. Then down below sea level, where we relaxed and laughed by the Dead sea. We entered Jerusalem after dark singing together an emotional “Jerusalem". A special moment was when we looked down on the panorama of Jerusalem from the roof of the Austrian Hospice. In contrast. we sat by the roadside in the Old City and watched the world go by: such a heady mix, orthodox Jews soberly dressed in black, Arabs in colourful flowing robes, African women carrying their wares on their head, and even Japanese pilgrims carrying the cross, all being observed by armed Israeli soldiers!! So many emotions and such a memorable experience.