Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, Thou city ever blest!


(artwork by Sue Leo)
Stella Davis led a group of CWIA members on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel on a spiritual pilgrimage in July 2018. Father David was our Spiritual Director.
 
This writer has sat down to write a summary of our pilgrimage on numerous occasions, but overwhelmed by the abundant and powerful memories and blessings, my fingers so used to writing just wouldn’t budge! To think, we journeyed to the place where Abraham offered Isaac, and where Jesus offered Himself - for me and for you. Words fail to encompass the true magnitude of each experience.
 
Our group was joined by two couples (from Texas and Maryland) and another pilgrim from Massachusetts. Although we met as strangers, we were very soon a tight-knit family. Most of the group traveled via Air France with a layover in Paris, but the out-of-towners met up with the group at the Dan Panorama hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel, where we enjoyed scrumptious all-you-can-eat meals. The food was fresh, with bountiful main courses of salads based with shredded red and white cabbage, dates, veggies, homemade hummus, yogurts, olives, cheeses, etc. Succulent fish and meats were also available, but not as the main course, unlike us Americans where the meats are the main course with veggies as extra. Indeed the food was a-ma-zing the entire trip and will not soon be forgotten!
 
We traveled through Israel and Palestine by a comfortable air-conditioned bus with expert driver, and were aided by one of the most sought after tour guides in Israel. It makes such a difference when your tour guide is Christian – adds an unquestionable spirituality and adds to the nature of the pilgrimage, vs. just touring the famous sites.
 
Our tour guide took us “through the Bible”, and we were led from the Old Testament through the New Testament at Calvary. Our first stop was in Caesarea, Judea where we sat in an ancient amphitheater, and toured the grounds of the ancient naval port that King Herod built, and peeked down into the cell where St. Paul was bound. We then journeyed to Haifa and visited the cave where Elijah lived, and then to Nazareth to see the home of the Holy Family. Our tour guide explained that since wood was scarce in the Nazareth area, it’s most likely that Joseph was not a carpenter as we know it, but instead worked with marble.
 
We transferred hotels from Tel Aviv to Tiberias. The next day we had a most enjoyable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Traveling by boat on the same waters that Jesus and the Apostles traveled filled us with such peace and reverence and joy, especially when we saw from afar and then visited the lands where Jesus performed most of His miracles, such as the multiplication of the loaves and fish. The couples on our trip had a special marriage blessing at the church where Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding feast. We also were blessed to see the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus taught, the home of Peter, and the home of Mary of Magdala – and this was just Day 4!
 
The next day we were off to the desert to see the wilderness where Jesus was tempted for 40 days and nights. A hot dry desert place where we couldn’t imagine one day in the sun, much less 40. Next was Jericho where the walls came "tumblin down", and which declares itself to be the oldest inhabited city in the world. Here some members of our group rode kissing camels. We celebrated Mass at the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah. A visit to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized ended our day and we traveled to our new hotel in Jerusalem, owned by the Vatican. It was more of a palace than a hotel, with a magnificent view of all of Jerusalem. Here we enjoyed superb meals at our own private space outside on the veranda, with dedicated waiters and servers.
 
There are too many sites that we visited to mention, but the ones coming to mind are the birthplace of St. John the Baptist, the shepherds fields in Bethlehem, the tomb in Bethany where Lazarus was raised from the dead, the Wailing Wall, the Via de la Rosa where we carried the cross and traced the steps of Jesus, and the Upper Room where Jesus and the apostles celebrated the last Supper and where an angelic visitation stopped us from being noticed when Stella prayed over us. Father David, our spiritual director, celebrated Mass for our little group every day. Our tour guide, with his connections, and with God’s grace, managed to procure the most sacred and holiest of places for private Masses, such as the place where Jesus was born, on the rock of agony where Jesus prayed and sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. My eyes still water when I think of this. Calvary is the holiest place in the world, where Jesus suffered, bled and died so we can be free. And we received the body, blood soul and divinity of Jesus at the very spot where His body laid.
 
My mere words could never begin to describe our experiences on this Holy Land pilgrimage. Outside of the many spiritual blessings we received, the friendships gained are invaluable.

We thank 206Tours for putting together such an unforgettable pilgrimage.

Most of all, thank you Jesus for allowing us to visit Your hometown and walk in Your footsteps.
 

In July 2017 CWIA led a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sixteen pilgrims left from Dulles International Airport, hailing from Virginia, Massachusetts, Texas, Tennessee and Guatemala. Our journey was long, but we were full of anticipation.  The long travel time was quickly forgotten once we unpacked and settled in our hotel rooms, which was literally right across the street from the famed St. James Church - the center or hub, where many apparitions of Our Blessed Lady took place. This was such a blessing because we could go there as often as we wanted, and we certainly did!

This trip was a pilgrimage for sure, but the accommodations and the food were absolutely amazing!  The CWIA group took up a whole floor of our hotel, which was fun. When it was meal-time, we all went downstairs to our private dining room where we had our own dedicated chef and waiters! As I said, the food was fantastic! Plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, the most succulent entrées, and every night an enticing desert. I’m still craving the baguettes with olive oil and balsamic vinegar!

One day we traveled to Dubrovnik, a beautiful city nestled between mountains and right along the Adriatic Sea. This place was amazing. It was built in the 1500s and had the old town charm with its massive stone walls. We enjoyed strolling through the town and souvenir shopping. We also had a relaxing boat ride along the coast. Our lunch was fantastic! We had a private meal at a restaurant where the owner was there to explain and entice us with the local delicacies. Most of us tried something different, like the black risotto. I must admit, once I got the nerve to try it, I was hooked! The highlight of the day though was our private Mass at the Church of St. Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, where we all had our throats blessed! 

We were very blessed to have two priests traveling with us. So, in addition to the daily morning Masses at St. James, we had the awesome opportunity to have them celebrate private Masses for us at various Catholic sites. One memorable location was the church of St. Benedict, where, after Mass and during the exposition of the Host, there was a healing service, and where many graces were given, such as Stella seeing Jesus standing right beside us as she prayed for us. Another very memorable location for Mass was at the chapel in Surmanci that housed the original Miraculous Image of Divine Mercy. It is said that Jesus manifested and came out of the painting to instantly heal a man who’d been sick all of his life. In addition to this life-sized painting, this chapel is home to first-class relics of St. Faustina and St. John Paul II, which we were allowed to venerate. This was quite a grace.

In Medjugorje, we climbed Apparition Hill, where the Blessed Mother appeared to the six visionaries. Some climbed the mountain barefoot. There was such peace at the spot where now is a statue of Our Lady, which overlooks the town.  Visionary Evan led his prayer group to this spot, and gave a summary of some of Our Lady’s past messages. Some of us also climbed Cross Mountain, a more difficult climb, but all the more worth it. At the top stood an almost 30-foot cross, erected by a people on the 1900 ^th anniversary of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during times of great difficulty, as a declaration of their faith. The words inscribed on the cross are: "To Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the human race, as a sign of their faith, love and hope, the pastor… and the parish of Medjugorje erected this cross. From every evil deliver us, O Jesus." The cross contains an actual piece of the original cross embedded within. Some pilgrims climbed Cross Mountain barefoot as well, including Father David whose foot was deeply punctured at the base of the mountain before he began his climb, but who fought through and made it to the very top.

We spent much of our time at St. James church, attending Mass, going to confession at the dozens of outdoor confessionals in almost every language, saying the Holy Rosary with thousands of others at the outdoor shrine behind the church, reflecting at the at the outdoor Stations of the Cross, and praying at the Risen Christ statue nearby. All your intentions that were placed in the CWIA basket were brought with us to Medjugorje, and when we prayed for them at the Risen Christ statue, we received a word from God that one person whose prayer intention was in the bag was at that moment being healed of cancer!  If that person is you, please let us know who you are! We’d love to celebrate with you.

Our time in Medjugorje was blessed, and we experienced many miracles and favors during our time there. Right after one of the outdoor rosaries at the church, we actually saw the miracle of the sun!

Another amazing miracle was that our little group was invited to visionary Evan’s private chapel, and we were right there beside him when the Blessed Mother appeared to him!!! This was such an extraordinary grace for us! Our Lady prayed for our two priests, and for each person in our little group. We placed and left all of your intentions in the basket - right where Our Lady appeared. We certainly did not take that visit for granted! Thousands and thousands come to Medjugorje to be blessed by walking in the same places where Our Lady is said to have appeared, and here we were right in the presence of Our Blessed Lady! Words cannot express…

It is said that Medjugorje is not a place, it is an event. We weary pilgrims certainly experienced the peace of Christ and Our Lady, and left with our hearts full. We know we’ll go back one day, as we all left with a longing and yearning to return. Our cups runneth over. Thank You Lord for calling us there, for traveling mercies, and for opening our hearts to receive the still-coming graces we’ll be receiving here at home.

We thank the team of 206 Tours for doing such an outstanding job, and for putting together the CWIA package so beautifully. 

Our Lady of Medjugorje, thank you for an unforgettable trip, and for bringing us together as family. Hope to see you again soon!