The time has finally arrived – this week Father JM and I, along with Deacon Steve, Sister Margaret Tierney, SC from St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish (Spring Lake) and some 40 other pilgrims embark on our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. This is always an awesome experience, and I am happy to share it with a whole new set of pilgrims. Many of the pilgrims are parishioners at St. Benedict.
It was just two years ago that Sister Margaret and I led a pilgrimage there and last year just about this time, Father JM was on pilgrimage with other priests from our diocese. It is really at his urging that we are going this year. I am always happy to go. I was privileged to study in Jerusalem when I was working on my doctorate (1990) and have been on pilgrimages since. Every Christian should avail themselves of the opportunity to go. It is a life-changing and faith-enriching experience like no other.
While we are gone parish life will continue as per normal. Many thanks to Fathers Gregg Abadilla, Thomas Barry, John Butler, Tony Carotenuto, Francis Cheruparampil, Ron Cioffi, Christopher Dayton, Mike Gentile, Jim Grogan, Mark Nillo, Matthew Pfleger, Daniel Price, Rene Pulgarin, and Thomas Vala for filling in in our absence.
We will celebrate Mass each day at a different shrine church and we will remember the parishioners of St. Benedict, and all of our beloved deceased, in Mass each day. We are also aware that there are many special intentions that you would like us to take with us in prayer, so please be assured that we are doing so. As we visit the most holy sites – the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, we will be especially mindful of all of you and your intentions. We ask that you pray for us as well. We also ask your continued prayers for Father Bill Bausch and Deacon Ray Pelkowski as they recover from their illnesses.
In October 2017 I was invested as a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, an ancient equestrian order devoted to the support of the Holy Land and its pilgrimage sites. This is my first visit since then, so it has special meaning for me as well. I am slated to receive a special pilgrimage shell for making a pilgrimage there as a knight.
When we return Lent begins! Although Lent begins a little late this year, it still seems to have come quickly upon us. You will be receiving notice of the many programs and activities we have planned for the season, and we hope that you will be able to participate in many of them.
I intend to write my letter for the weekend of March 3 from the Holy Land, so as to keep you updated as to the progress of our journey.
May the Lord bless all of you with his grace.
Father Garry