I will never forget the sad eyes of a 10-year-old boy in Bethlehem. He was following our 21 pilgrims together with some friends selling shawls and wallets. In every pilgrimage, I constantly remind our fellow pilgrims: NO SHOPPING! I do not want our wasting precious spiritual time by being continually harassed at every street corner... I noticed that the 10-year-old boy was staying close to me...He was holding a sheep on his frail shoulders ...and suddenly, he put his sheep on my shoulders and shouted...
It is good to be back home REJUVENATED! The 21 pilgrims of our parish who went to the Holy Land truly experienced the HOLY SPIRIT AND THE JOY of THE RISEN LORD! The pilgrimage was a great celebration of the JOY OF THE EASTER SEASON! We left Waldorf tired and worried on EASTER Tuesday ....but as soon as we arrived in the Holy Land within the beautiful Octave of Easter, the HOLY SPIRIT took over and YES we became OVERJOYED! We celebrated Mass together every day and many times the readings of the day referred to the exact places we were visiting! WOW!!! Every day we were truly "OVERCOME WITH PASCHAL JOY" as concluded in every one of the five Prefaces of the Easter Season: "Therefore, OVERCOME WITH PASCHAL JOY, every land, every people EXULTS IN YOUR PRAISE ..." Upon our return,...