Guess what? That's right, another episode of the Pilgrim Cast is ready for listening. I am so glad that I did these recordings. If any of you were like me, there was so much information coming at us that it was sheer overload. So, now, I can listen at my leisure to what George was trying to say to us. I have listened to each of the first two episodes three times each just to hear again what he was saying to us all.

I've been working on all kinds of different logos for the podcast and have landed on the one you see to the left. This is an organic thing. We'll just have to see how it all turns out.

In this episode we begin at the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemene. We’ll learn about the etymology of the name of the garden, how the garden played a role the story of Jesus, the story of Malchus, and hear from the 14th chapter of Mark.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Click here to go to the official web site: www.pilgrimcast.com

Soon, you will be able to subscribe via iTunes.

-Fr. Bill

PILOT EPISODE: Pilgrim Cast #1

Well, it's been now almost two weeks since we arrived back home.  But, no fear, you can re-experience our time by listening to and/or subscribing to the new podcast of our adventures.  Check out the new production, the Pilgrim Cast.  Yes, I know that there have already been seven episodes already, but this official program is focused on the events as they happened when we were moving from one place to another.  Episodes will include the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic, Mass at the Holy Sepulcre, evening prayer at the foot of the cross, and more.

Click here to listen to the latest, the pilot episode, of our time with George our guide. 

In this episode: The Beautiful Gate; Ezekiel 44; The Journey of Jesus down the Mount of Olives; Antonia Fortress; Dominus Flevit; Meaning of a "cup" of sorrow, judgement, and joy.

You can subscribe to the feed by clicking here and adding the feed to iTunes.  

You can also just go to www.pilgrimcast.com to hear the latest episodes as they become available.  I made over 150 separate recordings that I will be combining, so hopefully there will be many episodes from which to remember pilgrimage as well as learn about the thins we either didn't hear or our brains were to full to comprehend.

Soon, you will be able to subscribe directly through iTunes.

Feel free to send me some voice comments by calling my feedback line 503-213-3115. 

-Fr. Bill

Reflections after coming home!

I really thought I'd be posting information and uploading pictures to this blog and our website on a daily basis. The reality was that internet access in Israel is very hard to come by. When we did have it, it was terribly slow - it took about 45 minutes to upload a day's worth of pictures. Once we left Jerusalem there was literally one evening when the computer access was working and you can see by the picture that Fr. Bill drew quite a crowd as he tried to quickly send news back home that we were all safe and continuing on our journey.

Now that we are home, I am sorting pictures and will begin uploading them very soon. We saw so many sights and were constantly given historical information from our guide, George, that I'm sure I'll need help from other pilgrims in identifying places/stories, etc. This trip was a blessing for us all. I especially feel blessed that I was able to be Fr. Bill's "helper" on this journey - an experience I won't soon forget!

Some pilgrims have shared thoughts as we've returned:

WH:
I came home and decided to take a nap.. bad idea. I woke up at 7 pm and tried to go back to sleep. I woke again at 3:30 am and have been awake since. Thus my early morning e-mail. Hey, maybe this will be my big chance to start getting up earlier for my day.
Our pilgrimage was so wonderful! Everyone was so gracious and positive throughout. It was an experience I'll always treasure. Thank you all!!

PT:
What I wish I'd said at the banquet, but probably couldn't have gotten out without getting all choked up, was how much I appreciated our community of pilgrims. What an unexpected gift. When friends & family have asked me "How was your trip?" - I am at a loss to describe the religious experiences and the community of Christians I was with. Thank you all so much!

MS:
I couldn't stay awake past 6:30 pm last evening, and so I awoke at 1:00 am to start my Thursday! I found myself cutting my grapefruit a little differently this morning, and making my oatmeal a little runnier. It was my way of trying to hang on to the past 10 days a little longer, and I reflected how travel to a different place opens us up on many different levels, to have seen and experienced not just different places, but different ways to live, and different ways to perceive things. It was especially true for this pilgrimage.
Thank you all for your contributions to making this a wonderful adventure and a life changing experience.

DW:
I too would like to add my thanks for such a wonderful experience. What I experienced was not what I had expected. The sites seen and knowledge shared and prayers said reaffirm my Christian beliefs. It was pretty special to be standing by the site of the discovery of the dead-sea scrolls and hear a Japanese group singing a Christian song. Or, to be at the loaves and fishes chapel and see the African group praising Jesus.

BOH:
Wow, what an experience
Now I'm back into "America" - kids, Fred Meyer, TV, mail....
I hope that I, and you, can maintain the peace and spirituality we had on this trip - blessings to each of us, and to everyone we encounter!

RB:
I can only echo others about the wonderful experience sprained ankle and all. What a blessing to travel with each of you. My plan was to stay up until 9 PM last night. At about 5 I realized I was running a low fever. The cold has me thightly in it's grip this morning. I have a good excuse to spend the day in my pj's.

DP:
I just returned back from the Dr’s with a sack full of medications. I have an ear infection and a pretty good case of bronchitis on the verge of pneumonia. As I walked through Fred Meyer, I kept thinking I saw some you and realized I was home. As I went to sleep last night, I imagined myself walking down the steps from Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane and before I finished the journey I was asleep!

There are so many memories, new friendships and certainly a wider view of the world in which we live. Mass and reading the scriptures will never be perceived the same way again.

I want to, also, thank all of you for the encouragement and fellowship as we journeyed together. I feel blessed to have journeyed with you and will keep you all in my prayers.

I suspect the impact hasn’t been fully realized yet as we take the next few days to slowly digest all we’ve seen and learned.

May God bless you with rest, improved health and an unquenchable desire to be Jesus’ light in a dark world.

LW:
We tried to stay up till 9pm but kept nodding of while we attempted to watch tv. I was up at 3 and was craving my morning olives and pickles. Steve was able to sleep till 7 but both of us are a bit draggy today. We are so glad that we made this journey with all of you; it was such a wonderful experience.

SB:
I to tried to stay up late and made it to about 10PM, then I woke up at 3:30 and have been going strong since. At mass this morning Fa. Juan's homily made me immediately think of some people we encountered though out the holy lands, but realized who we really need to response to the person next door.

JR:
Thanking all of you for sharing your Holy Land experience with us. What an amazing thing it was to walk where Jesus walked and taught. As the days slip by, we'll realize more and more the impact that will have on our lives. Thank you for welcoming us into the St. Anthony's group. You're all so lovely. We hope we meet again.

God Bless You All!
Diana

PilgrimCast #7

In this episode: Mass at the Mt. of Beatitudes; Caesarea Philipi; View of Syria; Capernaum

This is the last set of interviews from our pilgrimage.  Keep checking www.pilgrimcast.com for recordings during our pilgrimage from me and our official guide.

Click here to listen to this episode.

PilgrimCast #6

In this episode: Problems recording; Dropping like flies; Pasta & eggs; A rooster at St. Peter's; Bet She'an; Renewal of baptismal vows; Snow storm; Preview of things to come.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Good to be Home!

We're home! The flight was long. I think some of us slept during the ride over the pond. However, my non-scientific poll demonstrated that most didn't sleep much. Frankfurt Airport cracks me up. I think from the point of leaving the plane to actually getting on the connecting flight (we walked, took several escalators, two bus/tram rides, and walked some more), we circled the entire complex. The plane was ready to take off and was waiting for us. It was a very smooth flight. I took along some noise canceling headphones. Wow! I truly recommend them for air travel. On our last leg home, a baby cried and screamed for quite some time. I felt bad for the parent. But, as soon as I put on my headphones connected to my iPod, I didn't hardly hear the little one again.

A few more folks came down with the yuckies in the last two days. I waited until the last night to get a sore throat and beginning of a cold. The flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt was about 3.5 hrs and the flight across the pond through Canada to Portland was 10 hrs.

The weather storm that was predicted never materialized in the magnitude they expected. Although Jerusalem received some snow, it wasn't the hit that was forecasted.

I'm pooped out. Although I slept some in the plane, I am going to take a nap. But, my plan is to stay up as late as I can handle in order to re-adjust my inner clock to this time zone. As of this writing, it is 1 am on Thursday in Jerusalem, way past my bed time... sort of.

We will be planning a large group presentation for the parish as well as a reunion in the coming month. I will be investing some time in preparing the audio recordings I've done while on pilgrimage. I have well over 100 audio recordings about our experience and information about the sites. I have purchased the domain www.pilgrimcast.com and will eventually be editing these audio files into some order as a podcast which will be accessible via that address and iTunes. I'll make a post to let you know when it is up and running.

Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragment. It has been an awesome experience. That's enough for now. I can hear my pillow beckoning.... Zzzzz.....

-Fr. Bill

PilgrimCast #5

In this Episode: Masada; Dead Sea; More on the Holy Sepulcre; more

Click here to listen to latest episode.

PilgrimCast #4

In this Episode: Mass at the Holy Sepulcre; Weather; International Food; Stations of the Cross; Weather; Snow; Comments on blog; Agenda to come.

Click here to listen to this entry.

Winter Weather

Tonight, the Middle East is expecting a winter storm. Thee weeks ago there was snow in Jerusalem. This time around they are saying that snow is likely to hit Tel Aviv which is very unusual. Here in Galilee there will be rain... lots 'o rain. In act, the repots are saying the the Sea of Gaililee will rise 3 ft! Wow! We'll see. Our plans shouldn't be effected by this other than getting really wet... like Oregon.

Tomorow, we have Mass at Tabgha, the place where the Church commemorates the multiplication of loaves and fish. I love this place.

-Fr. Bill

Last Day in Tiberias

Well, it's been a few days since anyone has posted. Sorry about that. It's because the hotel we're at has had it's internet connection down until now. It's not likely we'll be able to put a podacast out, but, I've been recording reflections every morning. In addition, I have over 100 other recording detailing the places we've been.

We've celebrated Mass at the Mount o Beatitudes with Fr. Don and I celebrated Mass today at the Bascilica of the Annunciation. Tomorrow, we celebrate at Tabgha, the location memorializing the multiplication of loaves and fish.

Those pilgims who were sick are now getting better while others are now coming down with the cold. Ah, community! I'm going to wash my hands immediately after typing this on the hotel computer. Just never know!

Thanks for all your comments. We truly appreciate them. We'll have literally thousands of photos to share when we return.

Today we went to Mt. Tabor and visted the site of the Transifiguration of Christ. We also went to Cana. There, the couples who were able (some were missing spouses due to sickness) renew their wedding vows.

-F. Bill

Floating on the Dead Sea

Today, we celebrated Mass at the Church of All Nations and reflected upon the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Deacon Leo served with me. Just in front of the altar was an uncovered piece of rock, traditionally considered the place of Jesus' prayer in agony to his Father. The pilgrims surrounded the altar. The echo was temendous in the church. The windows in the church are covered with alabaster which shown through, though dimly.

After Mass, we traveled to Masada. Peggy was the lone pilgrim to actually climb the mountain. It took her forty-three minutes flat. Pretty good, eh? But, she didn't beat my challenge of thirty minutes which would have been a near sprint. Nothing like a little challenge to motivate the pilgrims! :) Honestly, I'm proud of her as this was a life-long goal for her. You go, Peggy! The rest of us polgrims took the tram. Wee! Two of our pilgrims were rather scared of the tram ride, but still took it and conquered their fears. You go, pilgrims!

Next, we jumped back on the bus and headed for Qumran, the site of the discovery of the dead Sea Scrolls. We all had lunch. Later, I mischieveously reminded us that it was a Friday in Lent! Of course, that was only after buying the turkey pasta dish myself and being reminded by a much holier pilgrim that it was Friday. And yes, turkey is still considered a meat. What to do? What to do? So, I simply decided, again after pulling a sufficient guilt trip upon the pilgrims on the bus after lunch, that I was going to grant them a dispensation for that day. Afterall, it was still Thursday in Oregon, no?

Okay. Back to Qumran. We toured the remains of the Essenes living quarters and learned about their ways. Yesterday, we had gone to the Shrine of the Book where the scrolls are one display.

Then, to the joy of all, we headed for the Dead Sea for some holy floating. The water is 30% salt content along with other chemicals that I cannot prounce... sulfuric something something and magnesium something something. Oh yeah, there was lot o tar. The pictures are priceless of us floating and rubbing mud on our beautiful bodies. I feel so much younger right now.

After that, we all returned to the hotel. Tomorrow we leave for Galilee and new hotel. I took another evening stroll to the Holy Sepulchre and almost bought some icon before I chickened out... I hate to shop. That is unless it is for computer stuff! Oh yeah, I so miss my computer. But, it is a pilgrimage and I am supposed to suffer some.

Tonight is the beginning of the Sabbath and all of the computers in the lobby have been shut down. But, WiFi works, so I borrowing a computer to type this. Did I say already that I miss my computer? Hey, if you see my dog, give her a hug. I miss her too.

This coming Sunday, Jerusalem is expecting snow! Can you believe it? I thought we left Oregon to go to the warmer weather.

That's enough for now. It's time to pack my suitcases. I don't know if there will be computer/internet access in our next hotel, so please be patient if this turns out to be the last entry for several days. But, please go ahead and post your comments at will. The more the merrier. In fact, the more you post, the more we feel loved. It make us feel that you haven't forgotten about us. Be sure that we have been praying for all of you each morning at Mass.

Shalom,
Fr. Bill

Tired Pilgrims

As the days go on, more and more pilgrims are beginning to feel the strews of walking and walking and walking. However, the places we've seen and visited have been awe inspiring. Our youngest pilgrim is slowly getting over food poisening from the plane flight over. Another is well on the way to healing from a sprain caused by uneven cobblestones... and rain.

Today is Friday which means that the Sabbath will begin this evening. Thus, many of our services (aka internet connection here at the hotel) are likely to be stopped until Saturday evening. Don't worry if there is a lag in our postings.

Yesterday's Mass at the tomb of Jesus was so incredible that I struggle to describe it. It will certainly be one of the most memorable events for me. Mass, in general, has been a real bonding thing for us all. Today we are going to celebrate Mass at the Church of All Nations. Afterwards we go to Masada and then float in the Dead Sea.

My body is slowly getting aclamated to the time zone. I even slep until the wake up call.

Just loving being here as are the pilgrims.


-Fr. Bill

New Photos posted

I posted some new photos from some of the places we visited.

http://www.stanthonysforestgrove.org/HolyLandPilgrimage/HolyLandPhotos/HolyLandPhotos.htm

Dave

PilgrimCast #3

After two days out and about, let's get some feedback.

Press here to listen directly to the lastest podcast.

-Fr. Bill

Jerusalem

We’re here in Jerusalem.  We have a day and a half to go before departing for Sea of Galilee.  In our time here so far, we have been to; The Mt. of Olives, The City of David, The Pool of Siloam, The Way of the Cross, the Upper Room (where Jesus had the last supper), and the highlight was celebrating the mass at the Holy Tomb at the Holy Sepulcher. 

 

Dave

 

 

PilgrimCast #2

Well, day one of our journey in the Holy Land is complete.

Click here to listen to feedback from our pilgrims.

-Fr. Bill

PilgrimCast #1

Here's some audio reflections at breakfast today.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

-Fr. Bill