PART ONE:
It all started at 5 AM when our alarms went off. We were on the bus by 5:30 heading for the Via Dolorosa to walk the Stations of the Cross. Very moving, tears and experience to remember.
We arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in time for prayer, a short tour of the church and the spectacular private Solemn Mass in front of the Tomb. Afterwards we visited St. Ann’s Church where Mary was born and where Jesus healed the crippled man at the Pools of Bethesda.
PART TWO:
We returned home for lunch, a deeply moving tour of the Holy Shroud Exhibit to culminate our pilgrimage. A free afternoon.
IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL?
Hello Steve Ray here in Israel with an enthusiastic group of pilgrims. All is well. All is quiet. There is no difference here this week than in the months previous. It is very peaceful and delightful here in the Holy Land. The pilgrims all express their joy and safety along the way as we visit the most holy sites in the world.
Unrest in Egypt and Libya and other Middle Eastern countries has no effect whatsoever on the day-to-day life here in Israel. There are over 3.5 million tourists visiting Israel this year. All of them are touring the country without fear or incident. We are glad all of you have signed up to join us on this trip of a lifetime. Don’t let fear or anxiety rob you of this life-changing experience.
See the movie below. Farewells with a lot of video comments about the safety of Israel. I think you will enjoy the candid comments.