Thursday March 2, 2023

Update: Mar 2, 11:45 PM. Jerusalem, Israel

(Photos and Videos below)

Our Heights Pilgrims departed the Greek Patriarch in high spirits, through the various quarters of Jerusalem in route to the Western Wall. Also known as the Wailing Wall, this is the most sacred site in the world for the Jewish people. The boys spent time here, praying and placing their petitions into the wall.

After bidding farewell to the Western Wall, the group proceeded through a stiff security detail to enter the 3000 year-old Temple Mount, the site of the Muslim shrine known as the Dome of the Rock. The Temple Mount stands in the very place where the former Jewish Temple once stood. It is the site of much tension in the Holy City. For thousands of years the site has been considered a holy site by Jews, Christians and Muslims, and each of these groups vigorously asserts some claim to the holy ground.

Our travelers then passed the closed Golden Gate and exited through St. Stephens gate entering St. Anne’s Church, the most well-preserved Crusader church in Jerusalem. According to a long-standing tradition, St. Anne’s marks the place where the home of Jesus’ grandparents once stood. Many believe that St. Anne and St. Joachim dwelled here long ago, and that this is in fact the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. It is a tradition for pilgrims to sing resounding hymns in this church. The Heights chorus / A Capella members did so, giving voice to a beautiful selection of sacred music, much to the delight of pious onlookers.

It was now time to walk in the footsteps of Jesus on the famous Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows. The Stations of the Cross). The group began walking the narrow passages past the marketplace, much like Christ on Good Friday, stopping at each station to recite the Way of the Cross prayers. They eventually worked their way back to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to Calvary where Our
Lord was crucified.

The bus was then boarded for a fabulous lunch at the Christmas Hotel. The boys took to the road once more, traveling a short distance, before disembarking for a stroll through the ancient olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane featuring a 2000 year old olive tree. Upon their entrance to the darkened Church of All Nations, the boys were deeply moved by the stone where Our Lord prayed and wept before His arrest. Father Diego had the privilege of celebrating the Holy Mass for the group in front of the stone on the main altar.

Returning to the Mount of Olive’s area, the group found themselves at the site of the Ascension of Our Lord, from which they walked to the Carmelite Church of Pater Noster. This church marks the site where Jesus taught His disciples the Our Father. The walls of the church feature the Our Father translated into 140 languages.

After a brief stop for some scenic photos looking over the Holy City the group headed to the teardrop Church of Dominus Flevit. This stunning small church features a panoramic view of the Holy City of Jerusalem. This holy site recalls where Jesus wept over Jerusalem on Palm Sunday as he prophesied its future destruction.

The end of the day featured a special farewell dinner in Bethlehem at the Tent Restaurant featuring an amazing feast of middle eastern delights!

Tomorrow the boys will begin Friday of Lent with Holy Mass on Calvary at 7:15 AM in the Holy Sepulchre Church.