Ahuv Sheli

Excited and tired after long hours in the plane and immigration ... we left Tel-Aviv Airport and proceeded to Magdala where Jesus had His public ministry reflected inside the chapels of  DUC IN ALTUM. Duc in Altum Our visit to this church poses a very significant invitation to lower down our 'nets' and 'put out into the deep...' While it has a variety of meaning, the Lord's personal invitation to me was to unload my burden, cast my doubts and let go of my knowing... to unlearn things I knew of Him so He could meet me where I am now in my personal journey .  He could have allowed a theologian to explore the depths of the Lord's mystery in this sacred place, He instead chose a simple servant to guide us throughout our pilgrimage.  The Boat Chapel I had several boat rides in the past, but this sight of the Boat Chapel mesmerized me. We were finally, finally in the Lord's place! We celebrated our first Mass here and the Lord's Resurrectio...

It has always been a challenge (for me) to be with a group of people, i.e., community, and I will be immersed with one for several days during the pilgrimage...  The Lord called them pilgrims, shepherds, flocks, sisters, companions in the journey.   Although our motives vary, our goal was direct and simple... to experience Jesus in the pilgrimage. 12th December 2019 Orientation We were given our kits before Mass and Introduction to The Pilgrim's Center. There we already met our pilgrim Chaplain, Fr. Lucas and pilgrim guide, Monty. And it was also there that I met my roommate, Shepherds and flock mates. While the microphone was passed around, I checked their faces and tried to recall each one of them by their names in the directory. I'm lost ... were my first words at The Pilgrim's Center. where is God leading me? It was Tita Rose who greeted me in the washroom and led me to the orientation room. I met Jean who gave me the kit. I sat beside ...

We were asked several times by our pilgrim guide our reason for having wanting a pilgrimage and each time it was asked, I had to purify my intentions. You see, “ I ” had everything smoothed out as early as May. I had my reservations for a 10-day Christmas Pilgrimage at The Pilgrim's Center with Fr. Arnie Boehme and have informed my colleague that I will be out of office by December 18. I wanted to be with my family by December 28 and spend time with my sister who flew from Japan. I have asked several friends and a cousin to join me so I need not worry about a roommate… Little did I know that God has His own plans for me . The first strike , I was asked if I agree to join the 11-day Christmas Pilgrimage with Fr. Francis Lucas instead (that leaves only a half-day with Tin) because we were short of pilgrims on the 18 th . I acquiesced without questions. My mind was set not to postpone Israel. The second strike , the mobile phone I wrote on my form was incorrect and I...