Now that the 33 of us returned home safely from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I thank you for your prayers during our journey and remind you that we prayed for you as well. Our experience to the many sacred sites we visited will no doubt remain with us always and help us to better appreciate the places, events and stories of the scriptures that we hear each week. I will be anxious to share with you some of the things we learned and am sure that Deacon Pat will do the same in his preaching. For the sake of those who do not use Instagram, I will be posting pictures on our website so that you can see where we were and what we saw.                                    

     In last week’s bulletin, I mentioned a number of places we had visited up to the day I wrote the column. I would have to say that the climax of our visits took place on the last full day in Israel when we walked the stations of the cross, following the path Jesus took as he carried his cross through the streets to the place of his death on Calvary. We entered the church where we saw and touched the rock which held the cross of Jesus in place, and which in turn split from the earthquake that the gospels mention at the time of Jesus’ death. When we entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, we saw the stone where the body of Jesus was laid when it was taken down from the cross, in order that the body may be anointed with oil and wrapped in a linen cloth in preparation for its burial. But then we entered the place in the church where the tomb of Jesus was, though it was covered with a very large monument. We then entered a small room inside this monument, where we began the celebration of Mass. It’s hard to describe (but again I hope to show you pictures). It is a small space where all 33 of us gathered closely together as I began the celebration of Mass. At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, I then had to duck down to enter a very small room large enough for only 3 people to stand at a time. It was there that I placed the chalice on the altar which covered the tomb of Jesus…the place where he was buried and from which he was raised from the dead. I believe we were all struck by the importance of this particular church, where the most important event of all human history took place. Though there was only room enough for myself to stand at the altar to celebrate Mass there, a couple of people from our group came in one by one in order to touch the tomb as I continued the prayers of the Mass. This was undoubtedly the most memorable moment of our pilgrimage and one that I will remember over & over, especially as I celebrate Easter each year, and indeed, each day for every Mass is really a “little Easter” as we remember the death and resurrection of the Lord. Again, the whole experience was life-changing, and we can only hope and pray that it does indeed continue to influence the way we live our lives of faith. 
     This Friday, June 10th, I will be celebrating a Memorial Mass for Carol Philips, a parishioner from St. Leo’s who died last November 3, 2021. She had been married to Al who died about 10 years ago & they were married for almost 50 years. If you knew Carol, you are welcomed & encouraged to attend this Memorial Mass for her & we ask for your prayers for her & her husband.                                   

     I received a voicemail from the Diocese letting me know that once again we hit the goal set for us for the 2022 Catholic Charities Appeal so I thank you for your generosity to those in need who will be served through this important ministry. Again I thank you as well for your continued donations to our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry which allows us to give food to those who are especially suffering from the current economic situation in our country.