A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Caroline Dondlinger, DSHA ‘21 | Jordan River at Jericho (4)

 

We were given the opportunity to renew our baptismal vows in the Jordan River, the site of Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:9-11).It was transformative. My baptism is an occasion I do not remember; therefore, this renewal has allowed me to strengthen and be reborn in faith — with a monumental memory to go with it.

 

Since returning from Israel, when I attend Mass I now have the capability to more fully understand and immerse myself in the readings and the Gospels. I’m able to picture myself walking in the same places, and possibly even on the same stones that Jesus walked on during His lifetime. This has given me the ability to form an unbreakable bond with Him; a bond that would be underdeveloped or possibly even nonexistent had I not been given the incredible opportunity to take part in such an awe-inspiring pilgrimage.

 

Lizzie Klingsporn, DSHA ‘20 | Via Dolorosa (13)

 

The Via Dolorosa was not what I expected, to say the least. The fourteen Stations of the Cross are scattered throughout the busy streets of Jerusalem. They are simply marked with a plaque numbered I-XIV, for example. We accompanied each station with a Scripture reading and a prayer to reflect on Jesus’ Passion (Luke 22-23). Although we were stopped in our tracks every few minutes for these solemn reflections, life moved on around us. The smell of falafel and the sound of cars and bustling people flooded the streets.

 

Little did I know this would be a reflection of my life when I returned home. There isn’t always going to be peace and quiet; we are faced with distractions on a daily basis, but the real challenge is how we deal with these distractions, how we find God within the disturbances. The Via Dolorosa challenged me to center myself with God amidst the chaos.

 

After being home for a few months now, when I hear the Scripture mention any of the sites we visited in the Holy Land, I am reminded to take time out of my busy day, to stop in my tracks, and simply thank God for the opportunity to learn, grow, and prosper.

 

Gracee Dunne, DSHA ‘20 | Church of the Holy Sepulchre (13)

 

At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, I saw a strong devotion to the Catholic faith through the act of veneration — paying respect to and honoring the Saints. When venerating the stone where Jesus’ body was laid, I experienced a life-changing and significant moment. My emotions were contradicting — I was distressed while envisioning Jesus’ Passion and death on the Cross (Matthew 27:45-52), but I also felt joy and hope knowing that He was with me in that moment, and would one day be living among us again.

 

My faith was greatly impacted during the pilgrimage, walking in the actual footsteps of Jesus. Initially, I struggled to comprehend this was literally where our Savior was born, grew up, and was ultimately crucified. It was difficult to wrap my mind around; but as we visited more religious sites, I gained a new and profound sense of appreciation for all that He had done for us. During the Stations of the Cross and our visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, I remember feeling the presence of Jesus walking along with me, and how powerful it felt to be walking in His footsteps.

 

Today, I have a new sense of who I am and how my faith influences my life. I now sit in Mass with a greater understanding of the readings and Gospel, having been to the actual sites where Jesus lived and prayed. A full 75% of Jesus’ ministry was on or around the Sea of Galilee — which we stayed on, sailed on, and swam in. I find myself praying more often for those who are struggling with their faith asking them to accept Jesus in their lives. This pilgrimage was a life-changing event that helped me reaffirm my faith, and I will carry it with me through the rest of my life.

 

Lizzie Dondlinger, DSHA ‘22 | St. Peter’s Church, Jaffa, Tel Aviv (16)

 

At St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa, if you look closely at the ceiling, you will see a Latin phrase that translates to You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church . (Matthew 16:18). This had a profound impact on me in two ways.

 

First, as this was nearing the end of our pilgrimage, these words reminded me why I had come in the first place. This pilgrimage is my rock, my foundation of faith that will never go away. I will remember where the actual Gospels took place, recall the places my theology teacher tells our class about, and most importantly, I feel an even stronger connection in prayer. No matter how many floors of knowledge; floors of doubt or confusion; floors of worry and fear; or floors of joy I add or remove from my personal faith “building,” the foundation will always remain.

 

Second, it helped me remember that even though we all strive to be sinless, God still loves and accepts us when we fail. He chooses Peter as his rock; the same Peter who denied that he knew Jesus. God is not demanding flawlessness from us. He wants us to be part of his Church no matter our past, no matter our faults. Whenever I worry or stress and come up short, I will remember that God still loves me and wants me as a part of his Church.

 

This pilgrimage was a foundation that has truly made my whole faith life real. Now, when praying the rosary, I can picture myself in the mysteries: living, suffering, and rejoicing among Mary, the Apostles, and Jesus.

 

Morgan Casetta, DSHA ‘20 | Sea of Galilee (8)

 

Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water at the Sea of Galilee. While on the boat, I tried to picture what the storm might have looked like. While we were there, the water was so calm that I had trouble imagining it. But Maurice (our tour guide) explained to us how storms form rapidly, and boats are often caught in the middle. I guess this is what happened when Jesus was out fishing with his disciples. Jesus told his friends, “Be not afraid,” and led the way onto the water (Matthew 14:22-27).

 

On the boat, Mr. Pavlovich and I had a discussion about faith. He told me that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear. Fear is something that I (and I think many others) have struggled with. Fear of the future; of disappointing loved ones; and what others think of me. On that boat, I was able to let all of my fears drift away. I realized that true faith in Jesus is trusting that He will take care of me. I should not be afraid because Jesus will always protect me. If Jesus should call me to walk on water with Him, I would follow.

 

After being home for a while, I have realized that I am more able to forget my fears and put my trust in God. I am more confident in myself and in my faith. Without fear, I am able to continue growing in my relationship with God.

 

Ellie Rehmann, DSHA ‘21 | Shroud of Turin (13)

 

The most transformative experience for me during our pilgrimage to Israel was visiting the Shroud of Turin exhibit at our hotel in Jerusalem. I had never heard of this before, but once I learned what it was — a cloth with an imprinted image of a man, believed to be Jesus — something clicked. All I could think was, “Wow, this is all so real.”

 

There has always been a tiny doubt in my mind about my faith, but learning about the Shroud of Turin erased that doubt completely. I realized there, at this little exhibit in a side building of our hotel, that this was such a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It changed the way I view my faith.

 

Leading up to the pilgrimage, I was worried that my faith would not be as strong as everyone else’s, but this exhibit helped me realize that our experience was not simply about having a strong faith life, but it was also about growing and learning about ourselves along the way. I learned that strengthening my faith includes making time for God. I now make more time for God and put Him above other things. I try my best to go to optional Masses at school, and while there, I participate more than I used to. I take my faith so much more seriously now and encourage others to do the same. I feel like an improved version of myself, and I have never felt better.

 

Keely Hyland, DSHA ‘20 | Judean Desert (14)

This journey has greatly strengthened my faith life. The Judean desert — where Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights — reflects the most transformative part of the pilgrimage for me. After being tempted by the devil numerous times Jesus replied, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7).Temptation is all around us; here Jesus teaches us to never give in. He says you should put all of your faith in God, and not test his strength. This sand, where we stood every day, is where Jesus rejected Satan over and over again, displaying his loyalty to God; it was as if that piece of scripture came to life before my very eyes.

 

Over the past few years, my faith has grown exponentially and this pilgrimage only made it stronger. It was one of the best faith-based opportunities we’ve been provided at DSHA. Since the pilgrimage, I pray more often and I act more according to my faith. I am very grateful that our group was able to experience this all together.