Galilee

Druse breadmaking, pomegranates, Kursi, weapons made into sculpture, signs on the mountain top, St Peter's fish, Mass at Caesarea Philippi, Mass at Sea of Galilee, closed swimming pool, Macdonalds!, Caesarea Maritima, Jaffa, bride
Wednesday November 19th. At Kursi we saw the 5th century monastic church and an oil press. There is a fine mosaic of birds and baskets of fruit. It is from the carob seed that we get the weight of a carob. Sister Monica was invited to turn a large metal object which left a message in the sand! This site is near where the Gadarene swine ran into the lake. On this day Shimon Perez was knighted and we passed the Perez centre for peace on the way to the Golan heights on the Syrian border. From Mount Herizim we were able to explore the old fortifications and look out over Syria and Lebanon. Parties of school children are accompanied by armed guards. The Druse are famously courageous with no fear of death and they trace their faith back to Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses. They have great respect for women and believe in one God and immediate reincarnation. At a Druse village we bought pomegranate jam and syrup and bread to be used later at Mass at Caesarea Philippi below Mount Hermon.
We enjoyed a lunch of St Peter's fish. We passed the spring of the Jordan river at Dan kibbutz and visited Domus Galilae where 25 students of the Neo-Catechumenate Way study. We were intrigued to see the Word kept with the Blessed Sacrament and in the library the Torah and Bible displayed together.
On Thursday November 20th our pilgrimage ended with a final Mass overlooking the Sea of Galilee. I sang the psalm "Go out to the whole world".We then had a long drive to Caesarea Maritima which has a fine hippodrome and reconstructed theatre overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We visited St Peter's church, Jaffa and saw lots of brides being photographed! And so we flew home from Tel Aviv on the Friday after a wonderful experience!
The liturgies throughout the journey were enhanced by a booklet containing great hymns and the use of psalm and Mass settings by the late Dom Alan Rees and a Gregorian chant setting. These were familiar to those who attend Belmont Abbey liturgies and easy to learn. We were blessed by wonderful homilies from Dom Brendan Thomas. Deacon Andrew Morton served at all the Masses. Mary Carroll played the keyboard and various organs and all were encouraged to act as readers, intercessors and cantors.