Eduardo and Nina Wijangco are parishioners at St. Patrick's Parish in Markham. Below, they share memories of their recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group from the Archdiocese of Toronto.
This November, local Catholics joined a Gideon Travel-organized Holy Land Pilgrimage, bringing together 44 participants from the GTA, including Father Thomas Lim, formator at Serra House. Our group was diverse in ethnicity and age, including singles and married couples. Our common thread was a shared spirituality. We travelled as one pilgrim family, walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Our days started with prayer led by group leaders and the rosary and reflection by Father Thomas. At scheduled times at a designated holy places, Father Thomas said Mass for the group.
Our trip allowed us to explore many important locations referred to in the scriptures, which brought the Bible to life in a new way.
In North Jordan, we began at the Jabbok River, the birthplace of Israel (Genesis 32:28-30) and then on to the Roman ruins of Jerash. Next, we visited the Shrine of the Lady of Mountain in Anjara where Jesus Christ and his disciples, including the Virgin Mary rested in a cave. We ended the day at Mount Nebo where God showed Moses the Promised Land.
Crossing intoIsrael Galilee . We visited Mount Tabor where God transfigured Jesus in the presence of St. Peter, who replied: “Teacher, how good it is that we are here!” We indeed felt it was good to be there. Our hearts were bursting with joy in this holy place.
In Nazareth, we stopped at the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Joseph and the church where the miracle of the wedding at Cana took place. Father Thomas blessed and renewed the wedding vows of the couples in our group. We experienced an overwhelming feeling that Jesus was present during that renewal!
We began as half-pilgrims and half-tourists. By the end, we were full and enriched pilgrims whose hearts were open to God’s will.
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| Eduardo and Nina Wijangco |
This November, local Catholics joined a Gideon Travel-organized Holy Land Pilgrimage, bringing together 44 participants from the GTA, including Father Thomas Lim, formator at Serra House. Our group was diverse in ethnicity and age, including singles and married couples. Our common thread was a shared spirituality. We travelled as one pilgrim family, walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Our days started with prayer led by group leaders and the rosary and reflection by Father Thomas. At scheduled times at a designated holy places, Father Thomas said Mass for the group.
Our trip allowed us to explore many important locations referred to in the scriptures, which brought the Bible to life in a new way.
In North Jordan, we began at the Jabbok River, the birthplace of Israel (Genesis 32:28-30) and then on to the Roman ruins of Jerash. Next, we visited the Shrine of the Lady of Mountain in Anjara where Jesus Christ and his disciples, including the Virgin Mary rested in a cave. We ended the day at Mount Nebo where God showed Moses the Promised Land.
Crossing into
In Nazareth, we stopped at the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Joseph and the church where the miracle of the wedding at Cana took place. Father Thomas blessed and renewed the wedding vows of the couples in our group. We experienced an overwhelming feeling that Jesus was present during that renewal!
We went to the Shepherds’ Field Church, Basilica of the Nativity and the Church of the Flaggelation where our Way of the Cross began. All of us took turns carrying the Cross of Christ and the words “Christ crucified, help us” filled the air as we re-enacted Jesus’ suffering at the hands of the Roman soldiers. It was incredibly humbling.
The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre was unlike any other church we had seen. It houses the Golgotha rock where Jesus hung on the cross, the stone slab where He was laid to be cleaned and His tomb. It seemed as though the events of 2,000 years ago could have just happened. It was surreal, queuing up for our turn to venerate these objects. The experience will remain with us forever.
On top of a barren hill, overlooking the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Father Thomas said Mass surrounded by unending hills of golden sand, glistening under the hot sun. It was mesmerizingly serene.
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| Fr. Thomas Lim celebrates Mass overlooking the Valley of the Shadow of Death |
Father Thomas’ words from that Mass have stuck with us: “Go to the foot of the cross and hold on to the feet of Jesus. The blessings from the Holy Land will help nourish and sustain us through trials and tribulations.”
The pilgrimage experience was unique for each of us. Some pilgrims were overcome with joy at visiting the holy places. Others felt the presence of the Lord while touching and kissing the Holy Relics. Some strongly felt Jesus’ presence during the marriage vows renewal in Cana. Others felt the weight of Jesus’ cross on their shoulders.
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| The pilgrimage group |