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*3* The Southern Cross, Page 6 Around Thursday, October 5, 2000 Seminarians, priests make Jubilee pilgrimage to Holy Land Left: Newly-ordained Father Timothy C. Donahue, parochial vicar of Saint Anne Parish, Columbus, stands with seminarian Thong Nguyen at the Roman amphitheater in Caesarea Philippi. They were among 25 seminarians and priests who made a 12-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land beginning August 29. By Aaron Killips n August 29 a group of 25 seminarians and priests from the Diocese of Savannah em barked on a 12-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The first stop on the trip was Prague, Czech Republic. In Prague we visited the shrine of the Infant of Prague and attended a mass said in the native tongue. We then headed to Tel Aviv where the journey through Israel would begin. Upon arriving in Tel Aviv at 4:00 a.m., we immediately boarded the bus that would transport us across the country for the next 10 days. Our first stop was Caeserea on the Mediterranean Sea. After several hours of touring we finally reached our hotel in Tibereas. Our hotel was right on the Sea of Galilee. It was absolutely beautiful! We were able, after a quick nap, to go swim ming in the same place where Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water. Several of us tried our hands (actually feet) at walking on the water. Surprisingly, none of us had any success. While in Galilee we took day trips to the Mount of Beatitudes, Cana, Nazareth, Capernaum, the Mount of the Transfiguration and Caesarea Phillippi. One of the highlights was riding on a “Jesus boat,” a replica of the boats that Jesus would have ridden in. Several of us decided to try Saint Peter’s fish for supper one night. Much to our surprise Saint Peter’s fish was served with head, tail, fins and scales intact. It was a character-building experience. Each night after supper we were able to have group night prayer on a veranda overlooking the Sea of Galilee. We were praying where Jesus prayed and taught! On day six, we packed our bags (at least those of us who hadn’t had our bags lost) and headed to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem we stayed within the city walls next to the Latin Patriarch. While in Jerusalem we took day trips to Bethlehem, Masada, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. At the Dead Sea several of us bobbed like corks, including our fearless leader Father Brett Brannen. In the city we visited the place where Jesus was impris oned the night before he was crucified and the pool where Jesus healed the paralytic. We walked through Hezikiah’s pitch-black tunnel in knee deep water and we traced the footsteps Jesus took carrying the cross. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Within the church is Golgotha and the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead. Several members of the group were given permission to spend the night in prayer locked in the church. The highlight of the entire trip was sunrise Mass in the tomb of the resurrection! The trip was a life-changing experience for everyone who went on the pilgrimage. Several men commented on how they would never read the Bible the same way again. The pilgrimage served two purposes—first, it was a pilgrimage to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially within the Diocese of Savannah. The second purpose was to build camaraderie among the priests and future priests of the diocese. One month after the trip I can already see the fruit. God does hear our prayers! The trip would never have been possible if it were not for many generous benefactors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of our benefactors on behalf of all of those who went on the pilgrimage. Each of you was with us in our prayers throughout the trip. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone in the Diocese of Savannah to continue to pray for vocations. Our diocese is definitely benefiting from the prayers as evidenced by our 22 seminarians. Keep the prayers coming! Aaron Killips is vocation office assistant for the Diocese of Savannah. Father Brett A. Brannen, vocations director, with seminarians at Caesarea. Seminarians pray for Tony Stephens, who is legally blind, at Cana.