Israel visit impresses pilgrims

Being in the Holy Land at the same time as the Holy Father was a bonus to a trip that had already made the Bible come alive, according to pilgrim Carol Dugan.

"This was a really significant moment in my life," said Mrs. Dugan. "When I went to church [afterward], I heard the Scriptures in an entirely new way."

Highlights

"It was really special," Mrs. Dugan boasted.

Fellow traveler Mary Beth O'Brien noted that the group often visited sites right after the Pope did. "You felt very much a pilgrim, following such a special person," she said.

Ms. O'Brien most enjoyed walking the Via Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross) in Jerusalem and celebrating Mass in Galilee on the Mount of the Beatitudes. She felt connected to the people of Israel, she said, because in a way, "everybody just feels the Beatitudes are theirs," since "everybody wants peace and justice and goodness."

Crossing paths

Rev. Thomas Connery, a group member and pastor of Immaculate Conception parish in Glenville, described the scene: "Some people thought it was a bomb scare. Hundreds of people were cleared out."

On learning that the security measures were in preparation for a papal visit, Father Connery said, "I held back to be the last one out, to be first by the barricade."

With 50 Israeli soldiers forming a human shield around him, the Pope arrived in his popemobile. Father Connery said the crowd chanted, "John Paul II, we love you," as the Holy Father walked by.

"He got out and waved. He looked very frail," Ms. O'Brien recalled. "He went into [the church] for about 45 minutes. We stayed at our post." Later, the travelers watched again as the Pope came out of the church and went on his way.

Papal impact

"Several news analysts pointed out that Pope John Paul II is the only person in the world with the moral authority to carry a message of peace to that troubled region," he told his parishioners in a homily after the trip. "A BBC commentator I watched throughout the week wrapped up his story by saying that all of Israel was impressed by the Pope's modesty, his humility, his holiness."

Several of the Albany pilgrims noted that they were impressed with the young people they met during their trip. At Mount Tabor (the site of Jesus' Transfiguration), said Mrs. Dugan, "there was an unbelievable number of busloads of youth from all over the world, and most of them were walking [up the mountain]. That was probably the most inspiring thing to me."

Father Doyle added that the Pope himself affected the youth who saw him in Israel.

"You cannot fool young people," he explained. "They demand that you be authentic. And these 80,000 youth saw a consistency between the Pope's words and his actions; he had brought together Yasir Arafat with Ehud Barak, and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem with the Muslim Grand Mufti, and spoke with them of the path to peace."

Papal adjustments

Still, the Israelis the group met seemed pleased that their country was hosting the Pope. "Our guide was constantly telling us how happy the Israeli people were that the Pope was visiting," said Mrs. Dugan. One of the group's hotels even provided brochures outlining the Pope's itinerary, she added.

"He was well-received and his messages were well-received," said Father Connery. The Pope's visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem "won over the hearts of the Jews," the priest said.

Memories

The priest found Israel "less military" with a "warmer sense of welcoming and acceptance" this time around.

Still, he said, "there seemed to be great concern for the Holy Father's welfare -- and a sigh of relief when he flew home."

(04-27-00) [[In-content Ad]]