Janet and I met with Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem Msgr. Shomali and Jerusalem Patriarch Faoud Twal to deliver our gift of new English Missal. They invited us to come back any time with our groups.

It was sad to see the pilgrims leave. Emotional hugs and farewells. But today, our last day, was marvelous.

We started out with Mass at the Church of the Visitation. I gave my popular talk on Mary the Ark of the New Covenant and how this message is embedded in the Gospel of Luke. Then to the Israel Museum for the half acre model of Jesus’ Jerusalem and a tour of the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

After a nice cappuccino we drove out of Jerusalem past Bedouin camps down into the Judean Wilderness. We visited the authentic baptismal site of Jesus at the muddy Jordan River. Then lunch in Jericho where we saw the mountain where Jesus was tempted by the Devil and a sycamore tree like the one Zaccheus climbed up to see Jesus.   

After a delicious Palestinian lunch we went to Qumran and saw Cave number 4 where the first Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and learned about John the Baptist and the Essenes. And about me eating a live grasshopper.

Swimming in the Dead Sea and riding camels ended the Optional Day before we came back to the Notre Dame Hotel to eat, have Fr. Bernard bless the religious items, finish packing and head to the airport.

Enjoy these two action-packed videos and comments from the pilgrims.

Part 1:

Part 2:

What a great day. Weather much nicer with sun and good temperatures. Mass at Gethsemane. Songs and prayers everywhere else. Group is doing well and all are thrilled with the trip and often moved to tears.

Up at 4 AM!! Following the footprints of Our Lord as he carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Visit the place where he was crucified at Calvary, also called Golgotha. Join us for Mass inside the Tomb of Christ.

Then visit St. Ann’s, the birthplace of Our Lady, the Pools of Bethesda where Our Lord healed the crippled man at the Pools of Bethesda and then to pray at the Western Wall.

Click HERE for amazing 360 degree and from floor to ceiling photography. Move the picture around with your mouse to see everything.

From shopping to support the Christians, to touching the place where Jesus was born, from Mass in the cave where the shepherds heard the announcement from the angels to eating the Passover lamb and dancing in Samer’s Restaurant. Join us on this virtual day to Bethlehem.

See today’s video HERE

Check out our video thru Galilee, especially following Peter commissioned as Rock, shepherd and given the keys! Enjoy!

Join us on Day 2 of our pilgrimage to Mount of Transfiguration (Mt. Tabor), Renewal of Wedding Vows in Cana and Mass at the Grotto of Annunciation in Nazareth. I’ve added nice pictures to help appreciate and understand what it was all about.

It was a good first day. The pilgrims all arrived in good shape at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. We jumped on our comfortable bus and headed to Galilee. Amer and I updated, shared, informed and welcomed all the great folks on the bus ride. What a great group of authentic Catholics ready to experience the life of Christ and the sacraments as we travel the land of Jesus and Mary, the Apostles and prophets, kings and martyrs.

We arrived in Tiberias for Mass, a wonderful dinner at Ron Beach Hotel and everyone is now in bed sleeping soundly to prepare for a busy day tomorrow. We will visit Mount Tabor (Mount of Transfiguration, renew marriage vows at Cana of Galilee, and Mass at the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Enjoy the video of today’s arrival.

Check out my running trip with a map, pictures and video on EveryTrail.com: Fishermen and Galilee Shoreline.

Picture 1: Looking across Galilee to the Golan Heights, visited by Jesus; Picture 2) Hills (mountains by Israel’s standards) along the Sea of Galilee. Jesus went up to mountains to pray. Was this one of them? 3) Fisherman coming in after a night of fishing like the apostles; Picture 4) Me running along a walkway along the Sea.

Professor Rose at Amsterdam Airport (with Janet and I)

Good stories originate and are told in airports. Today at a layover in Amsterdam, between Detroit and Tel Aviv Janet was thirsty. The only vending machine took Euros. I had only dollars and shekels. She said, “But I am so thirsty.”

An dignified Jewish man sitting nearby said, “I think I have some Euros I can give you. We traded dollars and got Janet a drink. He was so kind and friendly we talked for a while. We told him we were Catholics on our way to guide a group of pilgrims.

Pope Pius XIII who defended Jews and saved 800,000

He immediately lit into two stories. He is a retired sociologist professor from Massachusetts and went to Israel about fifteen years ago. Sadly he was very influenced by the scandalous book “Hitler’s Pope” which accuses Pope Pius XII of doing nothing for the Jews during WWII. Of course Janet and I jumped right into the defense of the Church. It is a common misconception, especially among many Jews. Unfortunate. Pope Pius XII never collaborated with Hitler and worked underground to save over 800,000 Jews. The head Rabbi of Rome, Rabbi Zolli was so impressed he converted to Catholicism.

Abbey of Dormition on Mt. Zion where Mary fell asleep in Christ

The professor told us a story of his visit to Israel years ago. While on Mount Zion at the cenotaph tomb of King David and the Abbey of the Dormition of Mary. The group was Jewish and the guide was saying, “This is the site of David’s Tomb.” At Mary’s Dormition he said, “This is where the Catholic’s have a tradition that Mary fell asleep and went to heaven from here. Who knows.”

Later that day Professor Rose saw the same guide with a group of Catholics and a priest in his collar. Out of curiosity he followed the guide again. This time the guide said, “Nobody knows where David was buried but this is where the Jews have a tradition.” At the Dormition of Mary the guide said, “This is where Mary fell asleep before she was assumed into heaven.”

Our friend confronted the guide asking, “Why did you tell two different stories to those two different groups?” “Ah,” said the guide, “it’s a job and you say what you have to say.” In other words: lie, truth, make something up—who is the wiser for it. It is a job and I try to make people happy and get my tip.

This infuriates me but I see it every day too in Israel. The Jewish guides are unbelieving skeptics and don’t believe what they tell the Christians. Jewish and Christian groups get very different stories.

JW's handing out their magazine

He told us another funny story this time (not sad like the one above). Jehovahs Witnesses came to his door and his nine year old daughter was there. The ladies handed him their magazine. He said, “We are not interested— we are Jewish.”

They left their Watchtower Magazine on the doorstep and the girl asked, “Why did you throw it away dad?” He said, “Because it is not true and it’s from a fringe group of people with crazy religious beliefs.” The girl was very interested and asked a lot of questions.

He finally ended up saying, “We don’t agree with them. They are JW’s. I threw away their magazine because we don’t believe it. We are Jewish.”

A few weeks later they went to Israel and due to lack of funds had to stay in the seedier part of Tel Aviv. It was the “Red Light District.” When they were going to their hotel a hooker approached him with her advertisement. The innocent young daughter intervened and stepped up to the hooker and said, “No thanks. We are Jewish!”

Steve will join Sean Herriott on Relevant Radio on Monday to celebrate the Feast of St. Paul’s Conversion (January 25).

In anticipation of my radio shows I am posting my St. Paul Timeline so everyone can get the big picture.

When I was teaching my series on Acts of the Apostles (see the audio CDs here) I decided to make this Timeline for my own use, to help me keep his life, his journeys and writings all sorted out.  I now make it  available free to the listeners of my radio shows.

Also, if you’d like to learn more about Paul you can purchase my detailed documentary filmed on location in 5 countries — entitled Paul, Contending for the Faith. It comes with a very thorough Study Guide. I also have several talks on St. Paul which you can see here.

Click here for info on our St. Paul Cruise with Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn

 
On the radio a lot this week, all Eastern time:
Monday, 7:30 AM Relevant Radio – Sean Herriott Show
Monday, 6:00 PM Catholic Answers Live (Typology)
Tuesday, 9:10 AM Teresa Tomeo – Ave Maria Radio
Tuesday, 4:00 PM Drew Mariani Show – Relevant Radio (Q & A)
Wednesday 8:30 AM Baton Rouge Catholic Radio

 What is Epiphany anyway? And why should I care?

Find out at times below, all Eastern times:
-Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:00 AM on Relevant Radio
-Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 8:30 AM Baton Rouge LA Catholic Radio
-Friday, Jan 6 at 9:10 AM with Teresa Tomeo on Ave Maria Radio.
-Friday, Jan 6 from 5:00-6:00 PM with Al Kresta on Ave Maria Radio

Follow their links to listen to the archived show later.

Steve will discuss the fascinating history behind this week’s Feast of the Epiphany– the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus and the Miracle of Cana and how this feast developed over the centuries. John Paul II gave 52 Homilies that mention the word Epiphany, or are centered on the Epiphany. It was celebrated long before Christmas became the central Advent celebration.

For Steve‘s article “Did the Wise Men Meet the Shepherds” click here. To read about the Epiphany in the Catholic Encyclopedia, click here. To learn why Steve Ray converted to the Catholic Church, click here for his story, and here for his talk.

Steve and Teresa with Guide Amer in Jerusalem

For brochures of upcoming pilgrimages and cruises, click here.

Be sure to check out the Teresa Tomeo – Ave Maria Radio – Steve Ray Pilgrimage coming up this April!

For more information on our Footprints of Jesus & Mary Pilgrimage to the Holy Land click on the link provided or on the picture of me with our bus, my local guide and driver in Israel. and upcoming , click on the links provided. For our Pilgrimage Website, click here. For more info, call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, extension 121. (Steve with guide and driver in Israel with our bus.)

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Catechism on Epiphany: “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates 1) the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with 2) his baptism in the Jordan and 3) the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. “

“The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that (us) pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs”, and acquires Israelitica dignitas–(is made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”).”  CCC 528

Click on the image below to listen to our podcast. We discussed Bethlehem, the truth of the Bible, and and the birth of Christ.

It was a fun and lively discussion. Join us for a virtual tour of Bethlehem.

Click on this image to go to the Podcast page on TheSacredPage

Steve and Janet with Friend Bishop Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar (Bishop) of Jerusalem

In his Christmas greetings from Jerusalem, the Patriarch of Jerusalem (covering Israel, Palestinian areas, Jordan and Cyrus) said,

“I would like to conclude with an invitation to all Christians to come on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  Do not be afraid. Our warm welcome awaits you. Come as pilgrims. It is one of the most beautiful ways to love the Holy Land, and to pray for it and its children. The earthly motherland of Jesus needs you and you need her.”

We agree! It is a safe, friendly and deeply spiritual pilgrimage. We been there over 100 times.

We invite you to join us on one of our 2012 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. One is a Christmas trip, another with Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ave Maria-Teresa Tomeo-Priests for Life Pilgrimage and more.

Also pilgrimages to Ireland, to Germany to see the Holy Robe of Christ, and another in the Footprints of Paul with Dr. Scott Hahn on a cruise ship through the Mediterranean.

I am posting these two videos of our last pilgrimage so you can see Bethlehem today. We crossed into the Palestinian West Bank through the concrete wall and entered Bethlehem, the birthplace of Our Lord. We even heard the Our Father prayer in the language of Jesus. It was a great day leading Franciscan University of Steubenville through the ancient City of David.

Morning of Shopping, Olive Wood Factory, Muslim Prayer, Church of Nativity and more.

Afternoon at Shepherds Field, exploring Bethlehem, eating the Passover Lamb, celebrating a wedding and heading back to Jerusalem.

Today is the Feast Day of the Apostle, St Andrew, brother of St. Peter. I wrote this in 2000 after a night of fishing with Jewish fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Since today I am discussing St. Andrew with Drew Mariana of Relevant Radio, thought I would share this story with you again.

To see my run from Bethsaida along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, click HERE. Join us on a pilgrimage visit my site at www.CatholicConvert.com.

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For the full article and more info, click HERE. To see our brochure with itinerary and info on our ship, click HERE.

Join us on a future pilgrimage to Rome, or the Footprints of St. Paul Cruise, or Israel, Ireland or others. Check out www.SteveGoes.com, or call Suzanne at 800-727-1999.

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls launched a newly renovated Web site to collect prayers, offer a virtual tour, and further the Apostle’s worldwide evangelization effort.

Online visitors can read news related to the basilica and the tomb of St. Paul, virtually tour the church, make reservations for guided tours of the building, visit the gift store, and watch a video of Benedict XVI during celebrations in the basilica.

They can also write intentions that will be offered up in the prayers of the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Paul Outside the Walls, as well as read the Pope’s catechetical texts on the Apostle.

Click here to visit this cool new site.

I recently made a short YouTube video showing the end of Paul’s life. It takes you into the Church of St. Paul Outside the Walls where the bones of St. Paul are located. Enjoy!

Inside the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul on our last pilgrimage a few days ago.