Here is a guest post by Rodnev Lapommeray a seminarians for the diocese of Brooklyn, to be ordained a deacon in less than a year:
I give God the praise both now and forever! By His grace, this pilgrimage has been a moving and deepening experience for me. This pilgrimage to the Holy land—the 5th Gospel—has deepened my appreciation for the Gospels. There is a special privilege to be able to go to the places where Jesus ministered and walk in His path. Each time I think I have reached a climax experience, the Lord just keeps blessing me with further graces.
This morning we, united as brothers, celebrated the Eucharist in the actual tomb where Jesus was buried. Words cannot describe the experience. Every morning at 5:30 AM, Fr. Peter has been taking anyone who’s interested to visit and pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is quite a testimony of faith to see the different people making the trip through the windy roads (really walkways) of the Old City to the church in the darkness and chill of that early morning. There was certain stillness as people seem to be moving with purpose—to praise God. This morning we made the journey pass the Israeli security guards at watch by the entrance to the old city gates and we were part of that background people scurrying in the darkness of alleys to reach the church. There is something just moving about this witness of devotion.
In the holy city of Jerusalem, I have been witnessing people’s great devotion throughout this pilgrimage. There have been plenty of other experiences which have been leaving an effect on me. Thursday we went to the Western Wall, which may be familiar to some as the Wailing Wall, where the Jewish people place their prayers in a wall connected to the temple before the desecration of the Temple. We were able to go to this wall and pray individually. There was something very powerful to seeing the men and boys praying so monastically. Their prayer involved many movements. Placing my own prayer there and praying with them at the wall moved me. We must not forget our Judeo-Christian roots.
The dynamics of how religion and society and culture intersect are present all around us. At the Western Wall, I saw Jewish youth in shorts putting on the prayer shawls and phylacteries—and then commencing to pray. There was just something interesting about the whole thing. Interesting also, the cloth used that day came from Brooklyn, NY—how funny. Despite all these minor points, there was something deep about these men praying so somatically. As we were leaving the area, like clockwork, a Bar Mitzvah party comes through with drums and singing. I had not realized before that Jewish prayer could be so animated.
During this trip we have been remembering people’s different intentions,
--.our family, benefactors. Of course, he have been calling on our Blessed Mother under the national tile of OU Lady of Perpetual Help, for the Haitian people. Our hearts go out to those who suffer as well as the many family members in the states who cannot get in contact with their relatives back home. In a special way, we continue to remember our brother seminarians from Haiti who are trying to contact their families.
By the grace of God, we were able to celebrate Mass at Dominus Flevit church, the church built on the mount where Jesus looked over the whole Jerusalem and He wept because Jerusalem missed the hour of its visitation. It was at this site that we were able to offer Mass for the people of Haiti and for our brother seminarians and their families. I ask if you would please join us in praying for the people of Haiti.
May Our Lady of Perpetual Help watch over us as we conclude this privilege and seek to let the graces of pilgrimage live in our hearts. May she intercede to God the Most High for the people of Haiti.
Mary, in the wake of this most recent disaster, comfort and console us
Be a mother to us in our times of despair, confusion, and heartlessness.
And lead us to the Holy Trinity.
Mary our Mother, protector and refuge pray for us.
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