Fr. Mitch takes a group to Israel on Dec. 27 until Jan. 7 each year, as well
as the May trip. It must have
been an awesome experience this year.
|
Shepherd's Field Mass |
Father Mitch celebrated Mass
in Shepherds Field in Bethlehem. That was a very warm cozy experience. This
is where the angels came to announce to the shepherds that Christ was born. |
There is a church there called The Chapel of the Angels and also a cave
chapel in which we had a prayer service after the outdoor Mass. We were told
that the shepherds knew their sheep and they would guard them there in the cave.
The sheep knew their shepherd and would come. They would smell their shepherd
and enter.
| We visited the Chapel of the Angels next. Father Michele
is the resident
priest at Shepard's Field who gave us a grand tour and entertained us with
Christmas songs with a voice of tremendous quality and volume. |
Fathers Mitch and Michele
|
Christmas can be experienced every day in the Holy Land.
It is very difficult to get past the vendors in Israel because they are
everywhere and Father Mitch would warn us about the spots where vendors would
sell and at the same time pick pockets. He said that in Bethlehem it was safer
but still to be careful. I found myself leaving there with an armful of mangers
and Christmas tree decorations made of olive wood.
Those who want to spend Christmas in Jerusalem must make reservations 3 years
in advance. You can't just show up or we'll hear like someone else did,
"There is no room at the inn."
Arafat owns Bethlehem now, when Israel owned it there were many problems.
We were spending more time at the sites (especially the ancient ruins) that
we had to make a decision between the Dead Sea or the museum.
|
The Dead Sea
|
The people at the
front of the bus were chanting "THE DEAD SEA" Father Mitch said "
already this is getting political-we have lobbyists here". The Dead Sea won
with a show of hands. |
I was happy because I wanted to float in the Dead Sea. We were told that the
minerals were very heavy. It contains potassium, magnesium and 27% sodium. The ocean contains just 3%.
Father gave us information as well as warnings. He said that it was good for
arthritis. We could not sink but warned us not to get the water or mud in
our eyes or mouth. We were told that we could float to the Kingdom of Jordan.
A Jordan man was stuck in a part on the Jordan side in quick sand. He was
there for hours before he was rescued. Much of his flesh was eaten away. Another
man drank a bottle of it and died in 4 hours.
I found it exciting. The mud on the bottom is therapeutic for the skin, it
makes it very soft if applied thick enough. However, it is a tedious job. There
are lifeguards there who will give a whole body mud pack for five dollars. That
seems so personal. I managed to cover my forearms and a little on my face but
not enough. My forearms are still not as dry as they were before I applied it in
May 1999, I am writing this In January 2000.
