JERUSALEM– Continuing in the footsteps of Jesus on the final day of their pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a delegation of 22 young adults from the Diocese of Bridgeport walked “The Way of the Cross.”
The night before they prayed at the Mount of Olives and at the rock on which Jesus prayed on that first Holy Thursday, and journeyed to the Western Wall, where they prayed for all of the intentions people from the diocese had sent on social media.
The group returns home today after their week-long pilgrimage. The Young Adult Scripture Study Week program was coordinated and sponsored by the diocesan Leadership Institute.
In a remarkable spiritual journey the young adult pilgrims from the Diocese of Bridgeport stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, visited Bethlehem and Bethany, climbed Mt. Tabor, and visited other spiritual sites in the Holy Land.
The group led by Bishop Caggiano also attended morning Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation. After reflecting on Our Lady’s “yes,” the group spent time together discussing how we could respond to God in the same way.
“The Sea of Galilee was one of the most anticipated stops on the trip,” said John Grosso, diocesan social media leader who has been reporting on the trip.
“It proved to be emotional, prayerful, and stunningly beautiful. We first arrived at the Mount of Beatitudes, and we prayed over the Scripture passage where Jesus preaches the Beatitudes to the crowd. Next, we took a short trip over to the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, built over the site of that great sign of wonder,” he said.
“Pilgrims were unable to contain their joy and awe, rushing to the water to put their feet into it. The peace and tranquility of this lake, where Jesus walked on water, calmed the storm, and preached near, cannot he understated. We could have stayed there for hours,” he said.
The young adult pilgrims also walked to the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, and prayed over the Scripture passage in the Gospel of John: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
The pilgrims also stopped in the biblical city of Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived during his ministry, including the synagogue where Jesus fulfilled the words of Isaiah.
“We had the opportunity to see where St. Peter’s house was, and then a chance to explore. While there, the three priests in our group heard many of our pilgrim’s confessions, right on the cliff side over the Sea of Galilee, while the sun was setting,” Grosso said.
