Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 488

Short Promo Video for our Pilgrimages

Here is our new 11-minute video about our pilgrimages, explaining how safe they are, where we go, what kind of food we eat, and much more.

Now easily accessible on YouTube.

Finally Home (for 4 days)

Just landed back home to deep snow after 7 weeks away. Can't wait to see the family! Good to be home!

Day 9, Last Day: Free Morning, Shroud Exhibit, Visitation & more

Because the planes left in the evening instead of the morning, the group had a free extra day! So we gave them the morning free to explore Jerusalem, walk around, nap, pack, pray or whatever they wanted.

We also arranged a Shroud of Turin Exhibit tour with Fr. Kelly, Mass at Ein Kerem where the Visitation took place and more. It was a great day with perfect weather.

It is always sad to say Good-bye, but it has to come to an end eventually. It was a perfect pilgrimage with great weather, no illness or injury, and everyone got along great and left with many hugs and embraces. Everyone had a GREAT time.

On pilgrimage I always offer any runners a chance to run with me around the walls of the Old City. Today I just had one runner with me, but we had a good run. You will see a bit of it here.

Join us on a future trip — like the trip to Rome on April 28 for the Beatification of John Paul II, or a great weather trip to Israel in April, or a trip to the Holy Land with Scott Hahn in May or for those locked into the school year, a trip to the Holy Land in June. Also Poland in September and many more. See our Pilgrimage Schedule.

Day 8: Masada, Dead Sea, Camels & more

Here is Part One. Part Two coming soon.

Papal Encyclicals & Church Documents

For a marvelous resource of Church Documents and Encyclicals going all the way back to the 1200's, click on St. Peter's Basilica.

Isn't it great to have the Church! God still speaks today and like times past still has a family and a voice through the Church — his body.

Where else can you find such a wealth of information and teaching! The list of documents is truly impressive.

5,000 Years of Religion in 90 Seconds

Another very cool interactive map takes you through the the many religions and centuries. Watch how Christianity spreads at the very end. Click on the image to the right.

Day 7: Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, Mass at Gethsemane

Today we begin with 8 AM Mass at Gethsemane at the rock where Jesus sweat blood. Then to Pater Noster at the top of the Mount of Olives to pray at the place where Jesus taught his disciples the Our Father and from where he ascended into heaven.

Then walk down the Palm Sunday Road and catch the bus at the bottom of the mountain. Then we go to a Jewish kibbutz for lunch overlooking Bethlehem.

Following lunch we go to Mount Zion to see the Abbey of the Dormition where Mary "fell asleep" before her assumption into heaven. I will talk about the Assumption and why we as Catholics believe this dogma.

Next the Upper Room where three sacraments were instituted: priesthood, Eucharist and Reconciliation. Lastly we will visit St. Peter in Gallicantu (where the cock crowed). Here Peter denied Jesus and Jesus was tried and imprisoned over Holy Thursday night.

Many of us will walk from Mount Zion back to our hotel for some free time and my talk on "Palestinians and Israel" later this evening.

Videos will be uploaded at the end of this day. All is well. No injuries, no sickness, no complaints. What a great group! What a great trip!

Eucharistic Miracle in Michigan?

We'll see what my bishop thinks. Read the article here.

Ed Peters and the Diocese of Albany "Should Cuomo Receive Communion?"

From Canon Lawyer Ed Peters: My brief replies to Albany's brief response

A political wag once observed that the fastest way to start a ruckus on Capitol Hill is to point out what the Constitution actually says. In the Church, it seems, the fastest way to start a ruckus is to point out what the Code of Canon Law actually says.

The Diocese of Albany has responded, briefly, to my comments regarding the eligibility of Gov. Andrew Cuomo for holy Communion under Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law.



See them here: http://canonlawblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-brief-replies-to-albanys-brief.html

Day Six: Via Dolorosa, Mass at the Tomb, St. Ann's, Western Wall….

It was another banner day but this one started with a 4:30 AM wake up call. The videos will explain why :-)

I am posting today in two parts since we had so much going on. Everyone had the afternoon and evening free to explore, pray, nap, or whatever they wanted to do. I know that most went back to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

PART ONE: VIA DOLOROSA AND MASS AT THE TOMB OF CHRIST

PART TWO: ST. ANN'S CHURCH, WESTERN WALL, FREE AFTERNOON