Since visiting the Holy Land, I find that when I now attend mass I recall so many holy places in Galilee, Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land.  Mass has become so alive, so intimate. 

I will be taking a beautiful trip to Rome, Assisi, Florence, Venice and Germany in a few months.  These stunning European cities will be breathtaking to behold with so many place to visit.  We will travel through the Black Forest and see the amazing Alps!! 

Yet, my heart longs to return to Galilee.  I recall my first visit to the Holy Land.  One night, our group was returning from a long day of sightseeing.  The sun had set and the moon had risen as we drove towards the Sea of Galilee.  The bus turned a corner in the road when suddenly the moon hung in breathtaking beauty above the Sea of Galilee and reflected its rays upon the sea.  My breath caught in my throat.  I had put my camera away due to the darkness.  How I wished that I was able to take a picture and capture the beauty of God's glory that I saw with my eyes.  I have never forgotten that scene and never will. 

There is something very special about the Sea of Galilee.  I know Jesus still walks along the edge of the sea gazing at its beauty.  He also gazes into

"For many reasons we should love."  These were some of the first words the guide spoke to a group of thirty-five men and women as they began an inspiring trip to the Holy Land.  They would come to learn more about the people of this land which is so rich in political and religious history and so breathtaking in it beauty.  Over 2000 years ago, Jesus walked this land.  As He stood upon the shores of the Sea of Galilee, did He look into the future and see those who would one day visit the land where He lived?  Did He see those who would one day breathe its invigorating air, delight in its simple beauty and cherish His Presence which is still felt here today?

The Holy Land is steeped in religious history not only of the Christian faith, but also of Jewish and Muslim faith as well.  It should be a land of harmony, where all people can worship their God as they choose.  It is a land for everyone.  Whenever pilgrims travel in the Holy Land, they feel the presence of Jesus fill their spirits.

One of the most compelling sights is the sun rising on the Sea of Galilee in the morning light.  The theologian, Dietrich von Hildebrand once said, "To whom will the sublime beauty of a sunset or a Ninth Symphony of Beethoven reveal itself, but to him who approaches it reverently and unlocks his heart to it?"  Let us u

Take A Trip Home - To the Holy Land

By Carolyn M. Kenney

The trip from Boston to Tel Aviv, Israel is a long one. However, the time I spent in the Holy Land was incredible! As I awoke that first day and looked out over the Sea of Galilee, my heart skipped a beat. I immediately felt a spiritual connection to Jesus growing deep within my soul. Birds sang sweetly in the trees while the sun rose in soft shades of yellow and orange above the low-lying mountains across the Sea of Galilee. I was eager to visit the Holy Land, but never thought I would feel the way I do today about this spiritually rich land.

Everyplace I visited was an enriching and moving experience, from Nazareth to Jerusalem. However, my time in Capernaum was the most fulfilling. During my first visit in 2007, the guide told our group that Jesus had lived for three years in Capernaum and spent much time in the home of Saint Peter's mother-in-law. I eagerly listened to every word the guide spoke and imagined the people of that village who in turn listened to Jesus with rapt