Page 27 - Discover Israel Magazine - Philippines Edition 2019
P. 27
Bringing the milestones of
Catholic faith to life and
infusing them with meaning
through tangible encounters
with history
By Jill Daly
f the Cross Via Dolorosa, Station 6
Igrew up in a strong Catholic family; the For me, it was a living testament of the journey
church was a very central part of my that marked the end of Jesus’ earthly time. It
upbringing. We attended church every brought me closer to my Catholic faith and
Sunday, Catechism classes during closer to understanding the joy, anguish and
the week, and celebrated the important sacrifice that was made for me. It made it
milestones of our faith with the sacraments come alive more than I could have imagined
of Baptism, Confession, Communion, and looking at those beautiful carvings that hung
Confirmation. My mother volunteered in in the church.
the church, taught Catechism classes, and
encouraged me to volunteer and help as well. Many years later I had the opportunity to visit
Israel. It was a true journey of faith, a journey
Each Sunday our family of five would file into that fortified my relationship with my Christian
our pew at mass. As mass began, I would belief and upbringing. I actually walked in
be wrapped in the comforting sense of the footsteps of Jesus, His ministry, His life.
familiarity of the rituals that I had known all I stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
my life. I would study the walls of the church
seeing the carvings depicting the Stations of I walked down the hillside where He delivered
the Cross. These beautiful wooden works of the Sermon on the Mount. I visited the Church
art told the story of Jesus’ encounters with in Cana where He performed His first miracle.
Pontius Pilate and depicted His crucifixion on And I wept in the Garden of Gethsemane
the cross, recounting in stunning detail and where He wept, where He prayed in anguish
mastery, His last days on earth. to His Heavenly Father. These are the stories
remembered from childhood, stories I’ve
As a freshman entering high school, I really cherished from my parents’ teaching, stories
began to understand these works of art. I’ve applied from my church’s teaching, and
Each Lenten season, my church performed stories I’ve garnered from my own study.
a passion play "Stations of the Cross."
The Youth Group would travel to churches On my first trip to Jerusalem, I was reconnected
throughout our area and present the story to the journey and understanding that I first
of Christ’s crucifixion. It was a dramatic truly began experiencing with the "Stations
reenactment, starting on Palm Sunday and of the Cross" passion play from my years in
concluding with Christ dying on the cross high school. Entering the Old City from the
on Good Friday. For weeks leading up to Lion’s gate, I began the procession of the
the celebration of Easter, we dedicated Via Dolorosa. In Latin, Via Dolorosa means
Fridays and Sundays to rehearsals and the “Way of Grief.” It is at the start of this site
performances. We brought a vibrant and where Jesus was tried and convicted and
real enactment of this story to churches in the street ends at the place of His crucifixion,
the area. Golgotha, where the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre is located.
Via Dolorosa, Station 2. Photos: www.goisrael.com D I S C O V E R I S R A E L 27