Page 21 - Holyland Magazing - Catholic Edition 2016
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Discovering
the Holy Land,
Discovering
Faith
Travel to the Holy Land not only deepens your faith, but puts everything into perspective
By Tim Walter while floating in the Dead Sea, their faces The Dead Sea: the lowest and saltiest place on
expressing the devotion and peace that earth. Above left: Station 9 of the Via Dolorosa:
I will never forget the first time I walked comes from their faith. Jesus falls the third time.
outside my hotel room and onto the Above right: Sea of Galilee: center of Jesus' ministry
beach. My wife and I walked south, the Perhaps someday you too will have the
water to our right, the land on our left; opportunity to delve into the civilization
the sights and sounds, the heat and that fostered the growth of your faith and
fragrance washing over us like a tidal wave the practice of your religious beliefs. There
of culture. It was not just any beach, it was a is only one Holy Land for Catholics and
beach on the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv, it is in this small strip of land hugging the
Israel. I could hardly believe we were there. Mediterranean. Once while in Egypt a guide
said, “This is the desert, nothing grows here.”
It was the very first trip we took together as Yet from the desert in this land, Catholicism
a couple. I’m not sure we slept more than did grow.
five hours a night. The contrast of this land
compared to what we knew was so dramatic The Catholic Press Association of the United
that we needed to absorb all that we could. States and Canada is an organization of
Catholic newspapers, magazines, journals
A decade after that first trip, I traveled again to and digital publications distributed to over
the Holy Land with members of the Catholic 11 million homes. Its members, like the
Press Association. Sponsored by the Israel pilgrims who come to Israel, tell their readers
Ministry of Tourism, twelve journalists came about Catholicism from its beginning to the
to the home of their faith. They prayed at the excitement of Pope Francis. Those stories
beautiful chapel on the Mount of Beatitudes, encourage others to follow the calling of
sailed on the Sea of Galilee and viewed the their faith and visit the holiest of all places for
Gospel Trail. Catholics, the land of Jesus Christ.
They prayed at Mass with Israeli Catholics, To that end, we proudly collaborate with
walked the Via Dolorosa, wandered inside Holy Land Magazine to bring you stories of
the amazing maze of the Church of the Holy Catholics living their faith.
Sepluchre and prayed again at the Western
Wall. They laughed over dinner and giggled
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