A visit to Jerusalem

Editor: It was early in January 1999 when I learnt that the Catholics were organizing an excursion to Jerusalem.

I always wanted to visit that country and I was really excited when I got news, so I took the opportunity to join the group, together with Mr Franklyn Young and Mrs Agnes Cato (may she continue to rest in peace), being the only persons I could have recognized.{{more}}

We departed from St Vincent on Sunday, January 17, 1999 at 5:10 p.m. and arrived in Barbados at 5:50 p.m. We were hosted by two female Catholic Church workers at Balmora House for the night for gratis, but I offered a donation for the work of the church. The next day, the 18th, we left for Miami and got there in 2hrs 40 mins. On the 19th, we departed at 8:15 a.m. for Rome and travelled for hours. From Rome to Tel Aviv was seven hours. A bus took us to Royal Plaza Hotel. There were problems with lost luggage, so we did not get to the hotel until nearly 4 p.m.

There were 28 pilgrims from SVG, over 70 from Dominica and others from St Lucia, Jamaica and elsewhere.

The next day we went sightseeing, including the Church of St Peter, which was built on the spot where he was buried. His tomb was originally on the third layer, but was removed to the second layer. Even if you were to carry out excavations, you would not find the tomb. Over the years buildings were constructed immediately over the tomb and as time went on, construction was done over that again. The present church now stands on the third layer.

In Rome we went to the square, where we saw buildings of marble that were done by Michael-angelo. In that square there was a circus, but Constantine destroyed it. In some of the buildings the Pope had his bedroom, his office and secretary’s office etc. We also saw the Swiss guards pertaining to the Vatican.

On Wednesday, January 20th, in Tiberius, Israel, we went to mass at St Peter’s church in Capernaum and took a boat ride to the sea of Galilee. Prayers were said and the boat turned off its engine to remind us of a similar situation when a storm broke out and Christ was so calm that his disciples asked him to quiet the storm. We also attended a devotional service of prayers and songs, visited Tiberius, where a number of Catholics renewed their baptismal vows by being submerged three times in the river Jordan. That night there was a lecture at Radisson Plaza. I did not attend – I was too tired. My priest room-mate did not attend either.

In continuing our sight-seeing, we saw the ruins of the fourth century synagogue where Christ used to meet and teach people.

Unfortunately, I was unable to record the remainder of our sight-seeing trip and journey back home, since I felt too weak, due to an attack of influenza which I had caught earlier. This caused the Bishop to hold my hand on a number of occasions to steady me, so that I was be able to continue viewing some of the sights.

I take this opportunity once again to thank Archbishop Robert Rivas for the support which he offered and I wish him God’s richest blessings during his Christian endeavours.

Raul U Soso