From February 5 to 12, a group of Senior High School students had the wonderful opportunity of doing a retreat-pilgrimage in the Holy Land. They were accompanied by Father Roque Reyes, their Theology Teacher and School Chaplain. According to Father Reyes, he initiated and organized the trip because “I wanted my students to see where Jesus lived; and walk where He walked in order to know and love Him better. It was only for a little over a week, but it was a life changing experience for all of us. Seeing the place where God who became man lived and walked left an indelible mark in our Christian life and changed forever the way we look at life.”
The group was also joined by some parents, alumnae, faculty and staff. Among them was Chiqui Agoncillo, Woodrose Class of 2012, whose daily reflections we share here.
06 February 2018 (Day 1)
07 February 2018 (Day 2)
08 February 2018 (Day 3)
09 February 2018
Cruising along the Israel-Jordan border and through the wilderness of the Judaean Desert, we caught glimpses of Jericho, and even the area where Jesus fasted and was tempted following his baptism, on the way to Jerusalem.
Before reaching Jerusalem (our final destination), we stopped by Bethany to take a look at St. Lazarus’ tomb and Church. In the latter, Murad pointed out the importance of both sisters Martha and Mary in representing the practical and spiritual aspects of the faith, respectively.
We also stopped by the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where we heard Mass in the Chapel of St. Joseph under the church. The chapel is in fact the cave where Joseph is believed to have been told in a dream to flee to Egypt with Mary and a baby Jesus. In this same cave, Father Reyes asked us to reflect on any obstacles preventing us from welcoming Jesus in the “inn” of our lives: “lack of time,” lack of priorities, etc. He warned us not to be like those who until today have made “no room for Jesus in the inn,” as in when he was born into our world. Posing the highly personal question to us regarding who we say Jesus is (“Who do you say that I am?”), Father Reyes then suggested we come up with specific resolutions for our norms. He also stressed the importance of getting to know Jesus not only with the mind, but with the heart – with the latter claiming credit for change and conversion. “Get to know Jesus like you would another person,” Father Reyes said. Pope John Paul II called it intersubjectivity.
At the Church proper, we fell in line to see two things: the spot where Jesus was born, and the manger in which he was placed after. While many of us were moved to tears, it was of course a joyful site, being the place of our Savior’s birth.
Upon entry into Jerusalem, we proceeded to the Church of the Pater Noster on the Mount of Olives. And then we walked down the same “Palm Sunday route” taken by Jesus, toward the little teardrop Church of Dominus Flevit. In our meditation there, Father Reyes stressed the importance of engaging in conversation with God, which can make all the difference in our personal spirituality and even in our apostolate. In preparation for the impending Passion and Death of our Lord, Father Reyes also urged us to console Jesus, who in that spot wept for Jerusalem. Before leaving the church, we were surprised with a blessing from His Excellency Most Reverend Leopoldo Girelli, Titular Archbishop of Capreae, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.
Our “day of tears” reached its peak at the Garden of Gethsemane, another moving encounter with the humanity of Jesus Christ. In the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, we joined Jesus in weeping, allowing our tears to cleanse and sanctify us.
