Pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Apostles

During the summer, after having shared in the summer camp with the children at Deir Rafat and participated in the trip of the youth of the kehillot to Taizé, I was overjoyed to go and spend a few weeks with my family. We, Franciscans, are allowed to go back home once every two years. During the last few days at home, I organized a pilgrimage to the holy places in Italy and I invited Shahaf, a friend from the Jaffa kehilla at Saint Peter’s, along. We spent a week visiting many places and praying with joy for all the members of our community. The voyage was very simple, lived in an atmosphere of friendship, myself, Shahaf and my parents.

We began in Rome, the Eternal City… how overwhelming to see with our own eyes the architectural and artistic marvels of one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Visiting and praying at the Tomb of Saint Peter, first of the apostles, contemplating the grandeur of the Roman churches, built with great devotion, and the art of thousands of faithful in order to honor and praise the Lord and His Church. We visited the tombs of Blessed John Paul II, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Paul. In each place, we meditated and prayed for one and all, relatives, acquaintances and members of the kehillot, as though they were with us and we were their representatives.

After leaving Rome, we made our way to Montefalco, near Assisi, where we spent two days with Daniel from the Jaffa kehilla. On September 20, he officially began his first year in the Franciscan way as a candidate for the Custody of the Holy Land, having completed a summer studying Italian. We spent two days visiting Assisi with him and we prayed a lot for him and his companions. He is doing well and asked me to send his regards to all and to ask all to pray for his vocation.

After leaving Assisi, we made our way to Orvieto, a splendid and special city, where we were hosted by the Poor Clares and these were days for a brief spiritual retreat, spent in silence and prayer. Restored and energized by the beauty of prayer with the nuns, we went down to Naples, and there we divided up. Shahaf continued on her voyage with Benny’s parents and was able to enjoy the beauty and warm hospitality of Naples. My parents and I meanwhile enjoyed the hospitality of the Franciscans in the city. We visited the Tomb of Saint Matthew the Apostle, the Jewish Levi who left the tax collector’s table in order to follow Jesus.

The emotions were strong, returning to Israel after having prayed at the tombs of the great persons of our faith, those who met Christ. It was very meaningful for us to come back home, back to our families here, and we hope to meet them all on the day of the kehillot in order to share with them what we experienced on our way.

See you soon,

Brother Alberto and Shahaf