2010 Pilgrimage: Days 9-10 Blog Entry

Day nine found that setting into the old city of Jerusalem to visit the Temple Mount otherwise known as the mosque area for the Muslims. We spent time walking around the Temple Mount.

I snapped some pictures of the Mount of Olives which was a beautiful scene from that point. We then went to look at the Fortress of Antonio, the place where Pilate condemned Jesus and it was there that we began walking the stations of the cross on the Via Dolorosa.

Each pilgrim had an opportunity to carry a cross during the during the walking of the stations. The last three stations were inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Inside we saw representations of the stone of Calvary as well as well as the place where Jesus body was prepared after his death and then we lined up to enter into the tomb of Jesus.

After lunch we headed on a long drive to the village of Emmaus where we celebrated our final mass at the Church of Emmaus. Upon returning to Jerusalem we had a fine dinner and then were driven to the airport in Tel Aviv where we began our long trip back home.

God bless, Fr. Joe