Carmelites Revisit Their Origins

Carmelites Revisit Their Origins

Nine Carmelites, along with 35 other pilgrims, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, led by Fr. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm., as spiritual director. Carmelite pilgrims included Bro. Bruce Baker, Fr. Leonard Broughan, Fr. Michael Flynn, Fr. Emmett Gavin, Fr. Albert Koppes, Fr. Leo Mc Carthy, Msgr. Alban Quinn, and Fr. Frederick Tillotson.

The pilgrimage was initiated by Fr. Leo Mc Carthy, Provincial, because he believed it would be an important experience of prayer and renewal.

Among the highlights was the first day visit to Mount Carmel and the ancient Carmelite ruins in the Wadi ein Siah. The climb was steeper than many expected. First the group gathered inside and by the Prior's Cell, at the entrance to the ruins. The nine Carmelites read the primitive Carmelite Rule written by St. Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The gathered pilgrims responded in song several times.

Then the pilgrimage group climbed to the ancient chapel of "Our Lady of this Place." The Jewish guide, Zach Shavin, had to run up to the Stella Maris Monastery to get the keys and some WD40 to open the locked gates. Inside, Bro. Bruce Baker made his solemn profession of religious vows to V. Rev. Leo Mc Carthy, Provincial. The Provincial's homily touched on the echoes of the past, as they spoke to the present and the future. The Litany of the Saints was proclaimed by a married couple as Bro. Bruce prostrated on the ground of the ancient Chapel ruins. There were tears as almost 800 years of history listened to Bruce Baker respond to God's call.

Following the vow ceremony and the long walk down the Wadi, the group gathered at Stella Maris to salute Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the other eight Carmelites renewed their profession of vows. Later in the afternoon, the whole group gathered for Eucharist at Muhraqa, down the Mount Carmel range, to commemorate Elijah's confrontation with the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal.

During the rest of the pilgrimage, visits and prayer services were celebrated at Nazareth, Cana, Mount Tabor, Safed, Capharnaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Jericho, Judean Wilderness, Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, and Bethlehem.

Fr. Bob Colaresi celebrating Mass in the Judean Wilderness

"Words cannot explain or capture the experience," explained Fr. Bob Colaresi. "Scripture comes alive. The group interaction and openness to each other, the Holy Land, and the Word of God made all the difference. The Carmelite presence heightened and brightened the whole experience."