They trod the dusty, sun-baked paths once walked by Jesus Christ, and in the process rejuvenated their already solid religious faith.
Four Siena friars – Fr. Mark Reamer, Fr. Dan Dwyer, Br. George Camacho and Br. Edgardo Zea – spent eight days in late June on a pilgrimage to Israel. They made the trip with 12 brother friars from throughout the newly merged American province, touring the Biblical cities of Nazareth, Jericho, Capernaum, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, as well as bodies of water that figure prominently in the New Testament: the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the River Jordan.
Fr. Mark had been to Israel before, but it was the first journey there for the other three Siena friars. Among the highlights of their pilgrimage: renewing their baptismal commitments at the River Jordan, where St. John the Baptist anointed Jesus two millennia ago; praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem; visiting the Church of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor; and praying at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, constructed in the vicinity where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Br. Edgardo, who is living at Siena’s friary while working on his doctoral dissertation, said the pilgrimage was “unforgettable, unique, and indescribable.”
“I feel I became closer to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. As a Christian and Franciscan, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land brings the Bible to life and enables us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. It was an exciting and emotional feeling to be there.”
He said the “most awesome part” of the pilgrimage was having Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where Jesus was entombed after his crucifixion. The sentiment was shared by Fr. Dan, associate professor of history at the College.
“The trip was a privileged experience that made the Scriptures come alive in a new way, and one of the experiences that really stands out for me was kneeling at the tomb of Jesus with Brother Edgardo,” he said. “Anyone who is thinking of traveling to the Holy Land should be flexible and open to experiences that are perhaps unexpected. It’s also a good idea to go back and re-read the Scriptures before and after your trip to experience a new sense of place.”
The pilgrimage featured Mass each day as well as visits to sites of historical and religious significance. Through their order, the friars were able to access certain sites before or after the regular hours other tourists must follow. Br. George explained that they were able to spend an hour in nighttime prayer at the grotto located underground at the Church of the Nativity.
“The Franciscans have full or shared custodianship at many shrines in Israel,” he said. “The night before we had Mass there and after visiting hours at the grotto closed, we were all allowed to enter into the small space and have a very beautiful hour of prayer.”
One of the most special realizations of their pilgrimage was that Jesus was indeed a real person who walked the Earth among fellow people. The friars experienced firsthand the places where Christ prayed, ministered and preached.
“This was where it all started,” said Br. George. “Seeing Israel made his teachings and his life experience so much more vivid. Appreciating the human side of his life was very moving.”
The group also noted that they were at a fascinating crossroads of culture, where Arab, Jewish, Palestinian and Christian traditions were all vibrantly on display. While the connections among the cultures are not always peaceful, the mission to achieve that peace through respect and dialogue is one the Franciscans embrace.
The Siena friars prayed for that peace, and for the patience and understanding to build bridges among cultures and nations.
“It was a very hopeful atmosphere,” said Br. George, who directs Siena’s Damietta Cross-Cultural Center. “Being in Israel just helped bring everything home.”
Fr. Mark, vice president for mission and guardian of the Siena friary, noted that the New York-based Holy Name Province recently voted to formally unify with the five other provinces within the larger Order of Friars Minor in October 2023. One of the goals of the pilgrimage was to allow friars from across the country to connect with each other.
“I found it to be a worthwhile experience meeting new brothers, sharing our hopes and dreams, as well as fears and apprehensions about this new endeavor -- all while walking in the footsteps of Jesus and his first disciples,” he said.