Since I last wrote, we have returned from the Galilee. On Monday's return journey, we renewed our baptismal promises at the River Jordan and later visited the Crusader Fortress at Belvoir, the ancient city of Bet She’an and the ruins of Bet Alpha Synagogue. On Tuesday evening a few of us attended a beautiful Yom Kippur service at Hebrew Union College. For the Jewish people, this is the most solemn feast of the liturgical year; I was moved by the presence of G-d among those gathered. Yesterday was a classroom day and in the afternoon I had the opportunity to Skype with some of the sophomores at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay. When I finished these Skype sessions with Mrs. Stanczak’s theology classes, I experienced a natural high. It reminded me how much I truly ... read more

We’ve seen a plethora of stones along this journey; these ancient stones have graciously shared many tales as we have trampled among them troubling their tranquility. They have shared stories of fierce battles in places like Megiddo and Gamla; they have shouted above the hustle and bustle of the Greeco-Roman marketplaces throughout Asia Minor, Greece and Israel; they have whispered stories of the gods who have graced the sacred temples, synagogues, churches and mosques; they have told tales of the dwellings of the diverse peoples such as the Canaanites, Israelites, Philistines, and Persians; they have displayed where various goods were produced in oil presses, flour mills, wineries. And, today in Bethsaida the stones echoed the playful voices of Philipp, Andrew and Peter as they played among cobblestone streets of their childhood home. Their voices reverberated off ... read more

Today, we visited Magdala and Gamla. Magdala is on the northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee and is best known as the home of Mary Magdalene. A recently erected church now stands on this seaside town and contains beautiful mosaics depicting Gospels scenes set in and around the Galilee. Ongoing excavations, begun in 2009, are revealing more about this site each year. Gamla is one of the most naturally beautiful sites that we have visited here in Israel. This mountainside town is built on the southern slope of a mountain, which has been carved out over millions of years by the two rivers below. The Sea of Galilee is situated to the west and the Golan Heights rise all around it; truly a magnificent ancient settlement. I'll let the pictures and captions speak for themselves...feel ... read more

We visited two sites today as we drove north of Jerusalem on our way to the Galilee, where we will be for the next week. Today’s sites were not necessarily spiritual visits, but they are certainly connected to archaeology and our Judaeo-Christian faith. Caesarea Maritima is best known for the palace of the Roman procurator Pontius Pilate and as one of the locations of Paul’s imprisonment (Acts 23:23-27). The next site we visited was continually inhabited from the 6th Millennia BC until the 4th Century BC; yes, 20 times this location was settled and re-settled for close to 5,000 years and then slowly abandoned about 300 years before Jesus. Throughout Megiddo’s storied history, its nearby Jezreel Valley has hosted numerous and legendary battles. Perhaps, this is why John of Patmos chose this site for the final ... read more

After a brief prayer at the Western Wall, I had the opportunity to spend time in quiet prayer and reflection at the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu. (Gallicantu is Latin for cock-crow.) Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you ... read more