Monsignor Vincent's Sabbatical 'blog' - part 1
If you wish to write to Monsignor Vincent in Israel, his address is:
Tantur Ecumenical Institute, PO Box 19556, 91194 Jerusalem, Israel.
On arrival in Israel:
further reports available below |
Monsignor Vincent emailed: I arrived at 7.20 am on Wed at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Have settled in, met the staff and participants (sadly just a small group, all mainly Catholic). Walked into Bethlehem alone (only 7 minutes to the security wall/checks……?. a bit overwhelming….but another 35 or so to the Church of the Nativity). Tomorrow and Friday we have ‘orientation’ visits to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. |
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Last Thursday I went to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Memorial Museum) in Jerusalem. A sobering experience. The museum outlines the history of 'The Final Solution' plan of the Nazi regime: its inception and its attempted implementation. As you know millions of Jews were exterminated in the Holocaust. As people make their way through the impressive and detailed account of the Holocaust people's voices got softer and quieter......most struggling to comprehend the evil behind the plan and the devastation of life (both of the death and those who survived). This coming week (12th October) we are in Galilee studying the life of Jesus from the Galilee perspective.
The pictures: (above) the eternal flame in the Hall of Remembrance (designated a synagogue); also (below) the outside of the Children's memorial (as you walk through all that can be seen are flickering candles..........and a voice reads out in different languages the name of a child who was exterminated and their nationality).
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On Sunday, after Mass in the Armenian Catholic Church, I visited the Garden of Gethsemane and spent an hour in the area. At the same time I visited 'Dominus Flevit' (Jesus Wept) the Church that commemorates Jesus weeping over Jerusalem at the beginning of his Passion.
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I was in Jerusalem during a disturbance near the 'Temple Mount' last Sunday (28th September); when ever I went down another alleyway/street there was security. The disturbance included stone throwing and a number of arrests.
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Father Vincent on his knees touching the 'star' that traditionally marks the spot of the birth of Jesus. This is in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Last week I (Vincent) and Peter from New Zealand walked into Bethlehem (50 minutes from Tantur); the church was quiet with very few pilgrims or tourists so we were able to go undisturbed to pray and to take photos! Last Sunday I was able to witness an 'incident' in Jerusalem...........watch this space! Vincent
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Monsignor Vincent (guess where!) and other members on the course. Sitting on the old steps to the Temple (now part of an historical archaeological site). Up these steps Jesus would have walked into the Temple. On these steps the Rabbi Gammaliel taught (one of his disciples being Saul, who became Paul!).
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This past week has been full: Monday lecture on the ‘Second Temple Period’ in Jerusalem (520BCE to 70CE); Tuesday a 4 hour visit to look at ‘Second Temple Period’ which included visiting the Jewish Quarter and even walking down to the actual Herodian main street though Jerusalem and the original steps into the Temple (which Jesus would have climbed with the disciples). Wednesday a lecture on Genesis 1 – 3: ‘Second Chances’. Thursday field visit to Massada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea and Qumran. Friday a lecture on ‘Women in Jewish Life’?. Finally, Saturday a lecture on ‘Jesus in His Cultural Milieu 1’. In between lectures: reading in a massively well resourced library and walks around the area, even into Jerusalem or Bethlehem if there is the time. I am praying for you: pray for me.
Me (with Patrick from Australia) about to set off from the Tantur Institute on foot to Jerusalem! Only 55 minutes up the Hebron Road. A few days later I walked in again but this time on the Bethlehem Road (it is quieter and a few more shops.......road side stalls and the like......to browse around!). Have walked into Bethlehem twice (photos yet to come..........watch this space!). Study is going well but not sure how much is being retained. We have looked at 'Biblical Geography', 'First Temple Jerusalem' (theory and field trip) and the 'Bible and the Talmud'. Now we are beginning to look at 'Second Temple Jerusalem' and Genesis, followed by field trips and ending with a visit to Masada!
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| I arrived here at the Institute at 7.20 am on Wednesday 9th September. The study group here have been around the Jerusalem and Bethlehem areas to familiarise ourselves with the geography and location of Biblical sites.
The cross made, out of a wine press screw, stands in a cave chapel next to the Tomb of Lazarus. The imagery pictures up ‘Jesus as the crushed grape’ who pours himself out for our sakes!
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