I believe that this past week has been a great blessing for us
pilgrims. We have had the chance to visit many different sites and we have
learned much about the history and culture of Israel and Palestine. I have been
amazed at the ways that God is present in the individuals who have shared their
time and experiences with us and I am astonished at the amazing sites we have
been blessed to visit. God’s presence is here!
Today we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage. Many of the
children at the orphanage have been abandoned. I learned that this area does
not have an adoption program. Therefore, these children will never have a home
with parents and a family. Yet, I saw that these children received much love
through the sisters and others who donate their time at the orphanage.
The pilgrims from Mundelein visit this orphanage every year. The
children who live at the orphanage range from newborn to six years old. We took
a collection from the seminary prior to our pilgrimage so that we could help
support the children financially and we also bought them toys for Christmas.
The children sang some songs and performed some dances for us, and one
of our seminarians dressed as Santa Claus and gave them the toys. Seeing the
joy on the children’s faces as they unwrapped their gifts was wonderful.
Through our visit of the orphanage I am reminded
of the true meaning of the word home. It is good for us to have shelter
and a place to live. Yet we know that what really makes a home special is the
love that we share. As we celebrate Christmas, may we share the love of Christ
with one another so that we can allow God to build his home in our hearts, a
home that is everlasting. May we also be mindful of those who do not have
shelter or anyone with whom to spend Christmas.
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