More than 30 vacationers from the Mary Queen of the Apostles Parish in Salem have returned house safely after a visit to Holy Land left them uncertainly near the outbreak of violence final week.
“We feel very blessed that we that we were able to get out and get out,” stated Fr. Robert Murray, the church pastor who led the group. “We’re very mindful the fact that we left behind people who are in the middle of a war or destruction and death suffering.”
On Oct. 7 — the day Hamas terrorists launched assaults on a whole lot of Israeli civilians — 32 members of the church started a “spiritual pilgrimage” in Jerusalem.
That day, parishioners stated, they heard bombs and sirens however had been advised to not fear, “‘This is what goes on.’”
“But we could hear and see it right away,” stated Murray. “And so the next day was Sunday, and that’s when it really became quite evident that it wasn’t stopping. And then it was getting worse.”
By Monday, the group was advised they wanted to go away Bethlehem.
“Bethlehem being in Palestine, we were going to find out was not the safest place to be,” stated parishioner Bill Card, describing having solely half an hour to pack and go away for Nazareth. … “That was unnerving, to say the least. But we made it through it together.”
There was an excessive sense of urgency, Card stated, and concern the border would shut.
“We were probably in line for over an hour and a half trying to cross the Israeli checkpoint, but we’re able to get out safely,” Card stated. “And we felt much safer in Nazareth. I guess until we weren’t.”
The group spent days in Nazareth, tense and ready three hours away north of the quick violence, earlier than leaving from Jordan, Turkey and at last discovering a flight house.
Though they had been afraid, members stated, they continued to “walk in faith” and “trust in God.”
While they had been away, the congregation gathered in help and figures like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton got here out to help the households. Social media and speaking with households all through the method was extremely vital, the group members stated.
“I think the most important thing for us is that we’re mindful the fact that we went on a spiritual pilgrimage, a place to find more about our Savior and encountered some of the violence that exists in the Middle East,” stated Murray. “It was awful to see, and we want for both Palestinians and the Israelites will find a way to come together in some way, to have some peace.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”