1. In This Issue:
2. Jesus Figure in Pennsylvania
3. Pope Says J2K is Time of the Laity
4. Vatican Museums 
5. J2K of Sick & Suffering
6. J2K of Artists
7. Rome Gets a Face-lift
8. Pilgrim's Destination: THE HOLY LAND

• Since arriving in Hazelton months ago, barefoot and wearing a white robe, the man who looks like Jesus has captivated townspeople.

POPE SAYS THIS IS "THE TIME OF THE LAITY"
Considers Their Contribution to Evangelization Indispensable

"The time we are living in could be called the time of the laity," John Paul II said to the participants of the General Chapter of the Oblates of St. Joseph on Feb 17. According to the Holy Father, the laity are called at this time to offer an "indispensable" service in the evangelization of contemporary society to "give Christian inspiration to the temporal order."  In "the Church's new spiritual stage," inaugurated by the Great Jubilee, John Paul II appealed to these religious to "speak to the heart of youth, proposing the Gospel to them with audacity."  "Make them love the Church. You may be sure that your word will be easier to accept if it is accompanied by the testimony of your example," the Pontiff exhorted.  Thus, collaboration will be established between religious and the laity who are "indispensable" for an adequate response to the present needs of evangelization. It is not just an "operational need," because of the decrease in religious vocations; it is a "new and hitherto unheard-of possibility that God is giving us." "The time we are living in could be called the time of the laity," who today are "called to give Christian inspiration to the temporal order, actively and effectively transforming society according to the Gospel spirit," the Holy Father emphasized.

One of the objectives of his Pontificate, as the Pope stated Feb 7 during the inauguration ceremony of the new entrance for the Vatican Museums, has been "to help mankind cross the door, in order to leave behind the constrictions of materialism and pass into the freedom of faith."  He said that the completion of this project is a proof of the Church's will for a dialogue between faith and art.This is the most ambitious of the architectural projects undertaken by the Holy See for the Jubilee year.  The new entrance will serve to reduce waiting time for a continuously growing number of pilgrims and visitors.  Over the last twenty years the number of visitors to the Museums has doubled from a million and a half yearly to three million.Now up to 20 thousand people a day will be able to enjoy the art treasures housed by the Vatican.  The total cost of the project was $23 million.

The new entrance to the Vatican Museums was designed by Giuliano Vangi, a Florentine sculptor. The marble sculpture respresents the passing of the millenium and John Paul II's extraordinary pontificate.Vangi, age 69, accepted this job "with apprehension," he stated. "I thought about the ten thousand people who would be looking at my statue every day. 
For this reason, I worked on the project for more than a year, making a large number of studies, designs, mockups in clay and stucco. It was a real business." The meaning of this work is well expressed by its title, "Crossing the 
Threshold." "I represented the Pope at two different and crucial moments of his pontificate: the beginning and the end," stated Vangi. "It is a sort of Alpha and Omega of a Magisterium that has helped us to come back from the refuse of ideologies of this 'short' and terrible century.  Modern man is represented with a tie and all, while he is freed from a wall that is falling, which not only represents the Wall par excellence, the Berlin Wall, but also the wall of Auschwitz, where the Pope cried; and even more, it is a symbol of all the walls of the world and of the untiring prayer of the Pontiff, of the universal prayer that destroys those walls." 

John Paul II conferred the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to 10 gravely ill men and women on Feb 11. This was the most emotional moment of the central encounter of the Jubilee of the Sick; it took place at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration presided by the Pope for 35 thousand people, according to the official numbers released by the Italian Jubilee Agency.  The Holy Father anointed the pilgrims' foreheads with holy oils along with ten bishops, among whom was Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragán, President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers. The great protagonists of the morning were those who suffer from pain and infirmity. "The Church," said the Pope, calling to mind the saving value of suffering, "is indebted to you, and the Pope is as well." Almost 4 thousand people arrived in wheelchair, and seven were brought on hospital stretchers. More than 1,200 volunteers from the Knights of Malta, the Red Cross and other Catholic Aid institutions offered constant assistance to the pilgrims. In Saint Peter's Square, "UNITALSI" (a Catholic Organization that organizes Marian pilgrimages for the sick) had erected a platform of red paneling measuring more than 5 thousand square meters. It was equipped with electric heaters that allowed the sick to follow the event without suffering the inclemency of the Roman winter morning. On the perimeter of the Square, two First Aid Tents, three ambulances, and a small motorcycle-ambulance were prepared to respond immediately to any need.The Meaning of Suffering In his homily, John Paul II stated that "suffering and sickness form part of the mystery of human existence on earth." While it is "just to fight sickness, since health is a gift of God," the Pope nevertheless added that it is also very important to "know how to read the plan of God when suffering knocks on our door." The key to interpreting suffering "is constituted by the Cross of Christ."  "From that moment on," continued the Pope, "all suffering can have meaning, making it something particularly precious. For two thousand years, since the day of the Passion, the Cross shines as a supreme manifestation of the love of God towards us. The one who knows how to accept it in his or her life realizes that pain, illuminated by faith, transforms itself into a fountain of hope and 
salvation." Witnesses in the Third Millennium At the end, the Pope, who also bears marks of suffering in his body, 
provocatively challenged the consumerist world of our days: "The Church enters the new millennium pressing the Gospel of suffering, a proclamation of redemption and salvation, next to its heart. My infirm brothers and sisters, you are singular witness of this Gospel. The third millennium expects this witness from Christians who suffer." Candlelight Procession At the conclusion of the celebration, the sick were led to eat at the restaurant in the large Janiculum parking complex that John Paul II recently inaugurated. At dusk, they returned by bus to "Via della Conciliazione" in front of the Vatican to participate in an evocative candlelight procession -- like those held at Lourdes, whose liturgical feastday was also Feb 11 -- that ended in St. Peter's Square, where the first of the Jubilee festivals organized for the sick took place. For a few enjoyable moments they could forget their preoccupations and suffering, especially as fireworks illuminated the facade of the Vatican Basilica.  The festival was broadcast worldwide by satellite. Some of the most popular shrines around the globe were linked directly via satellite: Lourdes, France; Czestochowa, Poland; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico; Yamossoukro, Ivory Coast; and the Shrines of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and Sydney, Australia.On Saturday, Feb 12, the Stations of the Cross brought the sick together at the Colosseum, the celebration including entertainment and sports personalities who gave their testimony on dealing with pain and infirmity in their own lives -- making this an unforgettable time for the special pilgrims who took part.

On February 17, liturgical memorial of Blessed Fra Angelico, an all-time master of the palette and the brush, saw the Pope meeting with some fifteen hundred artists. They participated in moments of prayer and common testimony, 
spending time together in Rome. John Paul II recognized that these men and women are "privileged interpreters of the human mystery," since they have been "gifted by God with special intuitive and expressive capabilities," cultivated with study and experience.Before reciting the Angelus Feb 13 with the pilgrims present, the Pope looked to the Jubilee of Artists, saying: "They will come to Rome to manifest their faith in Jesus Christ, Word of God incarnate, epiphany of divine beauty in a human form. Christ is the supreme source of universal art's inspiration, and the contemporary age, even though marked by atheism, confirms it: the greatest artists of each continent have felt the need to measure themselves by Christ and his inexhaustible mystery. For this reason, the Church applies herself in a special way to a dialogue with art."

Rome has gotten a face-lift.  The old city once again shines on the restored facades on numerous monuments and buildings.  Thanks to funds raised on occasion of the Jubilee, the Eternal City wears a brighter and happier face. 
According to the experts, the brilliant white of travertine marble is the city's original color.  Rome has gone from a dingy black to a gleaming white in only a matter of months -- fifty years of pollution has been wiped away. St. Peter's is not the only church whose facade has recovered it original color.  All the most important churches in the heart of Rome once again gleam in their original state, notably Santa Maria della Pace, St. Gregory in Celio, St. Agnes at Piazza Navona, Santa Maria in Campitelli, St. Sebastian Outside the Walls, Santa Maria in Traspontina, St. Charles at the Four fountains, the church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, Santa Maria in Montesanto, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli.
Not only churches have been restored. All manner of building has been shielded by scaffolding over the past months. As the scaffolding comes down, many people are, in effect, seeing these monuments for the first time in their brilliant original state.

In his Bull on the Great Jubilee, The Mystery of the Incarnation (cf. also TMA 55), Pope John Paul II discusses that the two primary holy places for pilgrimages in the Great Jubilee are Rome and the Holy Land: "To journey to the city of Saints Peter and Paul, to the Holy Land…this is the goal" of the Jubilee pilgrimage -- to walk in the footsteps of the Redeemer (#7).  The Pope himself is scheduled to pilgrimage to the Holy Land the last week of March, 2000.  I recently went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group from 206 Tours.  Here is the itinerary and an account of my pilgrimage.

DAY 1:

• Landed in Tel Aviv, Israel
• Met 206 Tours' contracted Holy Land administrators -- Rula Handal and her sister Maha, our Holy Land tour guide, Jeries Farah, and the bus driver, Sarhi.
• Met with the 206 Tours' pilgrimage group of 48 from the US, lead by Fr. Bob McCarthy
• Stayed first night at hotel in Netanya

DAY 2:

• Visit to Caesarea (Acts 10:1-48), on the Mediterranean Sea: excavation sites of Pontius Pilates' headquarters, palace and pool, Roman outdoor theatre, statues and columns, and the aqueduct.
• Drove through Haifa and visited to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40): where Elijah ascended to Heaven and where St. Simon Stock is remembered for receiving the Scapular from Our Lady.
• Had lunch in a Jewish community restaurant, who live similar to the Amish lifestyle
• Celebrated Mass on Mt. Tabor (Mark 9:2-8), site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
• Drove through the Valley of Armagedon (Revelations)
• Renewed wedding vows in Cana (John 2:1-11), site of the first miracle of Jesus through the intercession of Mary: recently renovated Catholic church, toured original house of wedding feast, saw original water stone jar believed to have been used in miracle, certificates, pictures, and special Cana wine as keepsakes and gift ideas
• Stayed at new Marriott Hotel in Nazareth: dinner and evening gathering with prayer lead by Fr. McCarthy.

DAY 3:

• 4 star (dinner and) breakfast at hotel
• Mass at Mt. of Beatitudes, site of Mathew 5-7, on hills of Sea of Galilee
• Tabgatha ("Source of the 7 springs"), site of the miraculous feeding of the 5000, rock where Jesus multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish (John 6:1-15, 21:1-14), Byzantine mosaics found in excavations, feet in the Sea of Galilee, collecting sea shells.
• Mensa Christi, site where Jesus confirmed Peter as 1st Pope after His resurrection, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, saying, "Feed My sheep", rock where Jesus prepared breakfast, ruins of 4th century Byzantine church
• Capernaum (Mark 1:21-28): visited ruins of St. Peter's Mother's house, whom Jesus cured, which now has a church above it, town of St. Matthew and the faithful Centurion, synagogue where Jesus preached often during public ministry -- remains of original synagogue and site of later Christian synagogue.
• Lunch: restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-41), special meal of "Peter's fish" from the Sea of Galilee, rode on the Sea of Galilee on The Jesus Boat, designed from a discovery of a 1st century boat, certificate and poster.
• Renewed Baptismal vows in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:1-17), river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, collected river water and had it blessed
• Dinner at Hotel

DAY 4:

• Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38): St. Mary's well housed by Greek Orthodox church.
• Walked to St. Joseph's carpentry shop, inside a cave with church built over site
• Mass at Church of the Annunciation, built over the site of Mary's house, Mary's grotto and cave, renewed consecration to Jesus through Mary.
• Lunch at New Holy Land Restaurant in Sabastia, owned by Palestinian Muslims-Jacob's Well in Samaria, where Greek Orthodox church is under construction, well dug by Jacob 3000 years ago, where Jesus met the Samaritan woman
• The Dead Sea (Genesis 14:1-16): swam (floating) and soaked feet in the water, mud baths, beautiful mountain views.
• Jericho (Joshua 6:1-16, 2 Kings 2:19-22, Luke 19:1-10): site of oldest city in world (10,000 year old ruins), lowest level below sea level, camel rides, shopping
• Evening at Jerusalem Gate Hotel

DAY 5:

• Bethlehem: shopping, olive wood crafts.
• Church of the Nativity (Greek Orthodox) and St. Catherine Catholic Church: caves of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20), tombs of the Holy Innocents, Joseph's house, and where St. Jerome lived for 30 years translating the Bible from Greek to Latin (Latin Vulgate)
• Prayed at the caves of the Shepherd's Field, pilgrims received gift of Jerusalem crosses from Fr. McCarthy
• Lunch
• Visited the Upper Room (Cenacle) where Jesus celebrated Last Supper (Luke 22:7-20) and site of post-Resurrection appearances and of Pentecost (John 20:19-29)
• Visited the tomb of King David
• Mass (and Reconciliation) at the Mt. of Olives (John 19:41-44): rock of Jesus' agony in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42), garden with olive trees -- descendants of trees of 2000 years ago.
• Ascension Church (Acts 1:6-11): visited the place where Jesus ascended into Heaven on Mt. of Olives.
• Pater Noster Church: visited the place where Jesus taught the Our Father
• Visited the home of the owner of 206 Tours' contracted Holy Land operator, Gabriel Khano and his wife Delia: English tea, drinks and local food, a very warm welcome, gift of 3" metal crosses inscribed with 5 loaves and 2 fish designed by Gabriel and given to all the pilgrims, special gifts of 1600 year old Roman glass vase and oil lamp given by Gabriel to Fr. McCarthy, as leader of our group -- taken from his extensive priceless collection as sign of his appreciation for our visit
• Returned to hotel

DAY 6:

• Jerusalem: Walked the Way of the Cross while taking turns carrying a cross on the Via Dolorosa -- same path Jesus took while carrying the Cross.
• Church of the Holy Sepulchre: site of the last 5 stations of the Cross including Jesus' crucifixion (Psalm 22), prayed before a unique statue of Mary weeping, venerated the rock used to prepare Christ for burial after crucifixion, tomb of the Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12), Catholic chapel of St. Mary Magdalen where she met Christ after resurrection, Chapel of St. Helena where the Cross was found in 4th century.
• Lunch at Nafoura restaurant in the Jerusalem Wall and shopping.
• Jerusalem Temple site: Jewish wailing wall, Muslim Dome of the Rock -- place where Abraham sacrificed Isaac, holy place of Jerusalem Temple now destroyed.
• Church of St. Anne: house of Sts. Joachim and Anne who were St. Mary's parents, birthplace of St. Mary (Immaculate Conception).
• Pool of Bethseda (John 5:1-18), where Jesus cured the lame manChurch of St. Peter in Gallicantu (Matthew 26:57-75): newly renovated church built over palace of the high priest Caiphas, where Peter denied Jesus 3 times and where Jesus was mocked and kept in a dungeon overnight, seeing miraculous image of Christ on wall of dungeon, walking on same rock steps Christ walked on.
• Church of Dormition of Mary in Jerusalem: where Mary went to sleep for 3 days before her ascension into Heaven (2 traditions: also John's house in Ephesus is reported site of Mary's last years of life)
• Last evening in Jerusalem and Holy Land

REVIEW:

• 5 stars out of 4
• Catholic and well-educated tour guide who continually presented historical and Biblical information and places of interest with detailed background (later learning that most Holy Land tour guides are not Catholic, but 206 Tours uses Catholic tour guides especially)
• Very smooth travel and transitions from place to place and hotel to hotel, direct and immediate access to sites, well organized and carefully planned out itinerary, new and comfortable bus which was assigned to us for entire trip, and nice hotels - especially new Marriott.
• Great Masses, meditations and prayers lead by tour leader who was a Catholic priest.
• Atmosphere was of a Catholic pilgrimage and not just a tour.
• 206 Tours' contracted Holy Land operator has a very professional staff -- prompt, courteous and friendly, careful attention to details was a plus, and very service-oriented and hospitable, especially seen when the owner invited 
• our pilgrim group to his house as he does with all groups and gave us gifts.
• Great variety of foods, eating at Christian, Jewish and Muslim restaurants, 3 meals a day.
• Very spiritual experience overall and truly the pilgrimage of a lifetime

Awaiting the Joy of the Jubilee,

Kelly Bowring
Pre-Jubilee Pilgrim

Milanka Pauciullo
President of 206 Tours