Thirty-nine parishioners from St. Joan of Arc, Jackson Heights, visited the Holy Land last autumn. Pilgrims traveled for 10 days in November to various cities and sites, including Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Jerusalem, the Jordan River, Cana, Ein Karim,  Mt. Tabor and the Dead Sea.

Above, the pilgrims are in Bethlehem with leaders, Deacon Jorge Castillo of St. Sebastian Church, Woodside, and Sister Maryann McHugh, C.S.J., pastoral associate. Father Anthony Chanan was the spiritual chaplain.

Many pilgrims said the experience was life changing for them, according to Sister Maryann. Participants noted that this past Christmas season was so special because they could place themselves in the Scriptures in a unique way because they had walked those roads and streets themselves just a month earlier.

Photo courtesy Sister Maryann McHugh, C.S.J.