We then went into our bus and headed for the Wailing Wall the most Holy Site in Judism. Once inside we had to separate to allow men to go to one side of the wall and women to go to the other. The men had to wear a white yamaka. As I approached and stood before the wall I prayed and placed the hundreds of prayer intentions that so many of my fellow parishioners entrusted to me. At that moment I felt in complete union with my family, friends and parishioners of St. Lawrence. This wall is a remnant of the old Jewish Temple and remains holy to Christians and Jews alike. We originally were supposed to go to this wall on Saturday, but since that day is the Sabbath, pictures were not allowed. When our guide told us this, we all sighed and he then said he would change the date so we could take pictures. This visit ended the official pilgrimage.

We then returned to the Hotel and several of us walked back in to the old city, passing the Jerusalem YMCA and United States Embassy (we were not allowed to photograph the embassy). In the city we walked the same roads that we did on the Stations of the Cross, but this time they were filled with many vendors and shoppers. Several of us bought various items. That evening, at the hotel, we had our own “Last Supper”. We had a place reserved in the private dining room which we had completely to ourselves. Deacon Marty spoke a little about the gift that Father Roger was to us and then gave him a memento and a cash gift from the group. Deacon Owen then spoke about Msgr. Jim and also gave him a memento and a cash gift from the group. Each of the priests spoke a few words to us. We then all had an opportunity to share our own personal experience with one other.