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Resources

There are numerous films from the College on YouTube. Search for “St George’s College Jerusalem” and these will come up (as well as some which are not from us).

You will find:

1 A Virtual Pilgrimage with St. George’s College

Five short films with on-site footage, which give a taster of the College’s study pilgrimages.

2 SGC Lent Course – A River Through the Desert

Six sessions focusing on the physical features of the Holy Land to explore our faith through Lent.

This has now been produced in the form of a book written by Dean Richard which can be ordered through Amazon:

Also, there are two books by the College Course Director: Rev Dr Rodney Aist:

Jerusalem Bound: How to be a Pilgrim in the Holy Land

Pilgrim Spirituality: Defining Pilgrimage Again for the First Time

Both of these books are helpful for people preparing to come on pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine or to follow up after a pilgrimage. They are available from all good book stores and suppliers.

Social Media

We post regularly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Here are some examples of our Facebook posts:

Holy Land Pilgrimage 1

A pilgrim is essentially, one who walks and a pilgrimage in the Holy Land involves a good deal of walking, some of it on difficult terrain. But that experience is one of the ways in which the pilgrim comes close to Christ, because we know that he did a significant amount of walking and Christians literally and metaphorically seek to walk in his Way.

One of the most instructive things about Jesus’s ministry is his willingness to walk towards danger and difficulty. Where we might be tempted to look for avoidance, he sought to expose injustice and to challenge those who misguided others, he walked towards the wounded. After his transfiguration, Jesus, in Luke’s memorable phrase, ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem’ although he must have known that would take him into the centre of jeopardy. Perhaps it reminds us of those who in these difficult days are putting themselves at risk for the health and welfare of others. For this we owe them a great debt of gratitude.

This path in the desert, not far from Jerusalem, is a reminder that the way can be hard but the pilgrim keeps their heart set on the goal. Hardship is followed by glory, not perhaps in the world’s terms but rather it is spiritual gold. May Christ walk with you on your pilgrim walk wherever you are and wherever you are heading.

Holy Land Pilgrimage 2

The panoramic view of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives is always breath taking. It has captured the hearts of pilgrims for centuries. Jesus’s disciples see Jerusalem and exclaim ‘look Lord what large stones and what fine buildings’ (Mark 13:1). A little later, Jesus views the city possibly from this very vantage point and weeps for the city. Today the city is quiet when usually, at this time of year, it would be so busy as the Christian communities prepare for Easter.   

Here though, in this extraordinary view, we see the history of salvation captured for us in a single view: we see signs of Abraham, of David and Solomon, we can spy the (possible) site of the Last Supper, of Jesus’s arrest and his crucifixion which is covered by a church containing also the place of Jesus’s resurrection.  

It would be easy to feel that God has abandoned the world in our suffering but Jesus’s tears here tell us that God suffers with us and will guide us through the pain into a time of new and renewed life.    

Even when Jerusalem was destroyed, the Psalmist could proclaim: 

‘The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 
He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. 
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.’ (Psalm 147) 

The vista of the Holy City is itself an image of hope. 

Holy Land Pilgrimage 3

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth was built on the site which many people believe is the house of St Mary and where the Angel Gabriel visited her.

            Every time we visit the basilica, our Course Director at the College, invites the pilgrims to carefully look at an inscription on the altar placed in the house. It reads: ‘Verbum caro hic factum est’. Here, the Word was made flesh.

            In Bethlehem, we visit the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born. In this place, now in the basilica, pilgrims have come since at least the fourth century to commemorate the exchange between God’s messenger, the Angel Gabriel, and the Theotokos, the God-bearer, Mary, which results in the incarnation.

            Many centuries and several church buildings later, the present basilica was dedicated in 1964. Its lower level is rather dim, silent, and focuses the attention on the house, also referred to as a grotto. Some compare it to a womb. It is a place of origin.

            As our world is forced to slow down dramatically, as the streets around us become silent, may we trust in God’s silent work within us and have faith in the presence of God, hic (here) and everywhere.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

Blessed art thou among women,

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, mother of God,

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.