On August 30, 2014, I arrived in Elko, NV to begin my pastoral year internship at the parish of St. Joseph's. It was an incredible experience, and I truly loved being there and all the people I had the opportunity to meet and minister with. One morning, in April of 2015, the pastor (and my pastoral year supervisor) Fr. Dan Hussey came into my office. I was in the midst of my final evaluations, and both the Vocation Director from the diocese and the Pastoral Year Director from the seminary were there and had been meeting with Fr. Dan. He closed the door and asked if he could speak to me...I remember being a bit caught off-guard...all my evaluations had been positive, and I wasn't expecting to hear any bad news. Fr. Dan started by saying "We've been trying to think, as a parish, what we could give you as a going away present for your time here, and we've decided to take you with us to the Holy Land on our pilgrimage in October." Anything he said after that I didn't hear. I was absolutely STUNNED (and frankly, still am). I probably came off as rather ambivalent, because I simply didn't know what to say or even how to react. Fr. Dan said that the seminary and the diocese had given me permission to go, so it was all set. Even now, thinking back on it, it seems like a dream...Fr. Dan sent a letter to all the parishioners asking them to donate to the trip. The parishioners sent in almost 4 times the cost of the pilgrimage. I don't even know if I have the words to express not only my gratitude, but how deeply touched I am by their generosity.
One week from yesterday, my sister and I and the other 29 pilgrims from St. Joseph's will be in the Holy Land. (Just looking at that last sentence I typed seems too incredible to be true haha!) I would like to keep this blog as an opportunity not only to record my reflections and experiences, but to share them with you. Anyone reading this will be in my prayers during this time of pilgrimage...and if you think of it, say a prayer for us pilgrims too. More to come....
Peace!
