DIVINE MERCY MOMENTS | Fr. Joel delos Reyes

“The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page.” Those words reflect the sterling wisdom of St. Augustine, a great man whose life was at one point in almost total moral disarray.

An itinerant searching for truth, he was one day illumined by an inspiring sermon of St. Ambrose in the cathedral of Milan, Italy, and a divine stroke pulled him back to the right path.

Last July 10-28, 47 members of the Guam Divine Mercy Pilgrimage group set forth surfing extensively through the pages of the “book” of some 10 countries in a prayerful spiritual journey in the Middle East and Europe. It was one of the best, if not the best of our many pilgrimages and left an immortal memory. It was an enchanting personal experience, which each member will surely cherish for long time.

The pilgrims were: Fr. Willy Lorilla, Lou Salas, Primrose Marcos, Purita Quinamague, Cirila Dalipe, Mike Artero, Doris Artero, Mia Artero,  Anthony Santos, Ruth Santos, James Artero, Oscar Cruz, Arline Cruz, Courtney Camacho, Ashley Camacho, Ceria Santos, Devin Paciente, Rowena Dickson, Miriam Andaya, Florida Medina, Francisca Lasiste, Chelsea Leon Guerrero, Emmarene Leon Guerrero, Viola Sumbillo, Ester Lizama, Fred Leon Guerrero, Melva Leon Guerrero, Frank Anthony Perez, Daniel Escalona, Dora Torres, Adel Carlos, Nancy Carlos, Juana Hormillosa, Kim San Nicolas, Leonor Milano, Carn Amparo, Luz Dulla, Angie Roman, Toni Gumataotao, Yvette Leon Guerrero, Ramon Cruz, Lorencia Cruz, Nick Santos, Emely Santos, Frank Lujan, Bertha Lujan, and yours truly.

Wearing red uniforms, our Guam Divine Mercy Pilgrimage group was outstandingly distinct among the crowds at Won Pat International Airport Saturday afternoon, July 10 as we excitedly waited to board our Continental Airlines flight to Manila for the first leg of our journey. It was a pleasant trip all the way. Upon arrival at Ninoy International Airport that night, we were met by staff of the Voyager Tour Agency under owner and manager Bessie Escalona who conducted us to the Heritage Hotel near beautiful Roxas Boulevard in the heart of Manila. In no time were we in the soothing comfort of our hotel rooms for an overnight stay.

The following afternoon, Sunday, July 11, Fr. Willy Lorilla and I celebrated Mass at the ground floor of the Cleveland high-rise condominium and commercial building in the bay area of Roxas Boulevard, affiliated with the Voyager Travel Co.

We enjoyed a sumptuous dinner after Mass, courtesy of our travel agent. A delightful musical extravaganza ensued after dinner before we proceeded to the airport for an eight-hour flight to Dubai. It was such a joyful evening serenade as we sang old, religious and contemporary immortal songs from our pilgrim guidebook, which we each had. What a happy heart-throbbing start of our journey, punctuated by strong family-like bonding and an atmosphere of fascinating, pleasant camaraderie, which I believe is the result of our month-long pre-departure preparation consisting of meetings, orientation, prayer gathering and special Masses. This is our Pilgrimage unique trademark, the right formula for a successful start-to-finish nourishing journey.

We departed Manila aboard Emirates Airlines after midnight, and arrived at the awesome International airport in Dubai 4:45 a.m. July 12. That same morning, we took a two-hour flight to Amman, Jordan, and a tourist bus took us over to Mt. Nebo Monastery, a revered memorial over the place many believed to be the burial place of Moses though the Holy Scripture says the otherwise. Here’s the complete biblical text in this regard: “Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the headland of Pisgah which faces Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land-Gilead, and as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, the circuit of Jordan with the lowlands at Jericho, city of palms, and as far as Zoar. The Lord then said to him, ‘This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast with your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over.’ So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the Lord, as the Lord had said; and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-hor in the land of Moab, but to this day, no one knows the place of his burial.”

Next Sunday: Our entry into Israel from Jordan, covering Tiberias, Jordan River and Cana.

In her diary St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words, “Know, My daughter that if your soul is filled with the fire of My pure love, then all difficulties dissipate like fog before the sun’s rays and dare not touch a soul, because they sense that it is stronger than the whole world.”

Tune in to KOLG 90.9 FM for the Divine Mercy 3 p.m. daily. Recite the Chaplet of Mercy for peace in the world and conversion of sinners.

To arrange a Divine Mercy home presentation, prayer and veneration of the sacred relic of St. Faustina, please contact Amy Borja (472-7778). Thank you.