From Taipei to Jerusalem Pilgrimage of the Salesian Cooperators

By Fr. Gary Carbon, SDB

Taipei, Taiwan - Some members of the Salesian Cooperators of St. John Bosco Parish-Taipei Center with other parishioners went to Holy Land to make a pilgrimage.

For all of them, except one, it was their 1st time to see the places where Jesus’s lived and walked, as well as places where other Bible personages lived.

It was rather providential that there was a lack of Chinese-speaking guide in Israel during those days due to thousands of tourists coming from China, so Fr. Gary Carbon, who is spending his Sabbatical Year in Jerusalem took the opportunity to act as one. It was also a chance for him to share his studies in archeology as well as add other significant insights into the holy sites they are visiting.

Visiting these holy sites and re-reading the Bible… they began to have a concrete picture of the Gospel stories and other famous biblical events. Fr. Gary also arranged for them a half-day guided tour of the archeological excavations of the Jerusalem Temple which proved to be very interesting to everyone.

To make the pilgrimage more meaningful, a “Pilgrimage Diary” was specially prepared for each one. The “Pilgrimage Diary” contains parts in which one writes his/her own daily 1. Prayer intentions at the beginning of each day; 2. Some Bible passages which pertains to the holy sites to be visited; 3. A personal reflection to write at the end of each of what has touched the pilgrim during the day.

One of the most touching moments of the pilgrimage was the Stations of the Cross at Via Dolorosa ending with a long visit at the Basilica of the Holy Sepuclher and the Group Sharing in Ratisbonne (Salesian Theological Seminary in Jerusalem) on the final full day of the pilgrimage… during those moments, there was not a single dry eye among us… The Lord truly touched our hearts!

During past 3 years there is a continuous growth of the Salesian Cooperators in Taiwan, being established already five Centers, two of them in the capita of R.O.C in Taipei. We pray that touching the roots of our Faith in Jesus Christ, God became Man, walking the path of the Holy Land will help a more deeply rooted vocation and missionary dynamic into the Salesian Family in Taiwan.