A Jesuit priest who recently led a Catholic pilgrimage to the Holy Land says the experience of fleeing a war zone has deepened his understanding of faith, solidarity, and the power of prayer.
Father Anthony Wieck, SJ, had been guiding a group of about 20 pilgrims through sacred sites connected to the life of Christ when fighting erupted between Israel, the United States, and Iran at the end of February. According to EWTN News, the group had just finished visiting Galilee and arrived in Jerusalem days before the conflict intensified.
“We had just spent a week in Galilee and prayed our way through the holy sites of Jesus’ teaching and miracles,” Wieck said, describing the region as “a lovely land [God] created for himself to enjoy on this earth,” according to EWTN News.
The pilgrims arrived in Jerusalem on Feb. 26, but by the following day rumors of evacuation began circulating. Some members of the group were able to depart immediately, while others who attempted to leave soon after were unable to secure flights and returned to rejoin the group.
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The situation quickly became more dangerous. According to Wieck, missile threats forced travelers at Ben Gurion International Airport to take shelter underground.
“Ben Gurion International Airport is not a safe place to be because there are military installations near the airport,” he said, noting that “Iranian missiles were being sent that way, and our people … were taken into the bomb shelter five stories down below the airport,” according to EWTN News.
Despite the growing tensions, the group continued visiting holy places while remaining cautious. Their guide instructed them to proceed with their itinerary while staying alert to warning sirens.
“We were instructed by our guide to continue the tour and to simply seek cover whenever the sirens went off,” Wieck said, explaining that local residents were accustomed to such alerts and remained calm.
One particularly striking moment occurred when Father Wieck celebrated Mass at the Dominus Flevit Church overlooking Jerusalem. During the liturgy, explosions from intercepted missiles could be heard in the distance.
“It was scary, yes,” he said. “But I continued the Mass with trust, and after Communion (before the final prayer) asked all pilgrims to pray for a couple minutes regarding where the Lord was in all of this situation,” according to EWTN News.
Later, additional pilgrims from Kansas joined them in the church as sirens echoed across the city. For Father Wieck, the moment became a powerful reminder of Christian trust in God during times of uncertainty.
“It struck me as supremely important that we not make decisions based on fear but on faith,” he said, according to EWTN News.
Soon after, the pilgrimage was cut short. Their tour company instructed them to evacuate Jerusalem and travel to neighboring Jordan. The journey proved difficult as thousands attempted to flee the region at the same time.
“A typical two-hour trip to Amman, Jordan, took us seven hours,” Wieck said, according to EWTN News.
While the group initially felt safer outside Jerusalem, they soon faced new challenges as flight cancellations left many stranded. Local Jordanians reassured the Americans that King Abdullah II would ensure their safety.
“Not feeling the same allegiance to their king, my trust was in God,” Wieck said, according to EWTN News.
Gradually, members of the pilgrimage were able to leave the region as the U.S. State Department arranged evacuations and limited flights resumed. Father Wieck and one remaining pilgrim were among the last to depart Jordan on March 4 aboard a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight that avoided Israeli airspace.
Reflecting on the experience after returning home to Louisiana, the priest admitted that the stress of the crisis made prayer difficult at times.
“I wanted to pray much but felt so much stress and trauma around me that it was truly difficult,” he said. “I was exhausted,” according to EWTN News.
Yet he also witnessed the strength of the Church’s spiritual unity. Friends, parishioners, and fellow Catholics around the world prayed for the group during the ordeal.
According to EWTN News, Father Wieck said the experience gave him a deeper appreciation for the communion of believers who support one another during trials.
“It was truly a Catholic experience,” he said.
“Though as humans we usually don’t carry our crosses in times of crisis all that well, our brothers and sisters in the faith can see us through. That was my experience,” he said.
Reflecting on the grace he experienced amid the dangers of war, Father Wieck concluded simply: “How wonderful it is to be Catholic!” according to EWTN News.
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