A group of 52 pilgrims who were in the Holy land when hostilities broke out on Saturday have paid tribute to Niall Glynn’s Marian Pilgrimages and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The group visited Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Nazareth, before conflict erupted on Saturday.
Fr Conor McDonough OP, who ministers at St Saviour’s Church in Dublin’s north inner city was the spiritual director of the pilgrimage. He said: “ the amazing thing is that the pilgrimage managed to continue. Having to use the air raid shelter was a frightening experience. There was no security concern from our point of view, so it was a big shock.”
Catherine Steenson from Dublin said she was “”terrified since Sunday, delighted to be home, safe and sound.”
Pat Doyle from Belfast praised the organizers of the pilgrimage and the support they received from Marian Pilgrimages and Irish authorities. “It was slightly worrying on one occasion but we were grand, we knew what we were doing.”
Catherine Winston from Dublin said: “we were in Bethlehem when it all began and we left Bethlehem and went to Nazareth and it was quite safe there actually in Nazareth.”
The group said they were well-informed and handled the situation with composure and say they received exceptional support from the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv.
The Dublin representation of El Al facilitated their return on flight LY 303 which arrived Thursday evening.
