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Whirling and Traveling

Location: Konya, Biblical Antioch (of Pisidia), Antalya

This morning began with a gift: the chance to celebrate Mass in a local church – only the second time we’ve been able to do so during our pilgrimage. Even more special, we celebrated the Presentation of Our Lady, and I had the privilege of cantoring. Their gratitude for our presence and the warmth with which they welcomed us set a peaceful tone for the day.

Breakfast followed, buffet-style. A small detail, but one I appreciated more than I expected. Being able to choose my own portions felt like a rare little comfort on a trip where meals are usually predetermined. Believe me, not feeling the pressure of having to eat everything in front of you is refreshing.

Later in the morning, we visited the birthplace of the Whirling Dervishes. Learning about this expression of Islamic spirituality, a tradition that seeks deeper union with God through music and love, captivated me. These are two ways I often encounter God myself, so the experience struck a personal chord.

From there, we made our way to Antioch, not to be confused with the other Antioch in Syria, where Paul also spent time. After a delightful lunch and rich conversation with my brother seminarians, we ascended to the ruins of the ancient city. Among the stones and scenery, we read from Scripture about Paul’s adventures and prayed daytime prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours together. Local restrictions kept us from singing, which broke my heart a bit, but the quiet gave the moment its own contemplative stillness.

The hike up was mostly smooth, though Jim did take a brief slide down a small hill; he’s totally fine, I promise! Eventually, we piled back onto the bus for the long ride to our hotel. Along the way we made a couple of stops, one of which involved picking up some locally famous apples. Once back on the bus, we prayed a holy and rosary, shared some laughter, and simply enjoyed being together on the journey.

By the time we arrived at our destination, the hotel was yet another blessing – a gentle landing at the end of a full, grace-filled day.

-Alex Paiz, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan

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