In support of the Diocesan Mission Strategy goal of every church being in partnership with another church or organization in the Anglican Communion, and in support of further developing our bonds with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Diocese of Jerusalem, the Diocese is offering an opportunity to participate in a mission pilgrimage to Palestine/Israel. Mission projects will enable participants to develop relationships with Palestinians in Nablus and Ramla. Pilgrimage will include visits to locations such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western (Wailing) Wall, Church of the Nativity, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, the Dome of the Rock, and the Sea of Galilee. Click herefor the complete itinerary (in PDF format).

If you are interested in participating, please submit a letter describing why you want to participate, what you hope to gain from this opportunity, and how you anticipate sharing this experience with your faith community.

It’s anticipated that the overall expense for the mission pilgrimage will be $3,500. Given changes in the airline industry and possible changes to the itinerary, it’s possible the overall cost will shift some, but is not expected to fluctuate significantly. For those concerned about the overall expense, it’s assumed that participants will conduct fundraising (see our fundraising tips and resources on our Leading A Trip page). Options and ideas for fundraising will be discussed in the first group meeting. Given that the purpose of this mission pilgrimage is to develop relationships, it’s also hoped that your respective parish will “sponsor” individuals as mission leaders, providing some funding from mission resources.

All participants are expected to make an initial deposit of $600 with their letter of application by Jan. 15. Deposits are non-refundable. The deposit and letter will serve to secure a place on the trip.

Questions about the Mission Pilgrimage should be directed to the Rev. Ted Gaiser at tgaiser@diomass.org or 617-782-1577. Application material and deposits should be mailed (or emailed) to:

              The Rev. Ted Gaiser
              The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
              138 Tremont St., Boston, MA  02111