Teaching Religious Education is a great privilege that I have enjoyed for some 22 years. I have taught RE every year of my career. I could not guess how many hours of RE lessons I have taught or how many students I have shared my love of faith, Catholic tradition, World Religions, ethics, sacred texts, Catholic Social Teachings, conscience, sacraments, rituals, prayer and so many other wonderful topics with. It was therefore the gift of a lifetime, to be able to have traveled to Israel, the Holy Land, with my family earlier this term. I hope you will indulge me in this reflection on our experience.

The reason for choosing to go to Israel, originally came from an invitation to be part of the first-ever Surf Lifesaving Carnival to be held in Poleg Beach, Netanya, Israel. My husband, Darren and children Erin and Luke are all keen members of the Broulee SLSC and when this opportunity arose, they were very interested. For me, to travel to Israel was a dream – a ‘bucket-list’ place. And so, sometimes life throws you strange invitations and you just say "yes” which is what we did. 

My family and I spent 13 days travelling Israel and Jordan. As a teacher of Religion and History, I was in my element. On our second day in the country, I was looking over the Holy City of Jerusalem, a sight that overwhelmed me. Here I was finally looking at the cityscape of a place I had stared at and studied thousands of times in books, on posters, in documentaries and now it was before my very eyes. I have now prayed at the Western Wall, a place of great pain and joy for Jews. I have stood in the searing hot sun but felt the cool of the enormous stones and experienced the peace and quiet one feels in prayer whilst standing shoulder to shoulder with other women in the noise of a very busy city. To stand outside the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, such holy places for Muslims, and admire the intricate mosaics that speak of God’s beauty and power was incredibly special. I am very grateful to have experienced more closely than I ever have Jewish and Islamic faith, culture, food, and traditions.

Naturally, I was thrilled to travel to places of significance to Christians. I went to Mass with Erin at 6:30 am in the Church of the Annunciation. It is a very beautiful church built over a grotto where it is believed that Mary received the message she would bear a child, and where she opened her heart and said “yes” to God’s plan. We also travelled to the Sea of Galilee where we visited many wonderful churches, my favourite being the Church of the Primacy dedicated to St Peter. It too is built over the remains of what is said to be Peter’s house and a place where he and Jesus would have had many meals and conversations. I was sure to put my feet in the Sea of Galilee and reflect on who else’s feet once stood on that shore. It was wonderful.

On our second visit to Jerusalem, we visited the “upper room” the room where the Last Supper was held as well as where the apostles and Mary received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. All these experiences culminated in our journey to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the church that is built over the place of Jesus’ death and the tomb where he was laid and from where he resurrected. I was able to touch the large slab of marble that covers the original limestone of the tomb. It was a very emotional moment.

My intention in writing about my trip to the Holy Land is to provide thanks for the opportunity to have the time to make this journey. Due to the dates of the SLS Carnival in Netanya, I took nine days off work. Teachers are always very aware, more so than ever now, of how difficult it is to have cover for classes, and we also do not like leaving our students. I would also like to share that in a world that is becoming more and more secular, making time for the spiritual is so enriching. I feel very blessed to have travelled to such a holy place, a place of great contradiction but also such beauty. I am more knowledgeable in my faith and in my teaching discipline of RE. I will never forget the feel of that clear, blue Galilee water on my feet or the moment my eyes first saw Jerusalem in all its glory.

Erica Drewsen

Religious Education Coordinator