ENCOUNTER THE EARLY CHURCH IN
GREECE AND TURKEY

15 TO 31 OCTOBER 2015

Dear Pilgrims to Greece and Turkey,

Greetings of peace and joy to you in our Lord Jesus Christ!

It's now about ten days since our return from our sacred pilgrimage to the various shrines we visited throughout our trip, and I trust you are well-rested and have gone back to the grind of daily routines while still contemplating on your experiences of the pilgrimage.

Despite having journeyed with many groups for pilgrimages to various places around the world, I must say, this has been one of the most interesting trips for me. There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, there has been an extraordinary magnitude of kindness and patience I've witnessed among the pilgrims, among all of you, throughout this trip. Our team had been observing the movements of all the pilgrims during this trip, as we always do for each of our trips, and we were deeply moved as we saw how you provided heartfelt care for one another in such exceptional ways.

Secondly, I think you are one of the noisiest groups of pilgrims I've ever journeyed with before - but not without good reason! Despite the usual difficulties that we faced (as is inherent in all long-distance travels), none of these challenges succeeded in diminishing your exuberance and joy. This joy, I believe, was a source of strength for those who might have felt weak or tired or weary.

Let this kindness and patience and joy be characteristic of your pilgrimage of life, and you will find the presence of God ever with you to strengthen you in times of trials. It has been my pleasure and blessing to have journeyed with each of you. Please rest assured that you remain in my daily prayers and the prayers of the rest of the Splendour Team in the days to come.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!


United in prayer,
Deacon Sherman Kuek OFS




VIDEO FOOTAGE
Shorter Footage (14.12 mins)
Longer Footage (55.30 mins)

PHOTOGRAPHS
These photographs have been uploaded in high resolution. To download, please click on the selected photograph and it will open up in full size for saving.

TABULATION OF YOUR ASSESSMENT FORMS
We have uploaded here the tabulated results of the assessment forms you filled at the end of the trip so that you have an idea of how the entire group in general felt about the trip. Have a look!

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