Archbishop Timothy Dolan enjoys a brew with a fellow pilgrim. (Debbie Hill)
Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan brought his good cheer to the Christian community of the West Bank yesterday, celebrating Mass and then enjoying a cold beer with his fellow pilgrims.
“It is the dream of people of every faith to visit the Holy Land, and I could not think of a better place to be right now,” the archbishop told The Post after leading Mass at the historic Church of the Good Shepherd in the Palestinian town of Jericho.
Dolan is on a nine-day pilgrimage with 50 New York-area priests before his ordination in Rome on Feb. 18.
“To be able to celebrate at sacred shrines, to sit on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and reflect on Gospel passages, is an amazing experience,” said Dolan, head of the New York Archdiocese.
“The church always recommends to priests between transitions: Spend time in retreat,” Dolan said.
“The timing has been particularly providential,” he said, referring to the fact that the trip had been scheduled before he learned he would be named a cardinal.
This is his fifth trip to the Holy Land.
The garden of the 90-year-old church — famous for the 12 peacocks who live on its roof — is meticulously maintained by Franciscan monk Brother Anthony Sejda, from Delanco, NJ.
“Words can’t describe how it feels to be in all the holy places with our shepherd, Archbishop Dolan, reflecting on the Good Shepherd, Jesus,” said Father Andrew Carrozza, pastor of St. Ann’s Church in Yonkers, who is traveling with Dolan.
Earlier in the day, the New York entourage visited the hilltop fortress of Masada, the site of a Jewish revolt against the Romans 1,940 years ago.
The group also trekked to the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were uncovered.
But, while the trip was primarily spiritual, it also underscored the difficulties faced by Christians living in the region.
“We are still concerned for our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, who, despite the optimism and hope they express, are facing daily difficulties in terms of education and a lack of job opportunities and are tempted to move from their ancestral home,” said Father Brian McWeeney, a fellow pilgrim and administrator of St. Michael’s Church on West 34th Street.
Sejda, the church gardener, said too many Christian families have moved out over the years.
“Our Catholic school has 400 students, 30 of them Catholics,” he said. “The rest are Muslims. It’s the best school in Jericho.”
Indeed, there are only about 400 Christians among Jericho’s 40,000 residents. Christians make up less than 2 percent of the population of Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Today, Dolan’s group plans to tour Jerusalem, including the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives.
He will also visit with Fouad Twal, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem.
The two struck up a friendship during Twal’s visit to New York last summer.
They have collaborated on campaigns to end violence against Christians in Africa and the Middle East, Jerusalem priests said.
Tomorrow, Dolan’s group is scheduled to visit the Holocaust museum Yad Vashem.