1018UA3 - Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 8 days from El Paso

Today we depart El Paso to connect with our overnight flight aboard a wide-bodied jet. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft.

We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv and transfer to our hotel on the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight.

This morning we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to the seaside village of Kibbutz Ginosar to view the historic archaeological discovery of “The Jesus Boat.” On to Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village synagogue and the new church built atop St. Peter's house. Next, we drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we have time for personal meditation in the beautiful gardens. We drive to Tabgha and see the Benedictine Basilica of the Loaves and Fishes followed by the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection. This afternoon we drive to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, where our married couples renew their wedding vows. Afterwards, we continue to Nazareth where after some personal prayer time, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh! We visit the Jordan where we renew our Baptismal promises. Then back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive to Mt. Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, where we celebrate the Mass of Transfiguration. We continue south through the Jordan Valley visiting Jericho and view the Mount of Temptation. We tour the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Next, we tour along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. On route to Jerusalem, we pass by the traditional site of the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Finally, we make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem before arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning after visiting the place of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster, we view the beautiful City of Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives. We then walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit Chapel, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and where we celebrate Mass if the chapel is available. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We then enter the Old City through Zion Gate. Making our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall, we see the Cardo and the remains of Hezekiah's wall. If possible, we go to the temple mount for an exterior view of the Dome of the Rock (schedule and conditions permitting). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we drive to Bethlehem, The House of Bread, to visit the Church of the Nativity that commemorates the birth of Christ. We visit the Manger, Crusader's Cloister, and the Grotto of St. Jerome where we celebrate the Christmas Mass. We return to Jerusalem and enter the Old City via St. Stephen's Gate and visit the Church of St. Ann (Mary’s mother) and the Pool of Bethesda. We visit Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, Arch of Ecce Homo and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. We prayerfully follow the Stations of The Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After some free time in the Old City we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we enter the New City passing by the Knesset and Hebrew University. We visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus' time and Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born, and Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to utter the words of the Magnificat. We celebrate our closing Holy Land Mass here. Afterwards, we drive northwards along the Mediterranean to Caesarea and visit the Roman and Crusader remains, where St. Peter and Paul stayed. We return to Jaffa, the city of Jonah, where Peter had his rooftop experience, where we ride through the quaintly restored area. We celebrate our farewell dinner nearby before we return to our hotel for overnight.

Early this morning, we head to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home arriving later today with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians bring new meaning to our Scripture reading and celebration of Mass.