0618AA3 - Holy Land Pilgrimage 10 days from New York, JFK

Today we depart JFK on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We enjoy in-flight movies and dinner and breakfast aloft.

We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv and transfer to our hotel near Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we journey along the Mediterranean and visit the Roman and Crusader remains at Caesarea. We travel to Mt. Carmel, where the first Carmelite community started. We visit the site of Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal and enjoy a brief orientation tour of Haifa. We celebrate our Mass at the Stella Maris Carmelite church and visit Elijah’s cave. We will enjoy a simple dinner prepared by the Nuns.

This morning we walk through the local bazaar of Nazareth. Following personal prayer time, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh! Before moving on to our hotel on the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight, we drive to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, where our married couples renew their wedding vows. Following lunch on our own we drive to Mt. Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, where we have a time for private prayer and meditation. Afterwards we transfer to our hotel along the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight.

By boat, we cross the Sea of Galilee and view the surrounding mountains and sites of Jesus' bountiful ministry. On the opposite side, we first visit 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 followed by Mass. The hardy can make the short walk down to the sea (others can take the motorcoach.) Here we visit Tabgha and the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection. Next, we see the Benedictine Basilica of the Loaves and Fishes. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we visit the Jordan, where we renew our Baptismal promises. 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 on to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we have time for personal prayer and celebrate Mass at the Church of All Nations. We then continue along the Kidron Valley stopping at St. Peter in Gallicantu (The Cock Crows), where Jesus was held in the house of the High Priest Caiaphas. This afternoon, we continue to the New City passing by the Knesset and Hebrew University. We visit the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls. 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. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today 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 then drive through the wilderness of Judea to ascend Masada by cable car. This was the mountaintop fortress of King Herod where from 70-73 AD, the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Jewish revolt against Rome; we see the remains of storehouses, cisterns, and a royal palace. Then to the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls. We also have the opportunity of spending time at a Dead Sea beach, where you may swim in the clear yet salty waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

This morning, we go to Mt. Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room. We enter the Old City through Zion Gate. Making our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall, we see the Cardo and the remains of Nehemiah's wall. We visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Next, we 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 walk the Stations of The Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This afternoon, we travel to Abu Gosh, one of the traditional sites of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared on the road on the first Easter Sunday. We celebrate our closing Holy Land Mass here. Afterward, we continue to Jaffa, the city of Jonah, where Peter had his rooftop experience, where we ride through the quaintly restored area. Afterwards, we celebrate our farewell dinner nearby before we head to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight home.

We arrive in the U.S. this morning 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.