Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Day 1

Apr 29, 2023: Overnight Flight
Travel to the Holy Land on an inspirational journey that visits some of the most ancient sites in the world.

Day 2

Apr 30, 2023: Tel Aviv, Israel - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in Tel Aviv, a bustling city brimming with culture and history, situated on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a dinner at your hotel.

Day 3

May 01, 2023: Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Mount Tabor - Cana - Tiberias
Travel to the walled city and Roman ruins of Caesarea. It was here that St. Peter converted the first pagan, Centurion Cornelius, to become a Christian, and where St. Paul was imprisoned for two years. Travel to Mount Tabor, the site of Our Lord’s Transfiguration. Your day continues with a visit to Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, at a wedding feast where you can opt to renew your marriage vows.* Arrive in Tiberias for a 2-night stay.

Day 4

May 02, 2023: Tiberias - Sea of Galilee - Tabgha - Capernaum - Tiberias
This morning, travel to nearby Tabgha and visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes, built to commemorate the miraculous feeding of five thousand. Stop at the Mount of Beatitudes for a stunning view of the Sea of Galilee. Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Beatitudes. Continue to the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, where Our Lord appeared to the apostles after His resurrection. In Capernaum, visit the church built over the ruins of St. Peter’s house. Finally, visit Yardenit, the Jordan River baptismal site where you may opt to renew your baptismal vows.** Later this afternoon, take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where many of the Apostles were fishermen and where Our Lord preached. Relax over dinner at a local restaurant featuring traditional Middle Eastern cuisine such as assorted appetizers and grilled meats.

Day 5

May 03, 2023: Tiberias - Nazareth - Bethlehem - Jerusalem
In Nazareth, visit the Church of the Annunciation. Proceed to Bethlehem and enjoy a stop at Shepherds’ Field, where the Angels appeared on the first Christmas night. Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Nativity, built on the birth site of Our Lord.*** Later, arrive in one of the holiest cities in the world, Jerusalem.

Day 6

May 04, 2023: Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
Your visit to Jerusalem begins with a stop at the Church of the Pater Noster (“Our Father”), built on the traditional site where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer. Next, make your way down the steep descent of the Palm Sunday route to the site where Our Lord wept over the city, now known as Dominus Flevit. Afterwards, reflect at the Church of All Nations, built over the rock on which Our Lord prayed the night before He was crucified. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the site of Christ’s betrayal by Judas. Next, visit Mary’s Tomb, the ancient burial site of the Virgin Mary, then visit the Hall of the Last Supper. Pause at Caiaphas’ Palace – known today as St. Peter in Gallicantu – where St. Peter once denied Our Lord in one of its courts. This afternoon, travel to Ein Karem to visit the Church of St. John the Baptist, built over the Grotto of his birthplace, and celebrate Mass.

Day 7

May 05, 2023: Jerusalem
The day is yours to explore the city on your own. Perhaps you’ll choose to take an optional excursion to Jericho, Bethany and the Dead Sea. No matter how you spend your day, gather in the evening with your fellow travelers to celebrate Mass.

Day 8

May 06, 2023: Jerusalem, the Old City
Follow in the footsteps of Our Lord today as you visit the Church of St. Anne, marking the place where the parents of the Blessed Mother lived. Pause for a moment of devotion close to St. Stephen’s Gate, where the first Christian martyr was stoned to death. Continue to the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic, and see the Ecce Homo Arch, the site where Pontius Pilate presented Our Lord to the crowds. Walk through the Muslim, Christian and Jewish quarters to the Western Wall of the Temple. Then, follow the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, walked by Our Lord on the way to His crucifixion. Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Jerusalem, before celebrating the end of this unforgettable and holy experience at a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 9

May 07, 2023: Jerusalem - Tour Ends
Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many pleasant memories.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner