A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to the Holy Land

February 25, 2024 – Sunday
NEWARK / ISRAEL
Tour members gather at Newark Liberty International Airport and board our direct to the Holy Land. Meals are served onboard our overnight flight.

February 26, 2024 – Monday
TEL AVIV / NETANYA
This afternoon we arrive in Tel Aviv. We are met by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour escort and board our motor coach for a drive to Netanya on the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner and overnight in Netanya.

February 27, 2024 – Tuesday
NETANYA / CAESAREA MARITIMA /HAIFA / MOUNT CARMEL / CANA / NAZARETH
This morning we will drive to the sand dunes of the Mediterranean coast to visit Caesarea Maritima; “Caesarea by the Sea”, built by King Herod just a decade before the birth of Jesus. The spectacular ruins were once the home of Pontius Pilate and the site of the trial of the Apostle Paul. From here we drive to Haifa and ascend the heights of Mount Carmel for one of Israel’s best views high above the Mediterranean See. We see the place where the prophet Elijah was instrumental in the defeat of the prophets of Ba’al, the site of the sacrifice of Elijah and visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.In the afternoon we will visitCana for a renewal of wedding vows where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine at the Wedding Feast. Finally, we arrive in Nazareth where Jesus grew up as a child. Here we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she would “bring forth a son”. After visits to Mary’s Well and the Church of Saint Joseph, site of Joseph’s carpentry shop, we proceed to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

February 28, 2024 – Wednesday
TIBERIAS / SEA OF GALILEE / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / TABGHA / CAPERNAUM / CAESAREA PHILIPPI
This morning we drive to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee for a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we retell the ’Sermon on the Mount’ while standing on the Mount of Beatitudes looking out over the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee. Here we pause for our own celebration of Mass. Following Mass, we visit Tabgha, derived from the Greek wordHeptapegon (“seven springs”). Here we visit the Church of the Multiplication and see the mosaic floor commemorating the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.We also visit the nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Peter received his commission from Jesus to “feed my sheep”.In the afternoon we enjoy our “St. Peter’s lunch” on the Sea of Galilee. In the afternoon, we arrive in the town where Jesus’ ministry was centered, Capernaum, where we see the remains of an early Church, the ruins of Peter’s House, and the ancient synagogue where Jesus preached. From here we drive north to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Saint Peter proclaimed that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus “conferred the keys” of the Kingdom of Heaven upon Peter and said to Peter “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church”.Our day concludes with a classic boat ride across the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee recalling the miracle of walking on water and calling on Peter and Andrew to become ‘fishers of men’.Late afternoon we return to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

February 29, 2024 – Thursday
MOUNT TABOR / JORDAN RIVER /JERICHO / JERUSALEM
Today we drive to Judea through Samaria. Enroute we ascend Mount Tabor, the “Mount of Transfiguration”.We will see the place of the transfiguration in one of the most beautiful churches in the Holy Land at the summit of the dome like mountain. We will next descend to the Jordan River to Yardenit, where Jesus was immersed in the waters by John the Baptist. Here we renew our own baptismal promises in the cleansing waters. A drive through the lush Jordan valley brings us to the oldest city in the world, Jericho, where the famed walls came “tumblin’ down”.We celebrate Mass in Jericho at the Good Shepherd Church and see the famous Sycamore tree that Zaccheus climbed in order to see Jesus. From Jericho, we enter the harshness of the Judean desert and see the Mount of Temptation where, after 40 days of fasting, Jesus was tempted by Satan and prevailed. We turn toward Jerusalem and arrive for dinner and overnight.

March 1, 2024 – Friday
JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM / MOUNT OF OLIVES
Our day begins with a short drive to the Shepherd’s Field with its caves that were typical of the stables of Jesus’ time. It is here where the angel appeared to the shepherds and led them to Bethlehem. Here we pause for our own celebration of Mass. Following Mass, we make the short drive to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. Here we will see the Grotto of the Holy Family and the Cave of Saint Jerome. We also visit the adjacent St. Catherine’s Church and the nearby Milk Grotto, the site where tradition says the Holy Family took refuge during the Slaughter of the Innocents before their flight into Egypt. While in Bethlehem, we have time for shopping beautiful Olive wood carvings, crafts and other artwork. In the afternoon, we return to Jerusalem and arrive at the Mount of Olives, with its dramatic view of the walled Old City of Jerusalem. This is followed by a visit to the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught the “Our Father”, and the Chapel of the Ascension. From here we walk down the hill known as the “Palm Sunday Road”, to Dominus Flevit Chapel on the site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We visit the beautiful Church of the Assumption where we see the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. Finally, we visit the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus suffered his agony. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

March 2, 2024 – Saturday
JERUSALEM / OLD CITY
Early this morningwe recall the final hours of Jesus’ life at Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation and the Arch of the Ecce Homo “Behold, the man”, the Lithostrotos where we see the ancient carvings in the stone floor of the basement.From here we will walk and pray along the Via Dolorosa – the “Stations of the Cross”, where Jesus carried and fell beneath the weight of his cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing the tomb of Jesus. Here we will celebrate Mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. In the afternoon we willvisit St. Anne’s Church, where the Virgin Mary was born. Near St. Anne’s we see the open-air Pool of Bethesda where Jesus performed a miracle cure and the infirm have sought healing for centuries. From here we will walk through the colorful Old City Bazaar, literally an ancient shopping mall in the 21st century, to enjoy the unique old-world flavor of fabrics, spices and handcrafts. The remainder of our afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

March 3, 2024 – Sunday
JERUSALEM / MOUNT ZION
This morning we will visit Mount Zion and arrive at The Upper Room, (Room of the Last Supper and Pentecost) a place of prayer, song and praise. One of Jerusalem’s landmarks, the Dormition Abbey represents Mary having passed into eternal life, asleep, in grand Byzantine décor. We also visit King David’s tomb. We will next visit and celebrate Mass at the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu – the House of Caiaphas, the place of the trial of Jesus and where Peter denied Christ three times. From here we enter the Old City through Zion Gate and visit the Jewish Quarter to walk the “Cardo”,the ancient Roman road towards the Western Wall of the Temple or “Wailing Wall”, currently Judaism’s holiest site where people from around the world come to pray. Following free time for prayer at the foot of the Western Wall, we enjoy a fascinating tour of the Western Walls Tunnels, a journey through time and history to see original walls, massive cut stones and excavations from King Solomon’s Temple. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

March 4, 2024 – Monday
BETHANY / MASADA / THE DEAD SEA / EIN GEDI
Following breakfast, our day begins with a visit to Bethany to see the home of Mary and Martha and the Tomb of Lazarus where Jesus “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” and Lazarus was risen from the dead. Following Mass at the Church of Saint Lazarus, we proceed to Masada, where we ascend by cable car on a spectacular ride to the top of the fortress palace of Herod, which was made famous by Jewish Zealots during the Roman siege from 70-73 AD. We see the remains of the fortifications, synagogue, storehouses, cisterns, and the 6th century Byzantine Church.In the afternoon we enjoy beach time at the Dead Sea – the absolute lowest point on Earth where the salty water is so buoyant that sinking is IMPOSSIBLE. Finally, we visit the desert oasis Ein Gedi with its waterfall and fresh water pool where those who wish may enter its refreshing waters. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

March 5&6, 2024 – Tuesday &Wednesday
JERUSALEM / EMMAUS / EIN KAREM /NEWARK
This morning we will visit the Israeli Museum and see its model of the Second Temple as it was in the time of Jesus, and then the “Shrine of the Book”, with its Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. In the afternoon we drive to the traditional location of Emmaus, in the town of Abu Ghosh where we visit its beautiful Notre Dame Church. We continue on to Ein Karem for a visit to the birthplace of John the Baptist, where we celebrate Mass. Following Mass, those who wish may walk up the hill to visit the Church of the Visitation. It is here where the Blessed Virgin Mary proclaimed her famous hymn of thanksgiving known as the Magnificat. Late afternoon we return to Jerusalem for this evening’s “farewell dinner” at a local restaurant.Following dinner, we proceed to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport for our direct flight home, arriving in the United States early the following morning. Though we come to the end of our time of pilgrimage in the Holy Land, our faith is deepened, our hearts stirred. Reading our Bible and seeking Christ as pilgrims in this life will forever take on new meaning for every one of us.