DAY 1. Depart for Holy Land from USA

Depart for Holy Land (Tel-Aviv) with complimentary meals and beverages served onboard your international flight.

DAY 2. Arrive Tel-Aviv - Nazareth

On arrival in Tel Aviv, we will meet our private assistant in the airport and continue to be met by our guide and bus driver that will accompany us during our entire pilgrimage. Proceed to our hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3. Mt. Tabor - Cana - Nazareth

After breakfast, we will drive to the site of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1-50). At this site, you will have some time to reflect on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity. Our next stop is at Cana of Galilee to visit the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed the first of his signs, changing water to wine (Mass with renewal of wedding promises for couples). We drive back to Nazareth for lunch. Afterward, we will experience the town where Mary once lived and where Jesus lived as a child (Matthew 2:23). During the visit to Nazareth, we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation Church which includes the Church of St. Joseph (it’s from 1914-21 built over Byzantine ruins) which tradition identifies it with the workshop of Joseph and the house of the Holy Family. We will visit the Church of the Incarnation. Inside the Grotto are the remains of the house of the Blessed Virgin where the Angel appeared to Mary to announce the good news. We will continue to follow the pilgrims path to visit Mary’s well where the Virgin Mary would have walked daily to draw water from the spring.

DAY 4. Sea of Galilee

After breakfast, we drive to the Sea of Galilee to visit the Mt. of Beatitudes where our Lord gave the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). We will celebrate a Mass upon arrival. We visit Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic of the loaves and fishes, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). Also, in Tabgha is St. Peter’s Primacy where Jesus bestowed church leadership upon Peter (John 21:9). We continue to Capernaum to see the house of St. Peter and the Synagogue where our Lord preached. You will have an opportunity to try the St. Peter’s fish for lunch today. One of today’s highlights is a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). We will also see the “Jesus Boat” a 2000-year-old boat found at the shores of Magdala. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

DAY 5. Nazareth - Sheikh Husein - Petra

In the morning, we will drive to Sheikh Husein Border to cross to Jordan, we will pass the border, meet our Jordanian guide and continue our way to Petra. Lunch upon arrival, then we visit of the Nabatean Capital. We will walk along the Siq to reach the Magnificent Treasury and visit the archeological site. Dinner and overnight in Petra. (Early morning mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation)

DAY 6. Petra - Mt. Nebo - Madaba - Amman

After breakfast, we drive to Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died (Mass). Then pass by Madaba to visit the Monastery of St. George which hosts the unique mosaic Map of Egypt, Jordan and Holy Land.The map is believed to be the first one for this area, as it was built in the 6th century A.D. Transfer to Amman for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7. Amman - Jericho - Mount of Temptation - Dead Sea

After breakfast, you will drive along the Jordan Valley south to Kasr El-Yahud, Jesus’ baptismal site on the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). After some time at the Jordan River, we continue to the oldest inhabited city in the world, Jericho (Joshua 6:12-25)‭. ‬Mass at the Good Shepherd Church. In Jericho, you view the exact location of the Mount of Temptation where the Devil tempted Jesus during his forty-day fast (Luke 4:1). Following the visit to this mountain, we drive to the Dead Sea for a relaxing float or swim.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

DAY 8. Bethlehem

This morning, we drive to Bethlehem visiting the place of Birth of our Lord, The Basilica of the Nativity to celebrate Mass. We will visit the Grotto of Nativity and the Church of St. Catherine where the Midnight Mass is celebrated and the Caves of St. Joseph and St. Jerome underneath the church. Visit the Shepherd’s Fields where the Angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks during the night. This afternoon, we enjoy time for shopping at a local co-op Catholic owned store to support the remaining faithful Catholics of the Bethlehem community. Afterward, we head to Ein Karem for a visit. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

DAY 9. Jerusalem : The Passion of Jesus Last Hours

Early this morning, we plan to attend the Mass in the Holy Tomb at the Church of Holy Sepulcher. After Mass, we return to the hotel for breakfast. Our day continues with a visit to the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock and El-Aqsa Mosque. Afterward, we visit St. Anne’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda. We continue to the Judgment Hall, known as the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was led to be condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. At that place, we start walking the Via Dolorosa through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross. We reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice, stopping at each of the fourteen Stations of the Cross until we reach the Church of Holy Sepulchre. Visit Calvary and the empty Tomb of our Lord and the different sections of the church. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

DAY 10. Jerusalem - Mount Olive - Mount Zion

After breakfast, we drive to the top of Mt. Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem for a better understanding of its geography and some of the key sites surrounding the area. Visit the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray “The Our Father”. Then we will walk on the Palm Sunday road to the Church of Dominus Flevit, where our Lord wept over the city.

Continue our walk on the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethsemane. At Gethsemane is the Rock of Agony where Jesus uttered his last prayer (celebrate Mass). Spend some time in reflection and meditation inside the church. (Planned meeting with H.B. Cardinal Pierbatista Pizzaballa). Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem

DAY 11. Fly Back Home

This morning, we departure from Tel-Aviv and flight back to the USA with wonderful memories to cherish.