ITINERARY

Sunday, January 21 – Day 1
DEPART

This afternoon we depart from JFK Airport on board our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

Monday, January 22 Day 2
ATHENS / TEL AVIV

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we will be met and transfer to our hotel in Netanya for overnight.

Tuesday, January 23 – Day 3
TIBERIAS

Depart hotel for visit to Mt. Carmel. Here we visit the sight of Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal. We drive on to Nazareth visiting Mary’s well and walk through the local bazaars. Following personal prayer time, we will celebrate Mass at the Church of the the Word became Flesh. Before moving on to our hotel on the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight we will visit the Jordan where we will renew our Baptismal vows. This evening we will gather after dinner for an evening of reflection/discussion.

Wednesday, January 24 – Day 4
TIBERIAS

By boat, we will cross the Sea of Galilee and view the surrounding mountains and sights of Jesus’ bountiful ministry. On the opposite side we will first visit Capernaum where we will 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 will 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 will 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. This afternoon we drive to the village of Cana, the sight of Jesus’ first miracle where we will renew our vocational and relationship commitments. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Thursday, January 25  – Day 5
JERUSALEM

This morning we drive to Mt. Tabor the site of the Transfiguration. Following a time of personal prayer, we will celebrate the Mass of Transfiguration. We continue south through the Jordan Valley visiting Jericho and viewing the Mount of Temptation. We will make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem before arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight. The remaining afternoon will be free for your leisure. This evening we gather for reflection and discussion.

Friday, January 26 – Day 6
JERUSALEM

This morning after visiting the place of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster, we view the beautiful City of Jerusalem from the 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. Here we will 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 and visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time. We visit Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born and Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to utter the words of the Magnificat. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Saturday, January 27 -Day 7
JERUSALEM

This morning we go to Mt. Zion and visit the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room. Following Mass in the beautiful Franciscan Church of the Cenacle, 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, the Church of St. Ann, 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 will prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa and at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The remainder of the afternoon will be yours for personal adventure, to shop or just relax. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. This evening we gather after dinner for reflection and discussion.

Sunday, January 28  Day 8
JERUSALEM

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. We then return to the Judean wilderness, first visiting the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes, connected with John the Baptist Dead Sea Scrolls. After a stop for a swim at the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, we return to Jerusalem. On route we stop at the site of the Inn of the Good Samaritan. We end our day with a visit to Bethany, where we will celebrate Mass Church of Martha and Mary. Return to the dinner and overnight.

Monday, January 29 – Day 9
JAFFA

This morning will be yours for personal adventure, to shop or just relax. This afternoon we travel to Jaffa, where Peter had his rooftop experience, where we will celebrate Mass. Afterwards, we will celebrate our farewell dinner before we head to Ben Airport for our overnight flight home.

Monday, January 30 – Day 10
USA

We arrive this morning at JFK with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians will ever bring new meaning to our Scripture reading and celebration of Mass.