DAY 1, OCTOBER 31 - DETROIT>THE HOLY LAND

Begin our journey to The Holy Land, with meals and beverages served on board our flight.

 

DAY 2, NOVEMBER 1 -  TEL AVIV / THE GALILEE

On arrival in Tel Aviv we will be met by our Catholic guide and transferred to our hotel at the Mt of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Dinner will be served at the hotel. D

 

DAY 3, NOVEMBER 2 -  MT TABOR / NAZARETH / CANA - After breakfast we leave for Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration. Mass will be at the Basilica designed to represent the three tents Peter, James and John wished to erect.  We then visit Nazareth, the town in lower Galilee where Jesus grew up. We will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation, and then visit the Church of St. Joseph, and Mary’s Well. Then to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water into wine. For those who wish, they may perform the renewal of their wedding vows. On to our hotel at the Mt of Beatitudes. B | D

 

DAY 4, NOVEMBER 3 - MT OF BEATITUDES / TABGHA / CHURCH OF THE PRIMACY / MAGDALA - The day starts with Holy Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes, scene of the Sermon on the Mount.  Then to Tabgha where Jesus fed the 5,000 and The Church of the Primacy of Peter where Jesus told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” On to Capernaum where Jesus launched his Ministry; see the synagogue dated to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of Peter’s home. After enjoying a lunch of St Peter Fish, we continue to the fascinating Archeological Park in Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalen. Here we will see the first century synagogue, the Magdala Stone and parts of the ancient town. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. B | L | D

 

DAY 5, NOVEMBER 4 - BOAT RIDE SEA OF GALILEE / CAESAREA PHILIPPI - We start the day a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we will read scripture telling of Jesus walking on water and calming of the storm.  After, we head north to Caesarea Philippi at the foot of Mt Hermon, where Jesus told St. Peter “You are the Rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” B | D

DAY 6, NOVEMBER 5 - BAPTISMAL SITE / JERUSALEM – Today we depart the Galilee and head up to Jerusalem. We will drive down The Jordan Valley where, after lunch, we will go to the Baptismal site on the River Jordan where John the Baptist lived, taught, and baptized in the desert. After renewing our baptismal vows, we drive up to Jerusalem to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  B | D

DAY 7, NOVEMBER 6 - SHEPHERD’S FIELD / BETHLEHEM / EIN KAREM - Begin the day with a visit to the caves at the Shepherds’ Field which still have soot marks of the fires the shepherds lit to keep warm. After, we go to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem where will descend to the Grotto of the Nativity; here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary. After Mass at the Church of St. Catherine and the Grotto of St Jerome, we travel to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist. We visit the church commemorating his memory and the Church of the Visitation.  Back to the hotel in Jerusalem. B | D

 

DAY 8, NOVEMBER 7 -  JERICHO/ OLD CITY JERUSALEM – This morning we visit Jericho, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, to view the Mt of Temptation and see an example of a Sycamore Tree up which Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus.  After Holy Mass at the Franciscan Sister’s School, we return to Jerusalem.  This afternoon is free to enjoy the Old City at your leisure.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel. B | D

 

DAY 9, NOVEMBER 8 - MT. OF OLIVES / GETHSEMANE / MT. ZION - We ascend Mount of Olives to visit the Pater Noster shrine where Jesus taught His disciples The Lord’s Prayer. Walking down the Palm Sunday Road we stop at the beautiful Dominus Flevit Church - “The Lord wept.” We arrive at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations and celebrate Holy Mass at the “Rock of Agony,” identified as the place where Jesus prayed on the night of His arrest. From there, we visit Peter in Gallicantu, “Crowing Rooster,” church built over the site of the house of the High Priest Caiaphas and commemorating Peter’s denial of Jesus. We then go to Mt Zion to visit the Upper Room and Dormition Abbey. Return to hotel. B | D

DAY 10, NOVEMBER 9 -  ST ANNE’S CHURCH / POOLS OF BETHESDA / VIA DOLOROSA / HOLY SEPULCHRE / EMMAUS - This morning we start the day at St Anne’s Church, the birthplace of Our Lady’s mother. We will also learn about the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic. We will then begin the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. The Stations of the Cross lead through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After lunch, we will travel to Emmaus Nicopolis, just as the disciples did in Luke 24. Back to our hotel for a Farewell Dinner. B | D

DAY 11, NOVEMBER 10 - Today we transfer to the airport for our flight home after a spiritual journey in the footsteps of Jesus. Shalom and God bless! B