10 - Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

November 3 - 12, 2008

Dead Sea • Wedding Vow Renewal in Cana • Mount of Beatitudes • Tiberias • Sea of Galilee • Bethlehem • Jerusalem • Jericho • Mount Caramel • Mount Zion • Baptismal Renewal in the River Jordan • Mount of Olives

PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Round-trip airfare from Chicago, deluxe hotel accommodations in Tiberias and Jerusalem, 18 meals, private motor coach, and expert English speaking tour guide, daily mass, sightseeing as listed in the itinerary, Catholic prayer book, Catholic Trips luggage tags, special fellowship prayers each night, under the spiritual direction of Father Tim Nolan and personally escorted by Matt Kelly and Jim West from Catholic Trips.

TRIP ITINERARY

Monday, November 3rd
United States - Tel Aviv
We begin our pilgrimage to the Holy Land with an overnight flight from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Madrid, Spain, en route to Israel. Our flight departs at 4:45pm. Dinner will be served on-board the plane. D

Tuesday, November 4th
Tel Aviv - Tiberias
This morning, breakfast will be served on-board the plane before we arrive in Spain at approximately 7:45am. We will pass through customs and continue our flight to Tel Aviv at 10am. We will arrive approximately 4-5 hours later, collect our luggage in the baggage claim area, and meet our local expert guide, who will be with us the entire time of our pilgrimage. We will board our private motor coach and begin our ride to TIBERIAS.

Along the way, we will visit some of the local historic sights, which include Joppa, where the Prophet Jonah attempted to flee from God and the Apostle Peter had his rooftop vision. Afterwards, we will enjoy a panoramic view of Caesarea Maritima with its Roman Theatre, Aqueduct and Crusader City. Continuing to Mount Carmel, we will visit Stella Maris, the Carmelite Monastery. Our next stop will be the ancient city of Nazareth, where we will see the Basilica of the Annunciation, Joseph’s Workshop and Cana of Galilee, where the first miracle of Jesus took place. We will eventually arrive at our first-class hotel early in the evening. We will check in and get settled, then enjoy a “welcome dinner.” A brief orientation and prayer service led by Fr. Tim will follow dinner. B, D.

Wednesday, November 5th
Sea of Galilee - Mount Tabor
This morning, following breakfast, we will board the Jesus Boat, which will take us on a cruise of the Sea of Galilee. This will be followed by a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Capernaum. Fr. Tim will celebrate Holy Mass at the outdoor chapel at the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee. In the afternoon, we will ascend Mount Tabor, the site of Jesus’ Transfiguration. Fr. Tim will celebrate Holy Mass in the Basilica of the Transfiguration. From here we will see fantastic panoramic views of the Jezreel Valley. We will return back to our hotel in the later part of the afternoon, where dinner will be served. B, D.

Thursday, November 6th
River Jordan - Jericho - Jerusalem
This morning we start our day with Holy Mass, which will be followed by an early morning breakfast. We will pack our luggage and check out of our hotel and drive to JERUSALEM. On our way, we will visit the Baptismal Site at the River Jordan, where we will participate in a special baptismal prayer and renewal led by Fr Tim. Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Baptismal Site. We will continue our journey and travel through the Jordan Valley arriving at Jericho. The Mount of Temptation rises behind the ruins and it was here that Jesus healed the blind man, Bartimaeus. Then, following the path of Jesus to Jerusalem, we will ride through the main streets before arriving at our first-class hotel, where we will be staying for the remainder of our pilgrimage. Once we check in and get settled, we will meet for dinner, fellowship and a brief orientation. B, D.

Friday, November 7th
Mount Scopus - Bethlehem
Today, following breakfast, we will drive to the top of Mount Scopus and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Holy City. Our day of sightseeing includes a drive to the place of Jesus’ Ascension, the historic Mount of Olives and the Pater Noster Grotto. We will walk down the Palm Sunday Path to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping to visit sites representing Biblical events in the ministry of Jesus. We will drive to Mount Zion and tour the Church of St. Peter Galicanto, the Upper Room of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb and Dormition Abbey. Lunch will be on our own. In the afternoon we will visit Bethlehem’s Shepherd’s Fields and the Grotto of the Nativity. Fr. Tim will celebrate Holy Mass at the Basilica of St. Joseph in Bethlehem. Later in the day, we will return to our hotel and enjoy dinner together. B, D.

Saturday, November 8th
Dead Sea - Kumeran - Masada
Following breakfast, we will drive to the Dead Sea, where a majority of our day will take place. Our sightseeing includes stops in Kumeran and Masada. We will stop at the Dead Sea and enjoy a swim in water that will not allow you to sink! Holy Mass will be celebrated in Kumeran by Fr. Tim. We will enjoy dinner back at our hotel. B, D.

Sunday, November 9th
Jerusalem - City of David
This morning, following a hearty breakfast, we enter the old city through St. Stevens Gate. Later we will see the Pools of Bethesda and the Lithostrotos. Following the Way of the Cross on the Via Delorosa, we will arrive at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, where Fr. Tim will celebrate Holy Mass. We will visit the Bazaar and arrive at Jaffa Gate. In the afternoon, we will visit the “City of David” excavations area, we will see the recently excavated Palace most probably built by King David, see the famous Warren’s Shaft and the tunnel built by King Hezekiah, later we will arrive at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the blind (John 9). Later this evening, we will enjoy dinner and fellowship back at our hotel. B, D.

Monday, November 10th
Jerusalem - Wailing Wall
This morning we will travel to the famous Model of Jerusalem. Today, the model can be visited at the Israel Museum. We will also visit the Shrine of the Book where we will have an opportunity to the Dead Sea Scrolls; chapters from the Holy Bible written on parchment over 2000 years ago! From here we will drive to the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, here we will see the famous Menorah- Seven Branch Candelabra. This is the official emblem of the modern state of Israel, and an exact replica of the menorah that used to be in the Temple. Next will be a moving visit to Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem. Not far from here is the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. Here we will visit the Church of the Visitation. In the afternoon we will enter the Old City via the Dung’s Gate. We will reach the Wailing Wall and visit the southern wall excavations area known as the Ophel. Here is the new Davidson visitors’ center telling us the story of the Glorious Temple as found in the extensive archaeological digs along the southern walls. We will see the authentic wide steps leading to the temple and the ritual bathes. This evening, we will return to our hotel for dinner. B, D.

Tuesday, November 11th
Malcha Mall - Old City Shuk
Today is your day to enjoy at your leisure. Maybe you would like to return to Holy sites we visited in the past few days, or perhaps explore some new places of interest. There will be plenty of time to shop for souvenirs in the modern Malcha Mall or look for a bargain in the Old City Shuk. Our hotel offers all kinds of relaxing amenities, so you may opt to get a massage or swim in their pool. Tonight, Fr. Tim will celebrate Holy Mass in a private room in our hotel, followed by a special “farewell dinner” at the hotel. After dinner, we will end our evening with fellowship, sharing, and prayer led by Fr. Tim. B, D.

Wednesday, November 12th
Tel Aviv - Chicago
Today we pack our suitcases, check out of our hotel, and transfer to the airport for our flight home. Breakfast will be served on the plane. And even though we are leaving this Holy place, let this experience be just the beginning of our real Pilgrimage, as we take everything we have experienced, and allow it to bring us closer to Christ when we arrive home. B.

NORMA VENTURI
St. Joseph Parish, Pekin, IL
“I’ve traveled to Fatima, Lourdes, and Rome as a pilgrim, but the trip to the Holyland with Catholic Trips was the highlight of them all.”

AARON HOSTE
“It was a trip of a lifetime.  I never dreamed we would see as much as we did or have it so accessible.  To be able to put your hand in the hole where Jesus’ cross was raised was unbelievable.   Bible readings have never been the same since we can now visualize what the sites look like.  Simply incredible, I would recommend it to everyone.  I learned more during the trip than I would have if I read books on the subjects for a year.”

JIM & NANCY
“Our tour of the Holy Land with Catholic Trips was a wonderful experience.  We were able to visit sites in Israel and the West Bank that we had read about in the Bible.  It was a perfect combination of touring, praying, eating and laughing.”

JIM & DIANE MARCHIK
“The trip to the Holy Land was our second with Catholic Trips.  We were completely satisfied with all the arrangements, but especially with the leaders and guides on the trip.  All were committed to making the experience interesting, spiritual and comfortable.  We came home with a deeper insight into the land and life of Jesus.  Reading the New Testament brings us back to the places of our pilgrimage and a more complete understanding of scripture.  We felt and learned so much.”

DEACON BOB BELTRAMINI
St. Joseph Parish, Peru, IL
“The Holy Land trip with Catholic Trips was a life changing experience. Christmas and Easter will never be the same after seeing the sites. The trip was very well planned. Safety was never an issue and I felt very safe.”

BOB & GINNY PETTIT
“We had such an awesome experience on our Holy Land Tour.  We felt safe and well cared for and everything was well planned and scheduled.  We used our time wisely and didn't feel exhausted at the end of the day.  We would definitely travel with Catholic Trips in the future.”

KAREN MCLOUGHLIN
“This trip to Israel last summer with Catholic Trips was the trip of a lifetime for me. When I was there, I realized there would never be another trip to compare to this one. When we were in Bethlehem, we touched the spot where it is believed Christ was born. We were on Calvary and touched the rock below where Jesus was crucified. We walked the path that Jesus actually walked. We rededicated our baptismal vows in the Jordan River. It was all such a moving experience. My husband and I plan to go back again this summer. It is the only place I feel drawn to and I am excited to do this pilgrimage again.”

TERRI HASKINS
“The trip to the Holy Land was one of the greatest experiences of my life.  On a scale  of 1 - 10, it was definitely a 10!! Our tour guide, Joseph, was so knowledgeable, the bus driver was agreeable to everything, and the sites were the best. The Catholic Trips tour director, Jim West, did an amazing job - he is the best!  The whole trip is so well organized, and a whole lot of fun, yet an experience of reverence...”

Call Catholic Trips today and place your deposit.
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This itinerary is subject to change. Price is subject to change based on airlines fuel surcharges. Masses are confirmed only on the actual day and may change without notice. All Terms and Conditions apply once deposit is made.