PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Round-trip airfare from Chicago, first class hotel accommodations, most meals, private motor coach, an expert English speaking tour guide, Catholic Trips luggage tag, and daily Mass and fellowship. This pilgrimage will include visiting the city of Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Mount Tabor, Jericho, the Jordan Valley, Mount Scopus, the Garden of Gethsemane, Bethleham and the Grotto of the Nativity, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, the Upper Room of the Last Supper, Mount Zion and much more. There will be a special baptismal renewal in the River Jordan, a special boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and an opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea! This pilgrimage is under the spiritual direction of the dynamic and enthusiastic FR. TIM NOLAN.

TRIP ITINERARY

Friday, October 8th
Flight to Tel Aviv
Today we will begin our pilgrimage with an overnight flight from Chicago. During our flight, two meals will be served onboard the plane.

Saturday, October 9th
Tel Aviv - Overnight on the Mediterranean Coast
We will arrive into the Ben Gurion Airport and meet our guide who will take us to our first class hotel in Tel Aviv. We will check in and relax in the afternoon before enjoying a delicious "welcome dinner." The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.

Sunday, October 10th
Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Stella Maris, Carmelites, Cana, Nazareth.
We depart via the coast to Caesarea Maritime, where St. Peter baptized the first Gentile convert (Cornelius) and where he was held Paul prisoner by Romans. It was the center of the Roman governors including Pontius Pilates. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins, the Crusader City, the well preserved Theatre, the Harbor, and the Roman Aqua duct. Heading towards Haifa through Carmel Mountains, We will visit the Carmelite Monastery Stella Maris and Muhraqa located on the spot where Elijah confronted the false priests of Ba’al (1 Kings 18:17-40). Drive to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle at the request of his mother (John 2:1-11). In Cana we will visit the Franciscan chapel for a renewal of wedding vows. Continue to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. We arrive in Tiberias for dinner and the evening.

Monday, October 11th
The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee: Tiberias, Boat ride, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitudes, Jordan River.
This morning we begin with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Our stop will be on the shore of Capernaum where Peter lived and where Jesus began his public ministry (Matth. 4:13), there he began teaching in its Synagogue, healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter's mother-in-law (Luke 4:31-41) followed by a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes to gain a panoramic vista of the Sea of Galilee and where one of Jesus' famous teaching episodes Sermon on the Mount was given (Matthew 5-7). Then to Tabgha the fruitful garden where Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:30-46), we shall see the magnificent mosaic commemorating the miracle of the multiplication, we head to the nearby Chapel of St. Peter Primacy, There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the Primacy or Mt Beatitudes. We proceed to the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows in the River where Our Lord was baptized by John (Mark 1:9). Dinner and overnight at your hotel in the Galilee.

Tuesday, October 12th
Mt Tabor, Beth Shan, Jericho, Jerusalem
We start the day by going to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration (Matth. 17:1-8), we shall ascend by a smaller motor vehicle due to its narrow route, and we will celebrate a Mass on its summit. We drive on passing the small town of Nain, where Jesus raised the widow's son (Luke. 7:11-17). Next we visit the excavations of the ancient city of Beth Shan, In the New Testament it became one of the 10 Decapolis. Drive through the Jordan Valley and drive on up through the Judean Wilderness pass to the town of Jericho and visit Tel Jericho, the most ancient city in the world. We also stop at the Sycamore Tree which believed that Zacchaeus had climbed up a Sycamore Tree as he wanted to catch a glimpse of this wonderful savior then we stop to view Mt. Temptation where Jesus spent forty days and forty nights fasting and meditating during the temptation of Satan. We make our way through the Judean Hills towards the house of the Lord. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

Wednesday, October 13th
Jerusalem, the Holy City and Bethlehem the Nativity, Church of Visitation, Shepherd’s Fields, Church of the Nativity
After breakfast we will head onto the hill country, to a city of (Ein Karem), the birthplace of St John the Baptist and visit the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat' (Luke 1:39-80).

We stop to visit the Shrine of the Book the home of Dead Sea scrolls and Jerusalem Model during Jesus Time. In the afternoon we drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem we kneel in the Grotto the birth place of our redeemer as we celebrate a Mass. We drive to Jerusalem passing Rachel Tomb enroute. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday, October 14th
Jerusalem: Mt Olives, Palm Sunday, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, Cave of Betrayal, Cave of Assumption, Pater Noster
After breakfast we shall start our pilgrimage in Jerusalem from Mount. of Olives, from which Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, we shall have an eye on history through a majestic view over Jerusalem, visit the Convent of Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer in displayed in 110 languages, and the Ascension from where ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), we will walk down the "Palm Sunday route" stopping at Dominus Flevit (Mass), where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Visit Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:36-39). Visit the cave of betrayal (Luke. 22:40-46). Then to the cave of Assumption of Mary to Heaven.  Drive along Kedron Vally where you will see the Tombs of Avishalom, Zachariah and the Prophets Tombs. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Friday, October 15th
Stations of the Cross, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, St Anne’s Church. Ecce Homo, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Wailing Wall, Upper Room, Dormition.
It is an inspiring, full day of meditation. In the early morning we retrace the last steps of Jesus. As we walk along the Fourteen Stations of the Via Dolorosa, praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice as he bore the burden of our sins on the Cross at Golgotha. Finally we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass.  Return back towards St. Stephen Gate to visit St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne. We pass the Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then the Wailing Wall, the most holy shrine for Jews.  Nearby is the Dome of the Rock or Temple Mount. We exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper and King David Tomb. Next we go to Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary died. We end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Him thrice. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Saturday, October 16th
The Wilderness: Bethany, Wadi Qelt, Dead Sea, Qumran, Masada
We begin our day with a visit to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, hometown of Martha and Mary. Here we shall visit Lazarus' tomb. We may celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Lazarus, then the Inn of the Good Samaritan. The desert east of Jerusalem is rich in Christian tradition. Further east, just off the Roman road that Jesus 'walked', is Wadi Qelt, site of the Monastery of St George. Drive to the Dead Sea to visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery. Proceed to the Mountain Fortress of Masada where we ascend and descend via the cable car, the site of the last Jewish Resistance against Romans in 73 AC. Enjoy a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its minerals and healing properties. We have some time at leisure in Jerusalem  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. B, D

Please note:  If you are interested, there is a special Holy Hour in Gethsemane, the group will attend a special service in The Holy Hour at 8 pm on Thursday nights in the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane, commemorating Christ’s Agony in the Garden before his betrayal. 

Sunday, October 17th
Departure
Today we will check out of our hotel and drive to the airport for our flight back to Chicago. During the flight, two meals will be served onboard the plane. B, D, Snacks

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