Welcome Pilgrims! The Lord Calls you to His Home on Earth

A Spiritual Journey to the Holy Land

Under the Spiritual Direction of Msgr. Michael McCarron St. Stephen Martyr Roman Catholic Church, Chesapeake, Virginia & Rev. Danny Klem, Church of Sacred Heart, Norfolk, Virginia Group Coodinator: Ms. Mary Ann Steigelman.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND BROCHURE.

Itinerary

MON, APR 12, DAY 1:
DEPART USA: Depart en route to Tel Aviv with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

TUE, APR 13, DAY 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / CAESAREA BY THE SEA / MT. CARMEL:
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will be met by our Catholic Travel Centre representative. Boarding our private motor-coach, we travel to Caesarea where Peter came to understand that the Good News was not for Jews only, but for the whole world. Here he baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, and his family. After our visit, we continue on to our hotel in Haifa to rest from our journey.
Dinner this evening is at our accommodations. (D)

WED, APR 14, DAY 3: HAIFA / ACCO / MUHRAQA / MT. TABOR / TIBERIAS:
This morning, after a good nights sleep, we travel to the port city of Accho [Acre] to see remains of Western Christian Crusader efforts to retake the Holy Land by force from the Muslims (1206 CE). Next, we visit Muhraqa and a Carmelite Monastery located on the spot where Elijah confronted the priests of Ba’al in the 18th chapter of 1st Kings. After lunch on our own, we visit Mt. Tabor, where the traditional site of the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36) where we celebrate Mass. Our motor coach will park in the parking lot below and we will board taxis and make the winding ascent. The basilica here is an inspiring structure. Later, we continue on to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and the evening. (B, D)

THU, APR 15, DAY 4: TIBERIAS: SEA OF GALILEE SITES:
We begin our day with a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes. Here we celebrate Mass. After Mass, we take a morning walk down the Mt. of Beatitudes to Mt. Eremos and visit the Cave which Egeria mentions in her writing then to Tabgha [where Jesus fed the 5,000]. A short distance away is what is known as “Peter’s Primacy,” the site where, after His resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples and told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” [John 21:9] From that place we will visit Capernaum where Jesus began his Galilean ministry, see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of Peter’s home. After some time for personal reflection, we
enjoy a lunch of Peter’s Fish, followed by a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where we recall Christ calming the waters. Dinner and the evening are at our hotel. (B, L, D)

FRI, APR 16, DAY 5: TIBERIAS: EXCURSION TO NAZARETH, SEPPHORIS & CANA:
This morning, we travel to Nazareth, the site of Mary’s home and the town where Jesus played as a child, learned a trade, and grew to manhood. We will visit the Church of the Annunciation and have an opportunity to visit sites in the city. Mass will be celebrated at Charles de Foucald. From there we will travel to Sepphoris, the Roman free city and the capital of Galilee during Jesus’ youth. Then we go on to Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle at the request of his mother [John 2:1-11]. In Cana we will visit the Franciscan chapel where Jesus began His public ministry in the Gospel of St. John. We return to our hotel for dinner and a relaxing evening. (B, D)

SAT, APR 17, DAY 6: TIBERIAS / BEIT SHE’AN / JERICHO / WADI KELT / JERUSALEM:
This morning, we depart Galilee early and head towards Jerusalem. Our fist stop is the archeological site of Beit She’an, the capital of the Decapolis, known as the “Ten Cities” of Samaria that were the centers of Greco-Roman culture. Then we head down the Jordan Valley. We enjoy some time at leisure for lunch on our own and shoppin for some of Jericho’s famous pottery. Just outside Jericho, we visit Hisham’s Palace, the archaeological remains of an Umayyad winter palace, built in 743-744 AD. Next, we travel through the Judean Wild Wilderness where Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights before beginning his public ministry. We celebrate Mass in the Desert overlooking Wadi Kelt before continuing on to our accommodations in Jerusalem for dinner and the evening. (B, D) Our Daily Itinerary

SUN, APR 18, DAY 7: JERUSALEM: MT. OF OLIVES, CAIAPHAS' HOUSE & GETHSEMANE:
Today we travel to the Mount of Olives to visit the beautiful little church, Dominus Flevit [“The Lord wept”]. It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41] prior to his death. We then walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane to visit the garden and the Church of All Nations located there. We then cross the Kidron Valley where Jesus was led and up to the Palace of Caiaphas for his first interrogation by the High Priest. The site is known today as St. Peter in Galicantu [“crowing rooster”]. After some time for our own
personal reflections, we return to our accommodations for dinner. This evening we will go back to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer and meditation at the site where Jesus spent his last few moments before he was taken to be crucified. (B, D)

MON, APR 19, DAY 8: JERUSALEM: EXCURSION TO BETHLEHEM:
We begin today at Shepherds’ Field. Next we visit Bethlehem, beginning at Manger Square which stands in front of one of the oldest of Christian churches, the Church of the Nativity. Bending low, we enter the Church and descend into the Grotto of the Nativity. Beneath the altar, a 14 pointed Silver Star marks the exact spot surrounded by the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). We also visit St. Catherine’s Church and St. Jerome's Chapel, where we celebrate Mass. We enjoy lunch, prepared by the students at Bethlehem University where we have the opportunity to interact with
Palestinian students and professors and hear of their dreams and hopes for the future. There will be time for shopping before returning to Jerusalem. Dinner and the evening are at our accommodations. (B, L, D)

TUE, APR 20, DAY 9: JERUSALEM: WESTERN WALL, SOUTHERN WALL, TEMPLE MOUNT & LEISURE:
The first stop today is at the Western Wall of the ancient Temple destroyed in 70 AD. This is the most sacred place for Jews and a place of prayer. We also visit the recently excavated Southern Wall. Then we visit the Temple Mount [in the time of Jesus the site of the
Jewish Temple and now a major Muslim Shrine, the Dome of the Rock]. From there we will visit the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic, the Shrine at the Ecce Homo Arch and the site of the scourging of Jesus. Here we celebrate Mass. We will then have time to walk in the Holy City and experience the culture of Old Jerusalem at our leisure. We return to our accommodationsfor dinner and the evening. (B, D)

WED, APR 21, DAY 10: JERUSALEM: VIA DOLOROSA, HOLY SEPULCHRE, HERODIUM, EIN KAREM:
We begin the morning early as we gather at the Antonia Palace to walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross. We conclude the Way of
the Cross at the site of Calvary the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we return to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a guided tour of Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus. There is much history connected with these sites that will be explained to us by our guide. Lunch is on our own in the vicinity of the Old City. This afternoon we make our way to visit the Herodium, Herod’s famous palace. Afterwards, we make an excursion to Ein Karem, traditional site of the Visitation of Mary with Elizabeth. Here we celebrate Mass. We return to our accommodations in Jerusalem. (B, D)

THU, APR 22, DAY 11: JERUSALEM: MASS AT HOLY SEPULCHRE & DAY AT LEISURE:
Today, after an early Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we enjoy a day at leisure to visit favorite sites or perhaps for some last minute shopping. Tonight we gather for a special Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

FRI, APR 23, DAY 12: RETURN TO THE USA:
Early this morning we transfer to the airport with our suitcases filled with memories of our Spiritual Journey to the Holy Land. (B) Note: While no changes are anticipated, there may be unforeseen occasions when certain alterations become necessary to this itinerary, either due to changes in airline schedules or for other reasons. All Masses are subject to local church schedules and substitution with alternate Mass sites if churches mentioned are not available.


Pricing and What is Included

Because of special incentives available to us, air-fare, hotel, transportation and most meals are included in one low price.  12 Days: April 12 to 23, 2010  $2699 Special Cash Discount Price / $2828 Standard Base Price from Norfolk (ORF), plus $375 airport taxes & current fuel surcharges and $120 tips.  LIMITED NUMBER OF SPACES!  2008 ISREAL PILGRIMAGE SOLD OUT!

To make your reservation, simply complete the enclosed registration form and submit along with $400 payment (mailed to the address shown on the bottom of the registration form). You will receive General Information (including How to Obtain a Passport), an invoice, and further information from Catholic Travel Centre via mail, usually within two weeks of our receipt of your deposit. Please submit your registration form early, as all space is available on a first-come basis only. Registrations are processed in the order they are received by Catholic Travel Centre.

Price includes airfare based on non-refundable, economy class group fares on regularly scheduled IATA carrier from Norfolk (ORF), accommodations in Religious Housing & Superior Tourist Class Hotels, or best available hotel (all with private facilities), sightseeing, and meals per itinerary (B, L, D) and is based on a minimum of 30 fully paying passengers in the group. Airport taxes & security fees, current fuel surcharges, tips, and optional travel protection plan will be added separately on your invoice. No visa required for USA citizens — only a valid passport. Please see ‘Registration Form’ and ‘Terms & Conditions’ for more details.