pilgrimage to holy land

Departure from Canada

Early morning departure from Victoria to Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv - Jaffa - Galilee

Morning arrival in Tel Aviv. Upon meeting our guide we embark on a panoramic view of Jaffa and are transferred to our hotel in Galilee. Time for rest, dinner and overnight.

See of Galilee - Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, Jordan River

After breakfast we depart for Tiberias. We travel by boat on the Sea of Galilee, visit Capernaum, home of St. Peter and the site of Jesus' preaching, on to Tabgha to see the Church of the Multiplication with its beautiful 5th century fish mosaic. We also visit the Church of the Primacy and celebrate Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes. On our way back to the hotel we stop at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Cana - Nazareth - Mount Tabor

This morning we start our tour in Cana – the site of Jesus' first miracle. Here we celebrate a marriage renewal ceremony. We move on to Nazareth where we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation and we visit Mary's Well and St. Joseph's Carpentry Shop. In the afternoon we ascend Mount Tabor – the Mount of the Transfiguration. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Haifa - Mt Carmel, Cesarea by the Sea - Judea

Today we depart Galilee for Judea and the area of Jerusalem. En route we visit Haifa and Mt. Carmel, the “burning place” where Elijah called fire down to confound the prophets of Baal. Here we celebrate Mass. We continue via Cesarea by the Sea to Judea for our dinner and overnight.

Jerusalem

Today's journey takes us to the ancient city of Jerusalem: St. Ann's Church, Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Arch of Ecce Homo, the convent of the sisters of Zion. We continue with the Stations of the Cross – Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulchre. Mass will be celebrated in one of the many churches of Jerusalem. In the afternoon we visit the Western Wall, also called the “Wailing Wall”. We see the place of the Mosque of Omar and El Aksar and move on to the Church of Pater Noster and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Bethlehem

After breakfast we visit Bethlehem – where Jesus was born, celebrating Christmas Mass in one of the grottos. We visit the Manger, the Crusaders' Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome – Shepherd’s field. In the afternoon we continue our visit of Jerusalem's Mount Zion with the Upper Room (Room of the Last Supper) and the Church of St. Peter's in Gallicantu. Dinner and overnight.

Dead Sea - Qumran - Jericho

This morning we leave for a full day excursion to the Dead Sea, Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, and Jericho. Time for floating before our return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Mount of Olives

After breakfast we depart to Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where we visit the Church of all Nations, the Church of Maria Magdalene, Dominus Flevit Church, Chapel of the Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, Mary's Tomb, Church of the Pater Noster. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Return to Canada

This morning we are transferred to the airport in Tel Aviv for a flight to Victoria. Evening arrival.