pilgrimage to holy land

Depart Chicago

Late evening departure from Chicago to Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv - Galilee

Afternoon arrival in Tel Aviv. Upon meeting our guide, we are transferred to our hotel in Galilee. Time for rest, dinner and overnight

Tiberias - 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 - Jerusalem - 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

Bethlehem - Mount Zion

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

Masada - Dead Sea -Qumran

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

Return to the USA

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for a flight to Chicago. Evening arrival