Join The Coming Home Network with Ken Hensley and Msgr. Jeffrey Steenson as we travel through the Holy Land, visiting sites related to Our Lord’s life and the history of the early Catholic Church.
The Holy Land has often been referred to as the “Fifth Gospel.” And it’s true. The stories of the Gospels that most of us have heard all our lives come alive in a new way once you have seen the places where these stories took place. We begin our pilgrimage next April on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and after visiting the ancient cities of Joppa and Caesarea, where St. Paul was imprisoned for two years, and Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal, we continue to explore the most important sites associated with Our Lord’s life, ministry, death and resurrection. These include Nazareth, Cana, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi, the Mount of Transfiguration, Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, and the site of Our Lord’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We will also visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and Masada, where the Jews made their desperate last stand in the first-century Jewish-Roman War. We will walk the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem and celebrate Mass in some of the most important and beautiful churches in the Holy Land. Finally, we will walk the Via Dolorosa in the
steps of Our Lord in His Passion. Please consider joining us! It will be a wonderful time for us to share our stories and forge life-long friendships as we experience the power of walking where Jesus walked and learning about his life up close.
Click here to DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM
Travel Itinerary*
(*Subject to change)
Day 1: Friday, April 21 – DEPART USA
Depart from Newark International airport for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.
Day 2: Saturday, April 22 – ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO HOTEL
On arrival we will be met by our tour guide and proceed to our hotel in Tel Aviv on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. (D)
Day 3: Sunday, April 23 – JOPPA / CAESAREA / MUHRAQA / TIBERIAS
After breakfast we check out and visit St. Peter’s Church in Joppa. We then travel towards Caesarea Maritima where we will have a brief visit to the magnificent city with the Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will elaborate on the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first gentile converts into Christianity. Continue to Mount Carmel where we hear about the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal. Celebrate Mass at Muhraqa. We end the day near the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 4: Monday, April 24 – TIBERIAS: NAZARETH / CANA
This morning we drive to Nazareth, the site of Mary’s home and the town where Jesus lived as a child, learned a trade, and grew to manhood. We celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation built over the traditional site of Mary’s home, where the words of the Angle Gabriel were first spoken: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” We will also visit the nearby Church of St. Joseph’s Workshop. After lunch we continue to the village of Cana where Our Lord performed his first miracle turning water into wine. Here we remember His Blessed Mother’s words, “Do whatever He tells you.” We return to Tiberias for free time, dinner and overnight. (B, D)
Day 5: Tuesday, April 25 – TIBERIAS: MT. OF BEATITUDES / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / TABGHA / TIBERIAS
After breakfast we drive to the Mt. of Beatitudes for a visit, Mass and reflection time. We continue from there to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do People say that I am”. We drive through the Golan Heights to view the Syrian Border. Lunch in a Druze Village in Mesada at Rin Lebanese Druze Restaurant, included, before returning to Galilee to Visit Tabgha, where Jesus Multiplied the Loaves and fishes and Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my sheep”. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Wednesday, April 26 – CAPHARNAUM / SEA OF GALILEE / MAGDALA
We begin today visiting the archaeological site of the city of Capharnaum where Jesus began his Galilean ministry, called many of his disciples and performed many miracles. Here we celebrate Mass, see the site of Simon Peter’s home and stand in the first century synagogue where the Gospel of John tells us Jesus spoke those incredible words: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats this bread, he will live forever.” After lunch of St. Peter’s Fish we will end the day with a boat ride for a brief excursion on the Sea of Galilee followed by a visit to the Magdala Center to see one of the best preserved first century synagogues in all of Israel. Return to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and relaxation. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Thursday, April 27 – MT TABOR / BEIT SHEAN / JERICHO / JERUSALEM
Today we begin our journey with Jesus to Jerusalem where He is condemned, crucified, and is raised from the dead. We begin that journey as Jesus did with a trip to Mount Tabor where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James and John and they glimpse a sign of his glory before witnessing His passion and death. Following Mass on Mount Tabor, we set out toward Jerusalem, stopping to walk the ancient Roman ruins of Beit She’an near Mount Gilboa, where Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle with the Philistines. We will also visit the archaeological site of the ancient city of Jericho, where walls dating to the time of Joshua and before have been uncovered. We continue past the Mount of Temptation and on to Jerusalem. Time permitting we will stop to take pictures before heading to our hotel just outside the walls of the Old City. (B, D)
Day 8: Friday, April 28 – JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM
After breakfast we travel to the Shepherds’ Field for Mass in the Shepherds’ Cave. We then enter the town of Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity built over the site of Our Lord’s birth. After lunch we will visit the Olive Wood store where we can do some shopping to support local Palestinian Christians. Tonight we enjoy a special dinner in Bethlehem at a Bedouin Tent restaurant complete with traditional dancing. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)
Day 9: Saturday, April 29 – JERUSALEM: MT. OF OLIVES & MT. ZION
We begin this morning at the top of the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. Walking down the slope we visit the Church of Pater Noster and then Dominus Flevit Church, marking when Jesus wept over the city. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane where we will visit the Church of All Nations and then celebrate Mass in an underground church dedicated to Mary. From here we travel across the Kidron Valley to Mount Zion to visit the traditional sight of the Upper Room as well as the Dormition Abbey Church, which honors the passage of Our Lady into heaven. We end at the Church of St. Peter Gallicantu, built over the spot where Jesus was held in the dungeon of Caiaphas’ house, and where St. Peter denied Our Lord three times. (B, D)
Day 10: Sunday, April 30 – JERUSALEM: QUMRAN / MASADA / DEAD SEA / JERUSALEM
Today we take an excursion to Qumran and the site of the ancient Jewish sect of the Essenes. Learn about the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and see some of the caves in which the scrolls were discovered. From here we travel south to visit Masada, situated on top of a high plateau, the site of one of Herod’s palaces and of the final tragic episode in the first-century Jewish- Roman War. According to Josephus, the siege of Masada in A.D. 73-74 ended with the mass suicide of the 960 Jews hiding out there. On our way back to Jerusalem we stop at the Dead Sea, where those who wish can take a few moments to float in the saltiest sea on earth. Free-time, dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)
Day 11: Monday, May 1 – JERUSALEM: VIA DOLOROSA & HOLY SEPULCHRE / JEWISH QUARTER / WAILING WALL / TEMPLE MOUNT / POOL OF BETHESDA
This morning we visit St. Stephen’s Gate, the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic. We then walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, which ends in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the site of Our Lord’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Here we will celebrate Mass. After lunch at a local rooftop restaurant in the Old City, we will walk to the sacred Jewish Temple area of the Western Wall to pray and then, if possible, visit the Temple Mount itself, dominated by the Muslim Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.The remainder of the day we are free to relax, shop, or just walk the narrow streets of the Old City (B, D)
Day 12: Tuesday, May 2 – JERUSALEM / USA
After breakfast depart for the airport for our return flight home.
***To register for this pilgrimage, please read, complete, and sign the registration forms and the Covid-19 release form with your deposit.
[Click to download Travel Itinerary or Registration Form and Terms & Conditions]
For additional information, questions, or to join us contact us at 419-290-8782 or maggie@CatholicFaithJourneys.com
LAND & AIR COST
A Land & Air discount price of $5,289.00 per person is enjoyed by those paying with Cash or Check (based on a minimum of 40 participants with double occupancy – if tour falls below 40 participants, everyone’s price will be adjusted accordingly). We gladly accept Credit Card payment for the full price of the pilgrimage $5,501.00.
LAND-ONLY COST
If you prefer to arrange your own airfare, you are welcomed to do so, but PLEASE SPEAK WITH MAGGIE BEFORE PURCHASING AIR at 419-290-8782. The LAND ONLY cost is $4,399.00 (Cash/ Ck discount) or $4,575.00 (full price Credit Card).
Pilgrims may leave from ANY AIRPORT, but please contact Maggie to arrange flights from another domestic or international airport.
Included
Round trip airfare from EWR to/from TLV
10 nights hotels
Breakfast and Dinner daily + 2 Lunches
English speaking tour escort / guide throughout
Private motor coach throughout
Transfers to/from all international airports
Entrance fees as noted in itinerary
Private Mass arrangements (locations pending confirmation)
Tips for guide and driver.
Taxes and fuel surcharge (subject to increase 30 days prior to departure)
Not Included
Transportation to EWR (Newark) airport
Travel insurance – (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED – some countries still require travel insurance; at the printing of this itinerary, Israel does not. That could change before departure. We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.).
Lunches (except where noted) and beverages with meals
Transportation to/from Domestic Airport
Any/all Covid-19 test(s) that may be required by airlines, departing/arriving country, and transfer country.at this printing, there are no requirements. This could change before/after departure.
Items of personal nature
Any baggage airline fees
Any items not specifically mentioned
Limited Single rooms – Call Maggie for availability and additional cost (419-290-8782)
Catholic Faith Journeys, LLC, is not responsible for any changes to entry/travel requirements put into effect by Governments, Health Organizations, Airlines, transfer countries, arriving countries, return country, museums, Churches, restaurants etc. We are not responsible for any or all changes / cancellations / interruptions caused by Force majeure.Arriving and departing flights may affect the first and last day itinerary. All Mass locations listed are subject to final confirmation.