May 8 – 18, 2023

Join Father Jeff Walker, of St. Thomas More University Parish, Bowling Green, OH, on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land! The Holy Scriptures will be illuminated through the very environment in which God chose to become man. Breathe in the sites around the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, Capharnaum, Cana, Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, and Caesarea Philippi. Pray at the birth place of our Lord in Bethlehem. Renew your baptismal vows at the Jordan River. Ascend to Jerusalem to visit the Upper Room, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, descend into the pit where Jesus was held after being arrested, walk the Via Dolorosa, stand where Mary stood at the foot of the cross, and enter the Empty Tomb. Your faith will never be the same. Fr. Walker will offer the Sacrifice of Holy Mass at many of these holy sites.

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Travel Itinerary*
*Subject to change

May 8: DEPART USA
Depart en route to Tel Aviv with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

May 9: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO TIBERIAS
On arrival in Tel Aviv we will be met by our Catholic Tour Guide and proceed to our hotel in Tiberias. Dinner is at our hotel this evening. (D)

May 10: TIBERIAS: NAZARETH / CANA
Drive 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 have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation, time permitting we will visit other sites in the city. We will then travel to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of his mother. There we will visit the Franciscan chapel for a renewal of wedding vows. We will then return to Tiberias for dinner and the evening. (B, D)

May 11: TIBERIAS: SEA OF GALILEE SITES
After breakfast, we will board a boat for a brief excursion on the Sea of Galilee. We will visit Tabgha where it is believed that Jesus fed the crowd of 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.” There we will celebrate Mass. We continue to Capernaum where Jesus began his Galilean ministry, see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the site of Peter’s home. We return to Tiberias for dinner. (B, L, D)

May 12: TIBERIAS: MT. BEATITUDES / CAESAREA PHILIPPI
This morning we are at the Mount of Beatitudes for visit, Mass and reflection time followed by a drive to the Golan Heights to see Caesarea Philippi, Where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do People say that I am”. Following Jesus’s footsteps we will stop in the Valley of the Doves. Return to Tiberias for our last night on the Sea of Galilee. (B, D).

May 13: TIBERIAS / MT. TABOR / SAMARIA / JACOB’S WELL / 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 by a trip to Mount Tabor where Jesus is transformed before Peter, James and John and they glimpse a sign of his glory before they witness His passion and death. Following Mass, we travel by bus down via Samaria where we stop to visit Jacob’s Well, pending confirmation. Here Jesus had the encounter with the Samaritan woman, John 4:4-42, continue our drive through Samaria to Jerusalem to check into our Hotel (B, L, D)

May 14: JERUSALEM: BETHLEHEM & DEAD SEA SCROLLS
Today we travel to the Shepherds’ Field for Mass in the Shepherds’ Cave. We enter the town of Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and then return to Jerusalem for a background lesson on the history of the Holy City as we visit the Model of Jerusalem in the 2nd Temple Period. The Old Walled City today has changed since the time of Jesus. We then visit the museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept, learn about their importance in understanding Jewish thinking and life at the time of Jesus. Finally, we return to our hotel for dinner and the evening. (B, D)

May 15: JERUSALEM: MT. OF OLIVES & MT. ZION
This morning the bus takes us to a hillside overlooking the city of Jerusalem where Jesus wept over the city. We continue with a walk down the hill and at the bottom visit the Garden of Gethsemane along with the Church of All Nations. We continue by bus across the Kidron Valley to the site of Caiaphas’ Palace where Jesus experienced the Jewish portion of His trial. The site is known today as St. Peter in Galicantu. We also visit the upper Room where Jesus had his last Supper and the Dormition Abbey, where Mary “fell asleep”. This evening, pending confirmation we will have the opportunity to spend some time in meditation in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. Dinner is at our hotel. (B, D)

May 16: JERUSALEM: VIA DOLOROSA & HOLY SEPULCHRE
We begin the morning early as we gather at the Antonia Palace to walk the Via Dolorosa. Following the Via Dolorosa, we proceed to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. Here we celebrate Mass, we then return to the hotel for breakfast before heading out to St. Stephen’s Gate and the Church of St. Anne. We will visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic and the Western retaining Wall of the Temple. The remaining portion of the day will be free to walk in the Old City or to return to the hotel. (B, D)

May 17: JERUSALEM: DEAD SEA / QUMRAN / JERICHO / JORDAN RIVER
We begin our day with a visit to Lazarus’ Tomb. Afterward we head into the Judean desert to visit the site of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered. Drive to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, here we renew our Baptismal Promises. We continue to Jericho for Mass at the Good Shepherd’s Church after which we view the Mount of Temptation and see a Sycamore Tree to remember the story of Zacchaeus. We will give people an opportunity to go in the Dead Sea for a float before we drive back to Jerusalem. (B, D)

NOTE: Flight could range from late this evening to very early the following morning.

May 18: JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / USA
Return to the USA

NOTES: While no changes are anticipated, there may be occasions when alterations become necessary due to changes or closures beyond our control. Final airline schedules may also effect the itinerary. All Masses listed are subject to final confirmation.

[Click to download Travel Itinerary and Terms & Conditions, Registration Form]

For additional information, questions, or to join us contact us at 419-290-8782 or maggie@CatholicFaithJourneys.com

LAND-ONLY COST

The LAND-ONLY discount price of $2,939.00 per person is enjoyed by those paying with Cash or Check (based on a minimum of 30 participants with double occupancy). Roundtrip international airfare from Detroit (DTW) will be added to the price once the airlines release the information (typically 300 days from return flight). Pilgrims may leave from ANY AIRPORT, but please contact Maggie to arrange flights from another domestic or international airport!

Included

9 Nights in 4 star hotels
Breakfasts and Dinners daily, 1 Lunch
English speaking tour escort / guide throughout
Private motor coach throughout
Transfers from international airport
Entrance fees as noted in itinerary
Private Mass arrangements daily
Tips to guide, driver, wait staff, porters, etc.
Taxes and fuel surcharge (subject to increase 30 days prior to departure)

Not Included

International roundtrip airfare from Detroit Metro (DTW) to Tel Aviv (TLV) – to be added to the Land-Only cost when it becomes available from the airlines
Optional Travel insurance – (strongly recommended).
Lunches (except where noted) & beverages with meals
Any/all health test(s)/screenings required by airlines/countries of entry, transfer, etc. for travel.
Transportation to/from Domestic Airport
Items of personal nature
Any items not specifically mentioned
Limited Single rooms add: $ 1,450.00 Cash or Check discount 

**Catholic Faith Journeys, LLC cannot change the cancellation terms or conditions based on the issuance of any warning or advisory issued by the State Department or Center of Disease Control, or the occurrence of any terror, health or other incident in one or more of the places this pilgrimage is scheduled to visit. All cancellation penalties remain in full force and effect. You are strongly encouraged to purchase Travel Insurance to protect your financial investment and any health issues you may have while traveling.

Click Here to Download the Registration Form!