Join Father Anthony Recker on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land! The Holy Scriptures will be illuminated for our pilgrims through the very environment in which God chose to become man. Breathe in the sea air at 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 Our Sorrowful Mother stood at the foot of the cross, and enter into the Empty Tomb. Your faith will never be the same. Fr. Recker will offer the Sacrifice of Holy Mass at many of these holy sites.
Travel Itinerary*
*Subject to change
Day 1 – Monday, July 15: Depart USA for Tel Aviv
Day 2 – Tuesday, July 16: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO TIBERIAS
On arrival in Tel Aviv we will meet our Catholic Tour Guide and proceed to our hotel in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner is at our hotel this evening.
Day 3 – Wednesday, July 17: 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 and an opportunity to visit 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.
Day 4 – Thursday, July 18: 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”, here we will celebrate Mass. We continue onto Capernaum where Jesus began his Galilean ministry. We will see the synagogue, which dates to the time of Jesus, and the site of Peter’s home. Return to Tiberias for dinner.
Day 5 – Friday, July 19: TIBERIAS: MT. BEATITUDES / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / GOLAN HEIGHTS
This morning we will visit the Mount of Beatitudes for Holy Mass and some time to reflect. We continue onto the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do People say that I am”. We continue up on the Golan Heights and come to the Druze Villages where we overlook the Boarders with Syria. Drive back to the Sea of Galilee dinner.
Day 6 – Saturday, July 20: 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. After our visit on Mount Tabor, we continue our journey to Jerusalem. Pending confirmation we will visit Jacob’s Well, where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman. We end in Jerusalem to check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – Sunday, July 21: JERUSALEM: BETHLEHEM & DEAD SEA SCROLLS
This morning we get 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 will also visit the museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept and learn about their importance in understanding Jewish thinking and life at the time of Jesus This afternoon we travel to the Bethlehem for Mass then visit the Church of the Nativity. Return to Jerusalem for dinner.
Day 8 – Monday, July 22: 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. It is known as Dominus Flevit. There we will celebrate Mass. Afterward; we will walk down the hill and at the bottom visit the Garden of Gethsemane along with the Church of All Nations. We will then travel by bus across the Kidron Valley to the site of Caiaphas’ Palace where Jesus experienced the Jewish portion of His trial. We also visit the upper Room where Jesus had his last Supper. We return to our hotel for rest and dinner. This evening we may have the opportunity to spend a holy hour in the Garden of Gethsemane (pending confirmation) where Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified. Dinner is at our hotel.
Day 9 – Tuesday, July 23: DEAD SEA / QUMRAN / JERICHO /JORDAN RIVER
Today we have and excursion to the Dead Sea area 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 provide an opportunity for people to go in the Dead Sea for a Float before we drive back to Jerusalem. Dinner is served at our accommodations.
Day 10 – Wednesday, July 24: JERUSALEM: VIA DOLOROSA & HOLY SEPULCHRE
We begin the morning early as we gather at the Antonia Palace to walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross. Following the Via Dolorosa, we end to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. Here we celebrate Mass. After mass we will return to the hotel for breakfast. Later that morning we return to the old City to visit the St. Stephen’s Gate and the church of St. Anne. We will visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic; as well as the Wailing Wall of the Temple. The remaining portion of the day will be free before dinner.
Note: The return flight could be anytime from late Wednesday evening to early Thursday morning.
Day 11 – Thursday, July 25: JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / USA
Return to the USA.
NOTES: While no changes are anticipated, there may be occasions when sequence and days of visits may change and certain alterations become necessary due to changes beyond our control. I understand that Catholic Faith Journeys, LLC is not responsible for any changes/ cancellation / interruptions cause by force majeure. Arriving and departing flights may affect the first and last day itinerary. All Mass locations are subject to final confirmation.
[Click to download Travel Itinerary & Terms and Conditions or 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 $3,219.00 per person is enjoyed by those paying with Cash or Check (based on a minimum of 30 participants with double occupancy). Pilgrims may leave from ANY AIRPORT, but please contact Maggie to arrange flights from another domestic or international airport. DO NOT BOOK AIRFARE WITHOUT SPEAKING WITH MAGGIE!
Included
All nights in 4 star hotels
Breakfast and Dinner daily + 3 Lunches
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 for guide, driver, porters, wait staff, etc.
Taxes and fuel surcharge (subject to increase 30 days prior to departure)
Not Included
International roundtrip airfare from Detroit Metro (DTW to TLV) – to be added to the Land-Only cost when it becomes available from the airlines
Optional Travel insurance – (strongly recommended. NOTE: Some countries may require travel insurance.)
Any/all Covid-19 requirements/test(s) that may be required by airlines, departing / arriving country and transfer country.
Lunches & beverages with meals (except where noted in the itinerary)
Transportation to/from Domestic Airport
Items of personal nature
Any item(s) not specifically mentioned
Airline-imposed baggage fees
Limited Single rooms: Call for availability and cost.
**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.