FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS
(Mt. Carmel, Mt. Beatitude, Mt. Tabor, Cana, Mount of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Qumran, Masada, Mt. Sinai, Petra, Amman, Taba, Cairo/Suez Canal, Memphis, Saqqara, the Great Pyramids & the Sphinx)

Spiritual Director: To be announced

November 5 - 19, 2011

DAY 1, November 5 (Saturday) -- New York, New York/Tel Aviv, Israel
Our journey begins with a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel. Meals served in-flight.

DAY 2, November 6 (Sunday) -- Tel Aviv (Late Arrival)
After our arrival in Tel-Aviv, we will be meet our local guide, who will be with us during our stay in the Holy Land. We will spend our first night at the Seasons Hotel, in Netanya. Dinner and overnight (D/B).

DAY 3, November 7 (Monday) -- Netanya/
Caesarea/Haifa/Meggido/Nazareth/Cana/Tiberias

Mass in the Church of the Annunciation

“There was a certain man in Caesarea...” (Acts 10:1)

We will drive north to the sparkling port city of Haifa, taking in the view of Caesarea, the city built by King Herod, en route. In Haifa, we will ascend Mt. Carmel; home of the two prophets Elijah and Elisha, to visit the Stella Maris Church and enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean. We will have short stop at the Plains of Armageddon (known in Hebrew as "Meggido"), site of a giant fortress and city built by King Solomon. In the New Testament Book of Revelation, it is referred to as the location of the “final battle". From there, we will continue our drive into Nazareth, where we will have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation, and then visit Joseph’s Workshop and the Cave of the Annunciation. From there, we will move on to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed His first miracle: changing water into wine at the wedding feast. It is here where we will invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Afterward, we will head to Tiberias to check into our hotel, where we will rest for the remainder of the day. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias (B/D).

DAY 4, November 8 (Tuesday) -- Tiberias/Capernaum/Mt Beatitude

Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

On this morning, we will enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his Ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, we will proceed to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Then, it's a drive up to the Mount of the Beatitudes, for Mass at the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. Afterward, we will drive back to Tiberias, to visit the Baptismal site at the River Jordan, and then return to the Gai Beach Hotel for a second night. Dinner/Overnight (B/D).

DAY 5, November 9 (Wednesday) -- Jordan Valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem

Mass at the Trasfiguration Church, Mt. Tabor

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)

As we bid farewell to Galilee, we will make our way to Mt. Tabor, to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus and to have Mass. Then, we will drive down the Jordan valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. There, we will view the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Next is a visit to the ancient ruins of the Wall of Jericho. After that, we will drive through Wadi Qelt, to view St. George’s Monastery, and then continue on to Bethany to visit the Tomb of Lazarus and the House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Our day will end when we arrive at Mount Scopus to enjoy our first view of the Old and New City of Jerusalem. After our busy day, we will check into the JRS Grand Court Hotel in Jerusalem, where we will spend the next four nights (B/D).

DAY 6, November 10 (Thursday) -- Jerusalem (Old City)/Via Dolorosa/Mount Zion

Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:17)

We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem, sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne, and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then, we will visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos (where the soldiers played the Game of Kings), and the Arch of the "Ecce Homo". Next, we will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord.

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:14)

Next, we will walk to view the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and visit the Wailing Wall, the only part of the Herodian Temple still standing, and the most sacred place in the world among the Jewish faith. Then, we will drive to Mt. Zion, to visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper, then survey the Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the site where Peter denied Jesus three times, as well as that of King David’s tomb. After the day's tour, we will return to the JRS Grand Court Hotel (B/D).

DAY 7, November 11 (Friday) -- Mount of Olives/Gethsemane/Bethlehem/Jerusalem (New City)/Ein Karem

Mass at the Church of the Nativity

We will arrive at the Mount of Olives, to enjoy our first view of Jerusalem, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit ("God wept") Sanctuary. Next, we'll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, and then visit the Rock of Agony and the Church of All Nations. In the afternoon, we'll drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name is recognized around the world. After celebrating Mass at the Church of the Nativity, we will see the Manger, visit the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Jerome and the Shepherds' Fields.

“O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child.” (Protoevangelium of James 22:3)

Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of Jerusalem. Up next is a trip to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Church of the Visitation, where Mary proclaimed her famous "Magnificat". We will end our day by returning to the JRS Grand Court Hotel (B/D).

DAY 8, November 12 (Saturday) -- Jerusalem/Dead Sea (Western Shore)/Qumran/Masada

Mass at the Basilica of the Agony in Gethsemane

After Mass at the Basilica of the Agony in Gethsemane, we will return to our hotel for breakfast. Then, we will drive to the Dead Sea, site of the the lowest elevation on Earth, visit Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and continue down to Masada to visit Herod’s Fortress and the Jews' last stronghold against the Romans. At the end of the day, we will return to Jerusalem, for our final night at the JRS Grand Court Hotel (B/D).

DAY 9, November 13 (Sunday) -- Jersusalem/Allenby Bridge/Baptismal Site (Bethany, Jordan)/Nebo/Madaba/Dead Sea (Eastern Shore)/Amman
On this day, we will bid farewell to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, as we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We will go to the Baptismal Site at Bethany, which Pope John Paul II visited in 2000. Then, it's on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Our final stop will be the Church of St. George in Madaba, which hosts the famous mosaic map of the Holy Land. Our next stop is Jerash, about 35 kilometers (21 miles) due north of Amman, where we will see the Roman Theatre and the Colonnade, which are 90% preserved. Then it's on to Amman, to check in to the Cham Palace Hotel (B/D).

DAY 10, November 14 (Monday) -- Amman/Petra/Aqaba
We'll drive down the King's Highway to the amazing ancient red-rose city of Petra. We will journey through the Siq, until we get our first glimpse of the Khazneh (Treasury). Then will we walk down to visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. We will conclude our day in Aqaba, where we will spend the night in our hotel (B/D).

DAY 11, November 15 (Tuesday) -- Aqaba/Taba, Egypt/Mt. Sinai
Our day begins by crossing the Gulf of Aqaba to Nuweiba, Egypt via speedboat. Then, we will drive down to St. Catherine's Monestary at Mt. Sinai for a visit. Afterward, we will spend the night at the nearby Morgenland Hotel (B/D).

DAY 12, November 16 (Wednesday) -- Mt. Sinai/Suez Canal/Cairo
We'll get an early start this day, with a pre-dawn climb up Mount Sinai, to visit the site where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Then, it's back to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. Around mid-morning, we will leave for Cairo via the Suez Canal. Once in Cairo, we will check in for a three-night stay at the Sonesta Hotel & Casino (B/D).

DAY 13, November 17 (Thursday) -- Cairo (Memphis, Saqqara, The Great Pyramids and The Sphinx)
On this morning, we will travel to Memphis and Saqqara. Memphis was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom (ca. 2700-2180 BC), and Saqqara was used as a burial place for notable residents of Memphis, including kings, princes and nobles. From the ancient city of Memphis, we will travel a short distance to Saqqara, the ancient burial site. On the site, considered by many archaeologists to be one of the world's most important excavations, is the Step Pyramid, constructed by Imhotep in the 27th Century BC. The pyramid is part of the tomb complex of Zoser, the first Pharaoh of the Old Kingdom. In the afternoon, we will return to Cairo, to pay a visit to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. These Pharaonic monuments have come to symbolize Egypt's glory and mystery. The Great Pyramid of Cheops, constructed from over two million stone blocks, is 135m (443 feet) high! And The Sphinx was so named by the Greeks, because it resembled their mythical winged monster with a woman's head and lion's body. At the end of the day, we will return to the Sonesta Hotel & Casino for our second night (B/D).

DAY 14, November 18 (Friday) -- Cairo (Museum of Egyptian Antiquities and Coptic Cairo)
This morning will begin at the bustling Midan Tahrir, where the famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities is located. We will spend the morning here seeing some of Egypt's most beloved treasures. Among the 100,000 pieces housed on the museum's two floors is the famous exhibit of Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered by Howard Carter, in 1922. The tomb and treasures of this young Pharaoh, modest by Pharaonic Egyptian standards, is perhaps the best preserved of the discovered tombs. We will also see archaeological relics from the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom, and Greco-Roman periods. Our tour today will be led by our English-speaking guide, and there will be spare time available for you to explore the treasures on your own, if you wish. In the afternoon, we will drive through the neat, tree-lined streets of the Garden City area to Coptic Cairo, the center of Christianity in Cairo. There, we will walk the cobblestone streets and stop at a few of the churches, including that of Saint Sergius, which, in its present form, dates back to the 11th Century. This church is presumed to be the location where the Holy Family had lived during their flight into Egypt. In the evening, we will wrap up our trip by enjoying dinner on board a Nile cruise ship, with live entertainment. After dinner, we will return to the Sonesta Hotel & Casino for our final night (B/D).

DAY 15, November 19 (Saturday) -- Cairo/New York
Following breakfast, you will get to enjoy some free time, as we will have a late checkout from our hotel. In the afternoon, we will report to Cairo International Airport for our flight back home, bringing our memorable Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to a conclusion!

This journey to the Holy Land is only $2792 (land rate) per person*

* Price subject to change. See Travel Terms and Conditions for details.

Would you like to take this pilgrimage? If so, please print out this booking form, and mail it to us (along with your deposit) today!