Created: 18.10.2017

Wednesday, November 7 - Day 1 - DEPART - Today, we depart Newark on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.  Thursday, November 8 - Day 2 - TEL AVIV/MT. CARMEL/ HAIFA - We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv this morning where we are met by our Tour Manager.  We drive to nearby Jaffa, known for Jonah???s journey, Peter???s rooftop experience and Tabitha???s restoration to life.  We continue along the Mediterranean and briefly visit the Roman and Crusader remains.   We travel to Mt. Carmel, where the first Carmelite community started. We visit the site of Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal and enjoy a brief orientation tour of Haifa. We celebrate our Welcome Mass at the Stella Maris Carmelite church and visit Elijah???s cave, then transfer to our hotel.  Our welcome dinner this evening is at a local restaurant in Haifa.  Friday, November 9 - Day 3 - HAIFA/NAZARETH/ CANA/TIBERIAS - This morning, we journey to Nazareth and walk through the local bazaars. We celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh! We visit the Synagogue Church and the Church of St. Joseph. Just outside of Nazareth, we stop by Mount Precipice, the traditional site where angry Jewish worshippers attempted to throw Jesus off the cliff after his bold proclamation in the synagogue. We proceed to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, where our married couples renew their wedding vows. We conclude our day at the river Jordan to renew our baptismal vows. Afterwards we transfer to our hotel along the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight. Saturday, November 10 - Day 4 ??? TIBERIAS/ MAGDALA/CAPERNAUM/TABGHA/ MT. TABOR - By boat, we cross the Sea of Galilee and view the surrounding mountains and sites of Jesus' bountiful ministry. On the opposite side, we visit and celebrate Mass at Magdala. Then to Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village synagogue and the church built atop St. Peter's house. Next, we drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we have time for personal meditation in the beautiful gardens. We continue to Tabgha and see the Benedictine Basilica of the Loaves and Fishes followed by the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection. We pray at Mt Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration before we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  Sunday, November 11 - Day 5 ??? TIBERIAS/JERICHO/ BETHLEHEM/JERUSALEM - After breakfast, we drive to Jericho to briefly view the Mount of Temptation and Sycamore Tree.  We continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity that commemorates the birth of Christ.  We proceed to the Manger, Crusader???s Cloister, Grotto of St Joseph, Grotto of St. Jerome and the Milk Grotto.  We celebrate Christmas Mass at the Church of St. Catherine or one of the grottos.  We enjoy a delightful luncheon with folkloric dancing (if possible) before we proceed to the Shepherd???s Field.  Then to a Christian gift shop.  Afterwards, we make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem.   Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Monday, November 12 - Day 6 - JERUSALEM - This morning, after visiting the place of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster, we view the beautiful City of Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives. We walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit Chapel, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and on to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we have time for personal prayer and celebrate Mass at the Church of All Nations. We continue along the Kidron valley stopping at St Peter Gallicantu, (The Cock Crows) where Jesus was held in the house of High Priest Caiaphas. We drive to the New City passing the Knesset and Hebrew University. We view the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus??? time, then proceed to Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born. Our last stop is the Church of Visitation where Mary visited Elizabeth and said the words of the Magnificat. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  Tuesday, November 13 - Day 7 - JERUSALEM - At 6:30 this morning, we prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. where we celebrate Mass at 7:30 am at Calvary or Tomb. After we visit the crucifixion site and empty tomb, we return to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning, we enter the Old City through Lion's Gate, where we visit the Church of St. Ann (Mary???s mother) and the Pool of Bethesda. We continue to Pilate???s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, Arch of Ecce Homo and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. Afterwards we continue to Mt. Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room. Later this afternoon, we enter the Old City through Zion Gate making our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We spend some time at the different quarters of the Old City. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.  Wednesday, November 14 - Day 8 - JERUSALEM/ MASADA/DEAD SEA/ABU GOSH/TEL AVIV - This morning we see Lazarus Tomb (condition permitting) and visit the Church of Martha and Mary. We celebrate our closing Mass here. We journey through the wilderness of Judea to ascend Masada by cable car. This was the mountaintop fortress of King Herod where from 70-73 AD, the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Jewish revolt against Rome. We proceed to the Dead Sea beach, with optional swim in the clear yet salty waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (swim lockers not included). We drive to the Church of the Resurrection in Abu Gosh, one of the traditional sites of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared on the road on the first Easter Sunday. Time permitting, we visit the Church of Notre Dame de l'Arche d'Alliance, where according to tradition, King David stored the Ark of the covenant for 20 years. Afterwards we enjoy our farewell dinner nearby, then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.  Thursday, November 15 - Day 9 - USA - This morning, we drive to Ben Gurion Airport.  We arrive in the U.S. with unforgettable memories to cherish always.  Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians bring new meaning to our Scripture reading and celebration of Mass.

Creating Maps was never easier
Create and download your Maps within minutes