Created: 30.08.2016

Day 1 - DEPART � Today, we depart Newark on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We are served complimentary beverages, in-flight movies and dinner and breakfast aloft. Day 2 - TEL AVIV/TIBERIAS - We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv this morning and board our coach for Jaffa, the city of Jonah, where Peter had his rooftop experience. After breakfast on our own, we ride through the quaintly restored area. We continue along the Mediterranean and visit the Roman and Crusader remains. We drive to Mt. Carmel, where we visit the site of Elijah's confrontation with the priests of Baal. We celebrate our Holy Land opening Mass here. Then we proceed to the Jordan, where we renew our Baptismal promises. We continue to Tiberias, our hotel on the shores of the Galilee for dinner and overnight. Day 3 - TIBERIAS/NAZARETH - By boat, we cross the Sea of Galilee and view the surrounding mountains and sites of Jesus' bountiful ministry. On the opposite side, we first visit Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village synagogue and the new 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 drive 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. This afternoon, Afterwards, we continue to Nazareth and walk through the local bazaars. Following personal prayer time, we celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh! Time permitting; we then see the Synagogue Church, the Church of St. Joseph and Mary's Well, where Gabriel announced the Incarnation. Before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight, we drive to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, where our married couples renew their wedding vows. Day 4 - JERUSALEM � This morning, we drive to Mt Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, where we have a time for personal prayer. We drive south to Judea and pass by Jericho, viewing the Mount of Temptation. We continue to Bethlehem, the House of Bread, to visit the Church of Nativity that commemorates the birth of Christ. We visit the manger, Crusader�s Cloister, and the Grotto of St. Jerome, where we celebrate the Christmas Mass. We will also make a short visit at Shepherd�s Field. Finally we make our thrilling entry into Jerusalem. Time permitting; we visit the �Shroud exhibit� at Notre Dame Center before arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 5 - JERUSALEM - This morning after visiting the place of the Ascension and and the Church of the Pater Noster, we view the beautiful City of Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives. We then 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 then continue along the Kidron valley stopping at St Peter Gallicantu, (The Cock Crows) where Jesus was held in the house of High Priest Caiaphas. Afterwards, we continue to Mt. Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room. We enter the Old City through Zion Gate making our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We also see the Cardo and the remains of Nehemiah's wall. Condition permitting, we visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 6 - JERUSALEM - We celebrate Mass early in the morning at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Calvary or Tomb. We return to the hotel and have 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 visit Pilate�s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, Arch of Ecce Homo and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. We prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Later this afternoon we visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus' time, Ein Karem and the Church of the Visitation where Mary visited Elizabeth, the birthplace of John the Baptist. We pass by the Knesset (Israel Parliament.). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 7 - JERUSALEM/ EILAT /AQABA - This morning we visit Lazarus Tomb (condition permitting) and celebrate Mass at the Church of Martha and Mary. We drive to Eilat and cross the border into Jordan where we are met by our local escorts.. Dinner and overnight in Aqaba. Day 8 - AQABA/WADI RUM/PETRA � After early breakfast, drive to the Wadi Rum for a one- hour 4 x4 ride in the desert and enjoy its soaring cliffs and sandstone and granite mountains. Lawrence of Arabia spent a significant amount of time here during the First World War. This afternoon, we spend time at the wonderful archaeological Rose City of Petra, the awesome city the Nabataean Arabs carved out of the rock during the four hundred years before Roman rule. It could be defended by a handful of men because access was limited to the narrow fissure known as the �Siq.� We will travel that same way and the way Indiana Jones entered in search of the Holy Grail in the Stephen Spielberg classic The Last Crusade, where the magnificent �Treasury� dramatically appears at the end of the gorge. We can either walk or travel part way by horseback. Dinner and overnight in Petra. Day 9 - PETRA/MT. NEBO/MADABA/MACHAERUS/DEAD SEA, JORDAN � This morning, we drive north to Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land but was forbidden entry. We celebrate Mass here. On a clear day, Mt Nebo offers stunning views of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea and the rooftops of Bethlehem & Jerusalem. We visit Madaba, famous for the oldest existing mosaic map of Jerusalem & Holy Land. We proceed to the fortress of Herod the Great in Machaerus, where John the Baptist was imprisoned and later beheaded at the request of Salome, the daughter of Jerodias. We continue to our hotel by the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight. Day 10 � DEAD SEA/JAFFA/TEL AVIV � This morning, we cross the Israeli border at the Allenby Crossing and travel to the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls. We drive to Jaffa, the city of Jonah, where Peter had his rooftop experience, where we ride through the quaintly restored area. We celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Peter and then enjoy our farewell dinner nearby before we head to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight home. Day 11- USA - Early this morning, 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.

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