Created: 22.10.2015

Wednesday, September 7 - Day 1 - DEPART USA - Today we depart Newark on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We enjoy in-flight movies and dinner and breakfast aloft. Thursday, September 8 ??? Birth of Mary - Day 2 - TEL AVIV/TIBERIAS - We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv this morning and board our coach 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. Friday, September 9 - 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 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. Saturday, September 10 - Day 4 - TIBERIAS/BETHLEHEM /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. We will then visit 3 Arches after all site visits in Bethlehem. 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.   Sunday, September 11 - Day 5 ??? 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 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. Time permitting we visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Monday, September 12 - Day 6 ??? MASADA/ QUMRAN/ DEAD SEA/JERUSALEM ???This morning we visit Lazarus Tomb (condition permitting) and celebrate Mass at the Church of Martha and Mary. We then drive 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 see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a royal palace. Then to the excavations at Qumran, the home of the Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls. We also have the opportunity of spending time at a Dead Sea beach, where you may swim in the clear yet salty waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. (Swim lockers not included.) On our return to Jerusalem, we pass by the traditional site of the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Tuesday, September 13 - Day 7 ??? JERUSALEM - We prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where we celebrate Mass early in the morning 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. The rest of the afternoon is free for rest, shopping or personal adventure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.   Wednesday, September 14 - Day 8 ??? JERUSALEM/TEL AVIV/AIRPORT ??? This morning we drive to the New City passing by the Knesset and Hebrew University. We visit Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born and Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to utter the words of the Magnificat. We celebrate our closing Holy Land Mass here. We travel to Abu Gosh, one of the traditional sites of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared on the road on the first Easter Sunday. Afterwards we celebrate our farewell dinner nearby, before going to the airport for our flight back to the USA. Thursday, September 15 - Day 9 - USA - Early this morning we arrive in the US 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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