Day
1 New York - Tel Aviv
Begin your spiritual journey with an evening
departure from New York’s JFK Airport or your hometown, for
overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
Day
2 Tel Aviv - Netanya
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Exit
terminal at the sign marked "groups” and meet your local
guide who will escort you to our hotel in Netanya, which overlooks
the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Dinner and overnight in the
Netanya/Galilee area.
Day 3 Up
to Galilee
We travel up the coast heading for Galilee
visiting Caesarea and Mukhraka enroute. The highlight of the
day will be an afternoon visit to the Basilica of Annunciation
in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's
Well. On the way to our hotel in Tiberias we stop at Cana, the
village of Jesus' first miracle; here, those who wish to can renew
their wedding vows.
Day
4 The ministry of Christ in the Galilee
The morning will be spent evoking the
important teachings that Christ gave around the Sea of Galilee and
its beautiful setting. There are many highlights such as a
boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum and see the
synagogue and St. Peter's house, visits to Mt.Beatitudes where the
Sermon on the Mount was given; to Tabgha to see the mosaic of
the loaves and Fishes, and the nearby Church of Peter's Primacy
where Peter was told " Feed my lambs, Feed my
sheep". There will be an unforgettable Mass on the shores
of the Sea of Galilee. Afternoon visit to Mt Tabor, scene of the
Transfiguration.
Day 5
Samaria, Jesus in the land at the heart of the Old Testament
Jesus broke the taboo of religious and racial
segregation by going through Samaria. The Samaritan Jews near Nablus
were ostracized and avoided by the Jews of the Judean Kingdom, and
as a result, they traveled to Galilee via the Jordan Valley route to
avoid contact with Samaritans. The story of Jesus meeting the
Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, which we will visit, is a poignant
metaphor for reconciliation and humanity. Today, the region is alive
with traditions that are thousands of years old. In the Samaritan
village, atop Mt Gerizim you can enjoy a spectacular view and
witness an ancient community whose rituals and traditions have
changed little since the time of Christ. In the Christian village of
Taybeh you will be welcomed by the local priest who will talk
about the village and its inhabitants and the Christian faith that
has sustained them for 2,000 years. In this village is a church
built over an ancient stable similar to that in which Jesus was
born. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 6
Introduction to Jerusalem: Mt. Olives- Kidron Valley - Mt Zion
On the first day we present an overview of
Jerusalem for a better understanding of its geography and some of
the key sites surrounding the area. This includes a dramatic
view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives, revealing a city with
4,000 years of history. From this vantage point see much of what
makes Jerusalem such a unique city to the three major religions -
Islam, Judaism and Christianity; the Temple Mount and the Dome
of the Rock, the City of David excavations.
Afternoon:
Bethlehem and surroundings
Around noon we drive to the town of Beit Sahur
where the Shepherd's Fields are located; inhabited by Christians for
hundreds of years. A lunch has been arranged with some
of the local families in their homes. After lunch we visit the
site that commemorates the Shepherd's Fields, then visit the Church
of Nativity in Bethlehem that stands upon the site where Jesus was
born.
Day 7
Jerusalem - The Passion of Jesus' last hours
At Gethsemane is the ' rock of agony' where
Jesus uttered His last prayer. After the betrayal by Judas, He
was held prisoner at the palace of the High Priest Caiphas. From
prison, Jesus was taken to Judgment Hall then led through the city
to be crucified. Today we retrace these last hours of Jesus.
As we walk along the Via Dolorosa, through the markets of the Old
City praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the enormity
of His sacrifice. Finally arriving at the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre for Mass. In the afternoon we explore this ancient city
that has been built and rebuilt seven times. At the Cardo one
can discern the Roman layout of the ancient city and view many
buildings dating to the time of the Moslem conquest and Crusader
era. Walking through the bustling bazaars and alleyways,
notice the distinct character of each of the four quarters of the
Old City. We visit the Wailing wall and the Mosques.
Day 8
The Wilderness: Bethany - Wadi Qelt - Jericho -Qumran-
Dead Sea
The desert east of Jerusalem is rich with
Christian tradition. The town of Bethany, was home to Martha,
Mary, and Lazarus who was raised from the dead. Further
east, just off the Roman road that Jesus walked is Wadi Kelt
gorge, home of the Monastery of St George. This site
evokes the Monastic tradition of prayer and fasting that thousands
of monks, since the 5th century and continues today, preserve the
example of John the Baptist and Jesus' 40 day fast. At the oasis
town of Jericho, visit the excavations of the oldest city in the
world, before driving to the Dead Sea and the caves at Qumran where
the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden. On the way back there is time for
a swim in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea, renown for its
healing properties.
Day 9
The Visitation
In the morning, see the model of Jerusalem as
it appeared during the time of Jesus. Nearby is the village of
Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born. Celebrate Mass in
the Church of Visitation where Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth
and proclaimed her Magnificent. Free afternoon.
 Day
10 Tel Aviv - Rome - Assisi
Depart the Holy Land for our flight to
Rome. Transfer by motor coach to the peaceful hamlet of
Assisi. Relax and settle into your hotel. Dinner and
overnight.
Day 11
Assisi
After breakfast we celebrate Mass at the tomb
of St Francis. Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of St
Francis which still retains an unspoiled quality similar to the
early 1200’s when he began his ministry. Contained within
the huge 13th-century Basilica are many of his possessions and a
series of frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the
crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St. Francis, asking him to
rebuild His church. It was St Mary of the Angels Basilica,
where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we visit the
Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint
retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact
little town. After stopping at an outdoor cafe with a view of an
ancient Roman temple, we go to the Church of St Clare to see the
saint's incorrupt body. The founders of the Order of Poor
Clare’s followed the teachings of St. Francis and lived life in
poverty and humility. We will visit these two saint’s tombs
before dinner and retiring for the evening.
Day 12
Assisi - Loreto - Rome
After breakfast we follow the fertile Adriatic
coast to the great Marian shrine of Loreto to visit the Holy House
of Nazareth and the beautiful Madonna of Loreto Over 50 popes
have made pilgrimages to the house transported by angels to this
hill in central Italy in 1294. Tradition states this is
the house where Mary prayed her “fiat”, where Jesus grew up and
the Holy Family dwelled. Return to Rome, the Eternal City and
transfer to our first class hotel. Dinner and relax or perhaps
you will prefer a stroll along the charming streets of Rome, to the
city’s center, past numerous fountains ending at the famed Spanish
Steps. You may wish to stop at an outdoor cafe for an espresso
before retiring for the evening.
Day 13
Rome
Breakfast, then we depart for a tour of
Christian Rome. The tour includes three major Basilicas: St
Mary Major, this is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin, after she appeared to Pope Liberius in 358
requesting a church be built in her honor. This shrine
contains a relic from the manger where the infant Jesus was
laid. The Basilica of the St John in Lateran, the former
residence of all the popes prior to their return to Rome in
1377. Five ecumenical councils were held in this cathedral
housing the remains of 4 saints. St Paul Outside the Walls,
which houses the remains of St. Paul under the main altar.
Many relics are displayed, along with the chains that once bound the
apostle while a prisoner in Rome. We will also see the ancient
Baths of Caracalla, Arch of Drusus, Chapel "O'Domine Quo
Vadis?", the remains of imperial tombs, Tomb of Celilia
Metella, and the Catacombs of St Callixtus where the early
Christians hid themselves to escape persecution. Dinner and
overnight.
Day 14
Rome (Papal
Audience at the Vatican)
After breakfast we go to Vatican City and
attend the weekly Papal Audience and Blessing given by His Holiness,
John Paul II. Visit St Peter’s Basilica, built on the site
where St. Peter was martyred. This largest religious temple in
the world has housed 264 popes. Unsurpassed in beauty,
importance and history, pilgrims from around the world are welcome
to the most grandiose, sacred church in the world. View
historical treasures such as a piece of the true cross, the lance
that pierced Christ’s side and numerous papal tombs.
Michelangelo’s mural of the Last Judgment restored on the ceiling
of the Sistine Chapel is considered one of Michelangelo's greatest
masterpieces, in addition to his Pieta and 4 mighty piers supporting
the magnificent dome. In the afternoon take time to visit the
Vatican Garden, Library and Museum to see the awe-inspiring relics
and works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith.
Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 15
Rome - USA
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for
our return flight to the USA. Ciao Roma!
Your
Trip Includes:
Flight from New York
/Tel Aviv / Rome/ New York
 8 nights
at 4-star hotels in Israel or similar:
1
night Blue Bay Hotel, Netanya
2
nights Jordan River Hotel, Tiberias
5
nights Notre Dame or Shalom Hotel, Jerusalem
5 nights
at 4-star hotels in Italy or similar:
2
nights: Hotel Giotto, Assisi
3
nights: Michelangelo Hotel, Rome
Breakfast and dinner daily
Transfers by deluxe motor coach
Mass daily
Papal Audience
Luggage handling
Flight bag and portfolio of travel documents
Not Included:
Lunches, tips to guides & driver ($5 per day). Airport tax
of $85. Travel insurance at $99. Items of a personal nature. |
St.
John Lateran