A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Casting Nets

We depart on an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on the flight. Add-on flights are available from most major airports. Premium economy and business class upgrades are available upon request.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we pass through Immigration and Customs, collect our luggage in baggage claim, and proceed to the Arrivals Hall. Here we will be met by our English-speaking Christian Tour Guide who will accompany our group for our entire trip in the Holy Land. We drive to the Sea of Galilee area where we will settle into our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for the next four nights. We have dinner and celebrate Mass at the hotel. Overnight Sea of Galilee. (D)

Depart from Tiberius where we embark on a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit the “Jesus Boat,” which dates to the time of Christ. Continue our day with a visit to the beautiful Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus taught his famous Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). We celebrate Mass on the hill overlooking the peaceful waters of the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy a hearty lunch of St. Peter’s Fish before returning to our hotel overnight. Overnight Sea of Galilee. (B, L, D) 

This morning our day begins at the Church of the Primacy of Peter, situated on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus, after His resurrection, shared breakfast with his disciples and reinstated Simon Peter after his threefold denial (John 21:1-19). Continue to Tabgha where we see the multiplication of fishes and loaves. We see the Jesus Cave enroute to Capernaum, where Jesus began His Galilean ministry. Here we explore the synagogue where Jesus taught, and see the site of St. Peter’s home, where Jesus drove out demons and healed many sick people, including Peter’s own Mother-in-law and the paralytic man (Lk 4:31-41). We peer into the excavated ruins of the apostle’s home through the glass floor of the Church built over this holy site. Here we will celebrate Mass. Travel north through the Hula Valley to Caesarea Philippi, where Simon confessed Jesus as Messiah, and Jesus declared Simon to be Peter, the Rock, upon which He would build His Church (Mt 16:13-20). Overnight Sea of Galilee. (B, D) 

This morning we visit Magdala, the birthplace of St. Mary Magdalene, where we see the recent excavations and the brand-new Duc in Altum Spirituality Center. We continue on to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, where, according to tradition, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of God (Lk 1:26-38). Here St. John Paul II celebrated Mass during his historic visit to the Holy Land in the Jubilee Year 2 2000 and where we will celebrate Mass (TBC). Following Mass, we visit the House of Jesus (believed to be the childhood home of Jesus) and see Nazareth Synagogue Church, built above the original location of the Roman period synagogue where Jesus first learned the scriptures and later preached as a young rabbi (Lk 4:16-21). After, we travel to Cana, where couples may choose to renew their wedding vows at the Wedding Church built on the site of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1-11). Overnight Sea of Galilee. (B, D) 

This morning we depart for Mt. Tabor to see the Church of the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28-39), where we celebrate Mass (TBC). We visit to the Israeli Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the second temple period scale model for an amazing overview of Jerusalem as it was at the time of Jesus. Tonight we are welcomed into the homes of local Christian Families for a “Sharing the Bread” meal. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, Special dinner) 

We begin our day in Bethlehem with a visit to Manger Square and the Basilica Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the world, with its recent renovations and newly uncovered mosaics. Bending low as we enter through the Door of Humility, we enter the Church and descend into the Grotto of Nativity. Beneath the Altar, a 14-pointed Silver Star marks the exact spot where tradition holds that Christ was born (Lk 2:1-7). We see the Church of St. Catherine and visit St. Jerome’s Grotto, below. The Church Father & Doctor lived in a cave located beneath the Basilica for over 30 years while he completed his famous Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate. We then proceed to the nearby Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family stopped on their flight to Egypt and Shepherd’s Field and Grotto, where the Angel appeared along with a multitude of the heavenly hosts announcing the birth of the Savior (Lk 2:8-20). We will celebrate Mass. We continue our day with a visit to a local Christian antiquities and souvenir shop that helps support dozens of local Christian families. Here we will have an opportunity to do some souvenir shopping and see an actual Dead Sea Scroll Jar. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, D) 

The day begins with a visit to Bethany (conditions permitting) to see the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (Jn 11:1-44). We visit Jericho – the first city to be captured by Joshua as part of his conquest of the Land and the site of the Mount of Temptation. It was in Jericho where Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) and converted Zacchaeus the tax collector (Lk 19:1-10). We celebrate Mass and renew our baptismal vows in the waters of the Jordan River at Qasr Al Yahud, which tradition holds as the actual site of Jesus’ baptism. (Mt 3:13-17). Stop at Qumran to view the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and enjoy a late lunch on your own. Next, take a dip in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea and shop for its world-famous skin and beauty products. Be sure to bring your bathing suit! Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, D) 

Today we explore Ascension Chapel and visit the Church of Pater Noster, where Jesus taught his disciples The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-15). Marvel at the panoramic view of the golden city of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. We walk along Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the tear-shaped Church of Dominus Flevit that marks the site where Jesus wept over the city (Lk 19:41). Continue along the Jewish cemetery with a view of the Eastern Gate. Have some quiet time in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden of Betrayal, the site of Jesus’ agony, betrayal, and arrest (Mt 26:36-56). From there, we walk over to the Basilica of Agony, where we celebrate Mass (TBC). Our final stop of the day is the Church of the Assumption. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D) 

After breakfast, we proceed to the Upper Room where Jesus celebrated His Last Supper (Mt 26:17-29) and where the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). The next stop is the Church of the Dormition, where tradition holds that Mary “fell asleep” in the Lord. We visit Caiaphas’s Palace, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which commemorates the three-fold denial of Peter and his subsequent conversion (Mt 26:69-75). We celebrate Mass. In the afternoon we see the Temple Mount and The Wailing Wall. We have free time this afternoon for exploration and shopping. This evening we participate in the Holy Hour at the Basilica of the Agony in Gethsemane. (TBC) Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D) 

Start the day early along the Via Dolorosa after grabbing a go-cup of coffee from the lobby coffee cart. We begin praying at the Stations of the Cross along the Way of Sorrows (Via Dolorosa), which culminates at the holiest site in the world for Christians – The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church is constructed over the site of Jesus’ crucifixion (Golgotha), burial, and resurrection (empty tomb). It is in this most hallowed of churches that we will celebrate the Solemn Mass. Following Mass, we return to the hotel for breakfast and some rest. Later this morning, we visited St. Anne’s Church and see the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D) 

Following a leisurely breakfast and a late hotel check out, travel to Ein Karem and see Mary’s Spring and the birthplace of John the Baptist. Visit the Church of the Visitation where Our Blessed Mother prayed her Magnificat (Lk 1:39-56) and celebrate Mass (TBC). We stop to view the Valley of Elah on our way to the airport. This afternoon we have a memorable farewell dinner, enjoying the food, each other’s company, and recalling all the great moments of our pilgrimage. We transfer to the airport for our overnight flight home. (B, Farewell dinner) 

Arrive back in the USA early this morning, where we bid farewell to those of us traveling to different gateways as we make our connections home.