Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Tom Heathershaw

Shalom! We arrive at Tel Aviv Airport, where we are greeted by our English-speaking, Christian tour guide, who will assist us with boarding our bus. We celebrate Mass at St. Peter Church before traveling to Mt Carmel to visit Stella Maris and have time for lunch on our own. Continue to our hotel on the Sea of Galilee. Check in and relax before dinner at our hotel. (D)

(the program on the first day in the Holy Land will depend on flight arrival)

Today, we visit Nazareth, the city of St. Joseph, and the Holy Family. We see the Byzantine ruins of the Church of the Nutrition, located beneath the convent of the Sisters of Nazareth. It is believed to be the childhood home of Jesus. We explore 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). We celebrate Mass here just as St. John Paul II celebrated Mass during his historic visit to the Holy Land in the Jubilee Year 2000. We visit the Church of St. Joseph and the 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). We stop at Mt. Precipice, the traditional site of the cliff that an angry mob attempted to throw Jesus from after his bold proclamation in the Nazareth synagogue (Lk 4:28-30). From this precipice, we enjoy a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley. Our day ends with a visit 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). Dinner and overnight at our hotel on the Sea of Galilee (B.L.D)

We visit Magdala, the birthplace of St. Mary Magdalene, where we see the recent excavations and the Duc in Altum Spirituality Center, to celebrate Mass. We then 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.L.D)

We start the day with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit the “Jesus Boat,” which dates to the time of Christ. We celebrate Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his famous Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). Enjoy a hearty St. Peter’s Fish lunch before departing for 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 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. Next, we visit the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, commemorating where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 (Mt 14:13-21). Next, we stop at the Church of the Primacy of Peter, situated on the shore 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). Dinner and overnight at our hotel at the Sea of Galilee. (B.L.D)

This morning we check out of our hotel and drive to Mt. Tabor to visit the Church of Transfiguration and celebrate Mass in this holy spot. Our day continues with a drive to Ein Karem to visit the Birthplace of St. John the Baptist and the Church of Visitation. Check into our hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight. (B.L.D)

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 is where tradition holds that Christ was born (Lk 2:1-7). We see the nearby Church of St. Catherine and visit St. Jerome’s Grotto. The Church Father & Doctor lived in a cave beneath the Basilica for over 30 years while completing 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 host announcing the birth of the Savior (Lk 2:8-20). 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 have an opportunity to do some souvenir shopping and see an actual Dead Sea Scrolls Jar. We stop to pray for peace at the Separation Wall, just as Pope Francis did during his historic visit to the Holy Land in 2014. Our day ends with the celebration of Mass at St. Charbel Church. Known as the Miracle Worker, St. Charbel is a beloved patron Saint of the Christians living in the Holy Land. Tonight, we are welcomed into the homes of local Christian Families for a “Sharing the Bread” meal. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B.L. Special dinner)

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 celebrate Mass in Bethany. We visit Jericho – the first city Joshua captured as part of his conquest of the Land and the site of the Mount of Temptation. In Jericho, Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) and converted Zacchaeus, a tax collector (Lk 19:1-10). We celebrate Mass in Jericho before we renew our baptismal vows in the waters of the Jordan River at Qasr Al Yehoud, which tradition holds as the actual site of Jesus’ baptism. (Mt 3:13-17). Next, we take a dip in the Dead Sea’s mineral-rich waters and shop for its world-famous skin and beauty products. Be sure to bring a bathing suit! Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B.L.D)

Following hotel check-out, we depart for Jerusalem. Here, 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. We 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) before we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Agony. We then proceed to the nearby Caiaphas’s Palace and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, commemorating Peter’s three-fold denial and subsequent conversion (Mt 26:69-75). Our final stop is the Upper Room, where Jesus celebrated His Last Supper (Mt 26:17-29) and the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Overnight in Jerusalem. (B.D)

Start the day early along the Via Dolorosa. We begin praying the Stations of the Cross along the Way of Sorrows (Via Dolorosa), which culminates at the holiest site for Christians – The Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church is constructed over the sites of Jesus’ crucifixion (Golgotha), burial, and resurrection (empty tomb). We celebrate the Solemn Mass in this most hallowed of churches. Later this morning, visit St. Anne’s Church and see the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. We stop at the Wailing Wall to tuck a prayer into the wall and have an afternoon at leisure to visit the Old Town on our own or take a taxi to the Israeli Museum, where you can see the Dead Sea Scrolls. We have a festive farewell dinner with wine in a local restaurant tonight. (B. Special Dinner)