Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan

Depart London Gatwick to Aqaba airport. Upon arrival coach transfer to our hotel in Petra where we will stay for two nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast we walk to the Visitors Centre and collect tickets to enter Petra. We will witness the magnificent spectacle of temples, tombs and monuments - a truly incredible sight. Comfortable shoes are important as the surface is a little rough, rocky, and dusty. Lunch and free for the rest of the afternoon to explore the Red City at your leisure and shopping. It might be possible to walk up to St George’s Monastery (only for able pilgrims as it takes 2 hours to get there - a long mountain walk). Evening dinner at the hotel.

Today we check-out early. We first stop to see the Spring of Moses and collect some water to take home with you. We continue our journey to Madaba to visit the church of St John where we see the 6th century mosaic map depecting Jerusalem as the centre of the world as well as the other amazing artefacts. Continue our journey to Mt Nebo where Moses stood and saw the promised land. Here we enjoy the magnificent view overlooking the Holy Land. We celebrate Mass here. Continue driving towards the border of Allenby Bridge into the Holy Land. Our guide will oversee and assist at the border to assist with our entry formalitiies. Check in to our hotel in Bethlehem. We stay here for 5 nights. Evening dinner here.

After breakfast walk to Manger Square (the oldest complete church in the Christian world). We visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born, followed by a tour, viewing the Wall mosaic from the 12th century and St Jerome’s tomb, the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, St Joseph’s Grotto and Mass here. Lunch. Proceed to Shepherds’ field, visit the Grottos there and the Chapel above, where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. We will have a chance to do some shopping before we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast coach to Jerusalem to Stephen’s Gate and walk to St Anne’s Basilica - where Our Lady was born - and the Pool of Bethesda. Proceed to the church of Ecce Homo, built on the site of the Palace of Pilate, visit Crowning with Thorns and Condemnation Chapels, followed by the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa following the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday. We can carry a Cross from here changing at every station, and finish in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place on earth for all Catholics. We celebrate Mass here. Afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus and the Grotto of the True Cross. We will have time to pray and reflect in front of the Holy Tomb. If time allows we stay here for little longer to pray, reflect and light candles. Our coach will take us back to the hotel. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast coach to the Old City of Jerusalem and visit the Western ‘Wailing Wall’, part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in 70 AD. This is holiest place in Judaism. Proceed to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (Last Supper), and the magnificent Dormition Abbey, where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Mass in the Chapel of the Last Supper. Proceed to the church of St Peter’s in Gallicantu - a truly incredible Shrine - and see the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. We then drive to Ein Karem to visit the beautiful church of the Visitation and the basilica of St John the Baptist and visit the Grotto where he was born. Return to hotel and evening dinner.

After breakfast coach to Jerusalem to the summit of Mt of Olives and visit Pater Noster where Our Lord taught His Prayer - Our Father; walk further down to the church of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept when He foresaw the Destruction of the City of Jerusalem and Mass here. On the way down enjoy the panoramic view overlooking the old city with a clear view of the Golden Dome of the Rock. Arriving at the basilica of All Nations, pass the Gethsemane Garden and view the oldest olive tree from the time of Jesus. We move on to the Basilica of the Agony, where Jesus spent his last night before his arrest. We spend some time here to pray and reflect. Continue to Jericho, view Mt Temptation and Zacchaeus Sycamore tree then proceed to the Dead Sea to experience floating in the sea. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

Today we say goodbye to Bethlehem and we check-out after breakfast. We travel along the Judaean desert to Nazareth and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, viewing the Grotto where the Annunciation took place and Mass here. We also visit the church of St Joseph’s Workshop and the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well. Leave Nazareth and proceed to Cana (where Jesus performed his miracle turning water to wine), visiting Church of the Wedding - renewal of Marriage Vows possible here. Finally, we travel to the River Jordan ‘Yardinit’ for renewal of Baptismal Vows. Check-in to hotel in Tiberias and we stay here for 2 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart hotel for sailing on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias in an ancient reproduction boat. After, we visit Capernaum - the town of Jesus. Move on to visit the Mt of the Beatitudes - where the Sermon on the Mount took place; Tabga and visit the Multiplication Shrine of the Loaves and Fishes; St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection and we have Mass here. Return to our hotel and evening dinner.

We check out of the hotel and head further north towards Mt Tabor - the church of Transfiguration and take taxis up the mountain and tour here. We celebrate Mass here. We descend and head west to Haifa and visit Mt Carmel - the basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea - Carmelite Headquarters. Inside the church we view the cave of Prophet Elijah. If time allows we stop in Jaffa - Tel Aviv and have a quick look around the market or walk along promenade by the sea side. Proceed to the airport for our flight back to the UK.