Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Depart London Luton with easyJet direct to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport the guide and coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Bethlehem where you will be staying for the next five nights.

In the morning we walk to Manger Square to celebrate Mass followed by a viewing of the grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born. We then enjoy a tour of the recently restored wall mosaic from the 12th century AD, St. Jerome’s Tomb, the Chapel of the Holy Innocents and St. Joseph’s Grotto. After a short walk we arrive at the Milk Grotto to see the "Museum of the Miracles". We continue our journey by taking the coach to the Shepherds’ Field and visiting the grottos there and the chapel above where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. Before returning to our hotel there will be an opportunity to do some souvenir shopping.

Entering the Old City of Jerusalem via Lion’s Gate, we walk to St Anne’s Basilica where Our Lady was born and the Pools of Bethesda. Proceed to the Church of Ecce Homo built on the site of the Palace of Pilate and there we visit the Churches of the Flagellation and the Crowning with Thorns, followed by the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa. Here we follow the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday. We can carry a Cross from here changing at every station (optional), finishing in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place on earth for all Catholics. We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Apparition then we visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus and the Grotto of the True Cross. After lunch we walk to Mt Zion and view the Upper Room (The Last Supper), King David’s Tomb and the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Before returning to our hotel in Bethlehem we visit St Peter’s in Gallicantu and the dungeon below where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night.

Coach to the summit of the Mt of Olives, Jerusalem and visit Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Grotto where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. We then walk to Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem). We celebrate Mass here and afterwards proceed to Gethsemane Garden and Basilica to view the Rock of the Agony and we spend a few minutes here for prayer/reflection. Coach to Ein Karem to visit the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, then move on to visit the Basilica of St John the Baptist and visit the chapel where he was born. Return to hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we travel to Jerusalem and visit the Western Wall which is part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in AD70. This is the holiest place for Jews. Continue to Bethany and visit St Lazarus’s Church, the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. We celebrate Mass here. Proceed to Jericho, view the Mt of Temptation and Zacchaeus’s Sycamore Tree. Lunch in Qumran or Jericho. Proceed to the Dead Sea and experience the floating in the sea. Return to our hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Bethlehem and drive along the Jordan Valley to Nazareth. Our first visit is to the Basilica of Annunciation (a magnificent Basilica that dominates the skyline of Nazareth). We visit the Grotto where the Annunciation took place, and we give you time to reflect and pray in front of the Grotto. We then move on to visit St Joseph’s Grotto and his workshop and we celebrate Mass here. Walking across the road we visit the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well. Proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracles, and it will be possible for married couples to renew their Marriage Vows at the Church of the Wedding. Travel to our hotel in Nazareth where we will be staying for 2 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast travel to Tiberias to Baptismal site on the River Jordan for the renewal of our Baptismal Vows. We continue our journey to the Sea of Galilee to visit Mt of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place followed by St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection and Mass here and the church of the Multiplication. We will have lunch here and afterwards sail on the Sea of Galilee on an ancient reproduction boat during the time of Jesus and afterwards to Capernaum - the town of Jesus - where we visit St Peter’s Church and view the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which Jesus used to teach. Evening dinner at the hotel and our last night in Nazareth.

We check-out of the hotel and drive to the foot of Mt Tabor. We go up to the summit by taxis to the Church of Transfiguration and visit here. We celebrate Mass here and outside we enjoy the scenic view of the surrounding area. If times permits, proceed to Mt Carmel (Haifa) and visit the Basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea - Carmelite Headquarters and visit the Cave of the Prophet Elijah. Proceed to the airport for our flight back to the UK.