Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Depart UK airport on flight to Tel Aviv. Please wear your badge so that your leader can easily identify that you are one of the group travelling. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport your guide and coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Bethlehem. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, we walk to Manger Square - the Basilica of the Nativity - to start our walking tour for today. We first visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born, followed by a visit to St Joseph’s Grotto and Franciscan Church of the Nativity and we celebrate Mass here. We then walk to the Milk Grotto and visit the Museum of the Miracles. We visit The Walled Off Hotel and the ground floor museum, owned by the famous street artist Banksy. We have lunch here. Local bus to Shepherds’ Field, visit Grottos there and visit 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 the hotel for dinner.

Early departure to Jerusalem and to the Old City (Lions Gate) and walk to St Anne’s church where Our Lady was born and the Pool of Bethesda. Afterwards continue on to visit the church of Ecce Homo where we visit the site of Pilate’s Court, 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, ending in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place on earth for all Christians. We celebrate Mass here and afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Resurrection and the Grotto of the True Cross. After lunch walk to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (last supper). Then on to St Peter’s in Gallicantu - a truly incredible Shrine - and visit the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. Return to our hotel. Evening dinner at the hotel.

Coach travel to Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall which is part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in AD70. This is the holiest place in Judaism. We then proceed to Mt of Olives 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 the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, then move on to visit the Basilica of St John the Baptist and the chapel where he was born. Return to hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we travel to Bethany to visit St Lazarus church, where we celebrate Mass. We then proceed to Jericho Qasr Al-Yahud baptismal site for renewal of our Baptismal Vows. We will stay here for 30 minutes for Fr John to teach you about its significance. We then proceed to Jericho to view the Mount of Temptation. We travel to Qumran to see the ruins where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Lunch here. Our last stop of the day is the Dead Sea for the floating experience. 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. Proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracles. We travel to Tiberias to visit the shrines of Magdala. We celebrate Mass here before travelling to our hotel in Tiberias where we will be staying for 2 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, we journey to the Sea of Galillee 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 we have Mass here. Afterwards proceed to the church of the Feeding of the 5,000 (Tabgha). Lunch here and then a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee (one of the highlights of your pilgrimage) and afterwards visit 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 Tiberias.

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. We celebrate Mass here and enjoy the scenic view of the surrounding area overlooking the beautiful Jezreel valley. If time permits, proceed to Haifa - Mt Carmel 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.