Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Depart London Heathrow on flight to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport your guide and coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Bethlehem. Sandwiches, teas, coffee and cakes will be served at the hotel when we arrive. This will replace the normal dinner service due to the post-9pm arrival.

After breakfast we walk to Manger Square - the Basilica of the Nativity. We first visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born and afterwards, we walk down a narrow stairway that leads us to the cave of St Jerome where he translated the Vulgate version of the Bible. We view St Joseph’s Grotto and the Holy Innocents chapel, commemorating the children massacred by King Herod. We celebrate Mass in the church of St Catherine. We leave the church and walk to the Milk Grotto - the Museum of the Miracles. Lunch and coach 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 may sing Christmas Carols here. We then drive to the beautiful village of Ein Karem just outside Jerusalem, to the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady and the Birthplace of St John the Baptist. Before we return to the hotel, we have a chance to do some shopping for religious articles produced in Bethlehem (most are hand crafted from olive trees). Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Jerusalem where we first visit the Western (‘Wailing’) Wall which is part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in 70 AD. This is the holiest place in Judaism. Next, we walk up to the wooden bridge to enter Temple Mount and here we look around and view the amazing Golden Dome of the Rock. Walk to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (last supper), King David’s Tomb and the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Then on to St Peter’s in Gallicantu - a truly incredible Shrine - and visit the dungeon below where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. We celebrate Mass here. Return to our hotel for evening dinner.

Early departure to the Old City of Jerusalem. Proceed to the Pool of Bethesda and St Anne’s Church (the birthplace of Our Lady). We continue by visiting 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 Catholics. We celebrate Mass here and afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Resurrection, St Mary Magdalene’s Shrine, and the Grotto of the True Cross. Return to our hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we travel to Bethany to visit St Lazarus church, where we celebrate Mass. Continue driving along the Judean desert to Qasr Al-Yahud, the site for renewal of our Baptismal Vows. Continue to Jericho where we view the Mt of Temptation from across the valley and Zacchaeus’s Sycamore tree. Continue driving 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 our evening dinner.

After breakfast we take our coach to Jerusalem and arrive in the summit of Mount of Olives, walking first to the Ascension Dome then to Pater Noster Grotto where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. Next, we walk to Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem having foreseen its destruction. We continue our walk to Gethsemane Garden and the Church of All Nations to view the Rock of the Agony. We celebrate Mass here. We spend time here to pray and reflect. Afterwards, we walk to the Assumption Church and spend some time here before returning to our hotel by coach. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast we check-out of our hotel and say farewell to Bethlehem as our pilgrimage takes us northward to Galilee. Drive along the Judean desert to Mt Tabor - the church of Transfiguration. Taxis up the mountain and tour here. You will have an amazing view here overlooking the Jezreel Valley. We descend and continue driving towards Nazareth. Here we visit the Basilica of the 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 celebrate Mass in the stunning Upper Basilica, adorned with artwork of Our Lady. We then move on to visit St Joseph’s Grotto and his workshop. Walking across the road we visit the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well (St George’s church). Departing Nazareth, we proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water to wine. Renewal of Marriage Vows here (in the main church). A souvenir certificate can be purchased (cost £5) as well as Cana Wine to take home with you. Check-in to our hotel in Tiberias where we stay for 2 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

Our day begins by travelling along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, visiting the Mount of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place and while up here, we enjoy the scenic view of the Sea of Galilee. We move on and visit St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection and where according to tradition, at Mensa Christi, Jesus served his disciples bread and fish after his resurrection. We celebrate Mass here. Continue on to visit the church of Multiplication followed by lunch nearby with the option to eat St. Peter’s Fish (fresh tilapia). Afterwards we enjoy a wonderful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee itself before driving 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. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

Our last day in the Holy Land. We check-out and drive further north to Haifa - Mt Carmel to visit the Basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea - Carmelite Headquarters to view the cave of Prophet Elijah located underneath the altar. If time allows, we stop and view the impressive Bahá’í gardens and temple. Proceed to Caesarea Philippi. It was here that Jesus and his disciples came, and Jesus asked them: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Proceed to the airport for our flight back to London. Note: This itinerary is subject to change. We are unable to guarantee the exact day to day order of the pilgrimage, and it may be possible (but this is unlikely) that one or two places may have to be cancelled or closed owing to local circumstances beyond our control. The guide may change the order to ensure the smooth running of the pilgrimage. Masses will be arranged each day and venues will be confirmed according to availability. E&OE.