Duration: 9 Days
Dates: January 3, 2024 to January 12, 2024
Departure City: Newark, New Jersey (EWR), or New Orleans, LA (MSY)

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Detailed Itinerary

Wednesday - January 03, 2024 (Day 1): Departure to Tel Aviv
Today, we board our international flight to Tel Aviv

Thursday – January 04, 2024 (Day 2): Arrive Tel Aviv – Transfer to Jerusalem
Upon arrival at the Tel Aviv Airport we are met by our representative and transferred directly to our hotel at Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (D)

Friday– January 05, 2024 (Day 3): Wailing Wall – David’s Tower – Ein Karem – Bethlehem – Jerusalem
We start the day visiting Western Wall or Wailing Wall (the Holiest Jewish site in the world), then continue to the Citadel and David’s Tower (included). On the way to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), we drive to the village of Ein Karem just outside of Jerusalem for a visit to the Church of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56), pray and sing the Magnificate with Mary, then continue to Bethlehem. Lunch (included). We visit the Church of The Nativity, the cave where the Savior was born, and the Holy Manger, where the Virgin Mary placed her newborn Child (Luke 2:1-6). Prayers for expectant mothers, Pro-life intentions will be offered here. We then visit the Grotto of St. Jerome, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Crusader’s Cloister, Onto the Shepherd’s Field, cave and church. Pray here, at the Shepherd’s Field, in thanksgiving for our Holy Guardian Angels (Luke 2:8-20). Later this evening we shall have audience with the Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land. (Subject to confirmation closer to the date). Dinner and overnight at the Hotel. (B/L/D)

Saturday – January 06, 2024, (Day 4): Mount of Olives – Gethsemane – Kidron Valley – Upper Room -Church of the Dormition of Mary – Antonia Fortress
This morning, after breakfast, we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit the place of the Ascension (Acts 1:4-8) (included), the Pater Noster Church (included) to pray the Our Father (Luke 11:1-4), and Dominus Flevit Church (Luke 19:1-44). In Gethsemane, we visit the Church of All Nations, the Garden and Grotto of Gethsemane, (Matthew 26:36- 42). We visit the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. We then drive through the Kidron Valley, passing the tombs of Absalom, Jehoshaphat, Zachariah, James and Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. We visit the church of St. Peter in Galicantu in the House of Caiaphas (included) (Matthew 26:57). Here St. Peter denied the Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75) and Jesus turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61). We return for lunch at Notre Dame. After lunch (included),Afterwards, we proceed to Mount Zion and visit the Church of the Dormition of Mary and the upper room.Holy Mass will be celebrated near the Cenacle Eucharist Chapel on Mount Zion*. (Matthew 26:19-29). We walk through the walled city of Jerusalem to visit the Antonia Fortress (included). We return to our hotel for dinner. (B/L/D)

Sunday – January 07, 2024, (Day 5):Bethany – Qumran – Jericho – Jerusalem
After breakfast, we leave for Bethany where we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The Church was built over the site of the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We pray for the gift of contemplative prayer (Luke 10:38-42), we also pray in thanksgiving for life and eternal life for departed friends and family (John 11:1-44). Then, continue to the Qumran Caves, site of an Essene settlement (included). The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered there in 1947. We proceed to Jericho for lunch (included). After lunch, we proceed to visit the excavations of the old city of Jericho (included). Elisha’s Spring (blessing of Holy Water here {Kings 2:1-25}), view the Mount of Temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), Continue to the Dead Sea (lowest spot on Earth). Take time to wade or float in its water and then drive up through the wilderness to Judea, via the Good Samaritan Inn. Pray for the gift of loving compassionate service (Luke 10:25-37). Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at the Hotel. (B/L/D)

Monday – January 08, 2024, (Day 6): Jerusalem – Christian Shrines
We walk again this morning through the Old City of Jerusalem to visit the miraculous Pool of Bethesda (included), (John 5:1-15), the Crusader’s Church of St. Anne, where we celebrate Mass. We proceed to the Chapel of the Scriptural Gabbatha, then walk along the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the holiest place of Christendom, built over Calvary and the Holy Tomb. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel(B/L/D)

Tuesday – January 09, 2024, (Day 6): Holy Sepulcher Mass –Jaffa -Caesarea Maritima- Mount Carmel – Haifa – Tiberias
Early Holy Mass will be celebrated at Calvary, Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After breakfast and check-out, we depart for Joppa to the church of St. Peter to pray for the gift of holy discernment. (Acts 10). We continue to drive along the coastal road of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea Maritima (included), the seat of the Roman procurators of Judea. Here was the home of the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, the first converted Gentile (Acts 10:1-48). Also, Paul was imprisoned here for two years and from here he sailed to Rome (Acts 23:26). We visit the Roman Theater and Aqueduct and the Crusader’s fortress of Caesarea. We go to Mount Carmel the Shrine of Our Lady, then to where Elijah confronted the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-46), Muhraqa, The Place of Fire (included). Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at the Hotel. (B/L/D)

Wednesday– January 10, 2024 (Day 7): Tiberias – Mount Tabor – Nazareth – Cana – Jerusalem
After breakfast,we drive to Mount Tabor (taxi included). Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of the Transfiguration. (Luke 9:26-36). Ask for the gift of deeper prayer of the heart to see and hear only Jesus. Then lunch at Mt. Tabor (included). We then proceed to visit Nazareth, the town of Jesus’ childhood and the Basilica of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) to pray the first Joyful Mystery in thanksgiving for Mary’s “yes” and blessings on our families. Then visit the House of the Holy Family, St. Joseph’s workshop, St. Joseph’s Church and the Virgin Mary’s Well (Luke 2:41-52, Matthew 2:19-23). We continue to Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-12), where our Lord performed His first Miracle. Couples renew wedding vows. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

Thursday – January 11, 2024 (Day 8): Sea of Galilee Boat Ride – Capernaum – Mt. Beatitudes – Peter’s Primacy – Magdala – Tiberias
This morning, after breakfast, we enjoy a 50 minute boat ride (included) along the North shores of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 6:45-52), from Tiberias to Capernaum (included), where we come to visit the old ruins of the second century synagogue, the new church built over the house of St. Peter (Luke 4:31-39), where Our Lord abode (after he was rejected in His hometown, Nazareth), and recall all the Biblical events and miracles that Christ performed (Luke 4:40-44). For Holy Mass, continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Our Lord gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1- 16), and taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew6:5-15). We then proceed to Tabgha, where He made the miracle of the five barley loaves and the two fishes (John 6:1-69). After St. Peter’s Fish lunch (included) (Matthew 3:13-17), continue to St. Peter’s Primacy Church, (John 21:1-19). Continue to the home of St. Mary Magdalene (included), the Apostle of the Resurrection at Magdala (John 20:11-18). Visit the Jordan River and wade in its water as it flows out of the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

Day – January 12, 2024 (Day 9): Departure

***In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.***