Today we arrive in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion airport. We are greeted by staff at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. They show us to our coaches & we transfer to our hotels in Netanya, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. This evening we have a short orientation & Mass after dinner.  

Dinner & overnight at Lagoon & Island Hotels, Netanya.  D

Heading north, we begin our tour visiting Caesarea Maritima. Our first teaching is at the theater built by Herod the Great. After touring the ruins of the ancient port city, we drive towards Mount Carmel. We experience the beautiful views overlooking the Jezreel Valley while reflecting on the story of Elijah. We have a falafel lunch in the Druze village before heading towards the Galilee. On the northwestern shore we find Magdala, a first century city & the hometown of Mary Magdalene. We tour the site with its 1st century synagogue before celebrating Mass in the Duc in Altum Church on the shore of the Galilee. Driving to the other side of the lake, we check into our seaside hotels.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

We begin today in Nazareth for Mass at the Church of the Annunciation before visiting the grotto where the angel Gabriel announced the coming of the Messiah to Mary. At Mt. Precipice, where the Nazarenes threatened Jesus, we have a teaching by Fr. Mike. Our lunch is at Kfar Kedem, a recreated 1st century farm, followed by hands on experiences making bread, goat cheese, even olive oil. After dinner we enjoy an outdoor Evening Concert with featured musicians.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

We begin the day at St Peter’s Primacy with the chance to seek God’s voice or to renew our vocational vows as we recall Christ’s restoration of Peter. ~ One of the most loved sites in Israel, the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooks the lake from its north shore. After a time for prayer & meditation, we have Mass.  

There is the option to hike down to the shore near the city of Capernaum before lunch nearby. The afternoon is free to enjoy the lake or perhaps go rafting on the Jordan River (extra cost). 

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

Our journey north to Caesarea Philippi takes us near Mt Hermon & Israel’s borders with Lebanon & Syria. Here Jeff teaches on the papacy. At nearby Tel Dan, we view two Old Testament city gates, one from the Israelite period & one by which Abraham entered the city. A hike along a nature path brings us to the High Place, an altar used during the Divided Kingdom, c920BC. After we enjoy a St. Peter’s Fish lunch, we return to Capernaum where Jeff teaches about discipleship in view of the synagogue where Jesus taught. Mass is at St. Peter’s Church, built over the actual home of St. Peter. Our next stop is at the Ancient Boat Museum to see a boat from the time of Jesus. From here we embark on a boat ride on the lake. After dinner tonight we have a bonfire. The priests are available for confessions on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Note: We pack tonight putting what we need for our Bedouin overnight into a small overnight bag. No suitcases will come off the coach until Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

Today is the longest drive of the tour. We depart the area of the Galilee & travel along the Jordan Valley. Our first stop is at Bet She’an, a Roman city at the base of the Old Testament tel of the same name. The excavation is an amazing view of a Roman city. We have a picnic lunch by the beautiful springs at Sachne park. We drive on to Qsar El Yehud, the baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River, to hear a teaching by Jeff. We share Mass & renew our baptismal promises. We arrive at Kfar Hanokdim, for our Bedouin camp overnight. There may be the possibility of a camel ride! (Camel rides taken at tour member’s own risk.). After dinner we enjoy an Evening Concert in the desert with our featured musicians. 

Dinner & overnight Kfar Hanokim. B L D  

We say good-by to the Bedouin camp & return to the Dead Sea area. We stop at Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. We have lunch at their cafeteria & enjoy a bit of souvenir shopping. Nearby is En Gedi, a wilderness site where David hid from King Saul. Here we often see Biblical animals such as ibis living in the oasis. After Jeff teaches, some may hike to the falls if there is time. We continue to the beach for a Dead Sea swim. We finally ascend to Jerusalem, stopping on Mt Scopus to offer the traditional “Shechuyanu” or blessing over the city as arriving pilgrims have done for centuries. 

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D 

Bethlehem is located less than 7 miles from Jerusalem. We begin at the Church of the Nativity to see the birthplace of Jesus. Our Mass is at St Catherine’s which also gives us access to St. Jerome’s Grotto where he translated the scripture from Hebrew & Greek into Latin. At the Shepherds’ Fields, the Christmas Story we all love is enhanced as we hear the history of these caves. After Jeff’s teaching we enjoy a special lunch & shopping at a Christian olive wood & souvenir shop.

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D 

From the top of the Mt. of Olives, we see the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock, Mt. Zion, the Old City & New Jerusalem spreading out over the city’s many hills. We walk down the Palm Sunday Way to Dominus Flevit, a chapel recalling when Jesus wept over Jerusalem. After a teaching, we continue to the Garden of Gethsemane. Mass is at the Church of All Nations, built over the rock where Jesus sweat drops of blood as He prayed before His capture. As Jesus & his disciples had, we walk across the Kidron Valley to Mt. Zion to visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the church built over Caiaphas’ house where Jesus was held overnight. We end the day at the Upper Room & Dormitian Abbey.

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D 

We start the morning with a teaching by Jeff at the Pool of Siloam followed by a walk up the ancient Herodian Street to the Davidson Center. We gather at the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount for part-two of Jeff’s teaching. After lunch in the Jewish Quarter, we visit the Western Wall. Leaving the Old City by the Dung Gate, we cross to the City of David, the most ancient part originally conquered by David. Here we walk through the 3000 year old Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a cool escape on a hot day. (NOTE: Wear shoes and pants that can get wet as the channel we walk through has shallow water in it.) 

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D 

Today is a free day to continue to explore Jerusalem. Perhaps return to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or Gethsemane. Maybe check out the modern shopping on Ben Yehuda Street or the local Machaneh Yehudah Market which is particularly active as the locals prepare for the beginning of Shabat. Even to shop or sit in a café in the Old City & talk with the locals can become a special memory. There may even be an optional tour to Masada. 

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B D (Lunch is not included)

Today is perhaps the most meaningful day of the pilgrimage. We enter the Old City at the Lion’s Gate to visit St Anne’s Basilica, a crusader church built next to the Pools of Bethesda. The Via Dolorosa, the walk of Christ’s Passion, begins a short distance further into the Old City. We follow it to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. After a falafel lunch, we head to the Israel Museum to view the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls & the Model of 1st Century Jerusalem, a perfect overview. We say good-by to Jerusalem & drive to Jaffa, the port of Jonah’s departure & Peter’s vision. Here Jeff shares our final teaching before we transfer to the airport. Most of our group flights depart between 11:00 pm Saturday & about 1:00 am Sunday.  B L 

Our flights from Tel Aviv continue towards home. Our shared memories of Israel continue to bless us!  Welcome home!