The Holy Land with Chris Stefanick & Jim Wahlberg
From Nazareth, Cana and Capernaum to Mount Tabor, Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre. An optional Jordan pre-tour adds Mount Nebo and Petra.
Meet your hosts
Chris Stefanick
Founder and president of Real Life Catholic
Chris Stefanick is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and television host who has devoted his life to sharing the love of Jesus, and helping others do the same. His live seminars, TV, radio, and video ministry have reached millions, and his educational initiatives are turning the tide in the Church. He authored a confirmation prep program that’s been used by over a million people, the popular SEARCH program and most recently released another bestseller, Living Joy.
Chris is a recipient of the Papal Benemerenti Medal, which was previously given by the pope for military valor, but today it is given for achievement in ministry. He is also a recipient of an honorary doctorate in applied theology from Walsh University and a graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He is the founder and president of Real Life Catholic, a non-profit organization that makes his initiatives for renewal a reality, including REBOOT events. Above all, he’s proud to be husband to Natalie and father to their six children, and five grandchildren!
Jim Wahlberg
Executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation
Jim Wahlberg aims to serve God by writing, speaking, filmmaking and serving our community. Jim serves as the executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.
Fr. Michael O’Loughlin
Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix
Ordained in 2005, Fr. Michael is the founding pastor of the Byzantine Catholic Outreach in Santa Paula, California, and co-hosts the What God is Not Podcast.
Fr. Richard Sunwoo
Pastor, Our Savior Parish at USC
Ordained in 2009 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Fr. Richard previously served parishes in Redondo Beach and Santa Monica.
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24
Early in the morning we walk the Via Dolorosa through the Old City, praying the Stations of the Cross, and celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Day nine · Monday, June 21 · Jerusalem
The Holy Land, June 13 to 22, 2027
Ten days, eight nights in the Holy Land: three at the Sea of Galilee and five in Jerusalem, with Mass each day at the places where Our Lord lived, taught, died and rose.
OvernightVisit
Nights: 3 Sea of Galilee, 5 Jerusalem.
Departure
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. Dinner and breakfast will be served during the flight.
Arrival in Tel Aviv & Sea of Galilee
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, our Canterbury tour manager will greet us as we collect our bags and accompany us by motorcoach to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee. After check-in, we gather for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Important: Passengers from the United States and all other countries exempted from entry visa requirements must complete the Israel ETA application prior to arrival.
Nazareth & Cana
After breakfast, we begin our pilgrimage in Nazareth, starting at Mary’s Well, where the Blessed Mother and the inhabitants of Nazareth would have drawn water. We walk the pilgrimage path to the Basilica of the Annunciation, built over the site of the home of the Virgin Mary, and visit the house of the Holy Family beneath the Church of St. Joseph. We celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation before pausing at noon to pray the Angelus at the Grotto before the house of the Virgin Mary. We then proceed to Cana to visit the Wedding Church, where Our Lord performed the first of His miracles, changing water into wine. Spouses may have the opportunity to renew their wedding vows here.
Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha & Magdala
This morning we enjoy a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to the Ancient Boat Museum. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Our Lord delivered the Sermon on the Mount. We then proceed to Capernaum, the town Jesus made the center of His ministry, where we celebrate Mass over the house of the Prince of the Disciples. We then visit the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy. We end the day with a visit to Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene.
Mt. Tabor, Caesarea Maritima & Jerusalem
Following breakfast, we travel by motorcoach to Mount Tabor, ascending by taxi to visit the beautiful basilica and the rock beneath the altar where the Transfiguration of Our Lord took place. We celebrate Mass here before continuing along the coast to Caesarea, where we visit a Roman amphitheater and aqueduct. We then continue to Jerusalem, arriving for a first view of the Holy City from Mount Scopus. This evening we gather for a wine and cheese reception at the Notre Dame rooftop.
Ein Karem & Bethlehem
Today we visit the village of Ein Karem to see the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation. We then proceed to Shepherd’s Fields and Bethlehem, visiting Manger Square and the Basilica of the Nativity, where we celebrate Mass.
Jerusalem
Following breakfast, we begin at the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem before visiting the Church of Pater Noster, where Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. We walk down Palm Sunday Road and visit Dominus Flevit before continuing to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Rock of Agony, where we celebrate Mass. We then visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and the Cenacle, the place of the Last Supper and Pentecost.
Jordan River, Jericho & Dead Sea
We begin the day with Mass in Jerusalem before making our way to the Jordan River, visiting the site considered the place where St. John the Baptist baptized Our Lord, with the opportunity for baptismal vow renewals. We then head to Jericho, one of the world’s oldest cities, for a distant view of the Mount of Temptation, traditionally regarded as the mountain on which Our Lord was tempted by the devil during His forty-day fast. It is here that Our Lord healed Bartimaeus the blind beggar and dined with Zacchaeus the rich tax collector. We see a sycamore tree like the one Zacchaeus climbed to catch a glimpse of Our Lord. We then make our way to the Dead Sea for free time to float in its storied waters before returning to Jerusalem.
Via Dolorosa & Jerusalem
Early this morning we walk the Via Dolorosa through the markets of the Old City, praying the Stations of the Cross, concluding at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where we celebrate Mass. We return to the hotel for breakfast before continuing with a visit to St. Anne’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda. We then make our way through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall. The remainder of the day is free for personal prayer and reflection. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Departure
With a renewed sense of pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we make our way to Tel Aviv Airport for our return flight home to the United States.
Jordan, June 10 to 14, 2027
Five days in Jordan before the main pilgrimage: Mount Nebo, Madaba and a full day at Petra. On June 14 we cross the Allenby Bridge into Israel and join the rest of the group at the Sea of Galilee for the welcome dinner.
Departure from the USA
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States for our overnight flight to Amman, Jordan. Dinner and breakfast will be served during the flight.
Arrival in Amman
Upon arrival in Amman, our Canterbury tour manager will greet us as we collect our bags and accompany us by motorcoach to our hotel. After check-in, we gather for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.
Amman, Mt. Nebo, Madaba & Petra
After breakfast, we proceed to Mt. Nebo, traditionally believed to be the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. We celebrate Mass here before continuing to Madaba to visit the Church of St. George, home to the famous 6th-century Madaba Mosaic Map, one of the oldest surviving cartographic depictions of the Holy Land. We then drive south to Petra and check into our hotel upon arrival.
Petra
Today we spend a full day exploring Petra, the Red Rose City and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We celebrate Mass at the ruins of the Byzantine Church before an afternoon at leisure. For the adventurous among us, the 800-step climb to the Monastery offers a breathtaking reward at the summit.
Petra & Sea of Galilee
After breakfast, we depart for the Allenby Bridge to complete border formalities before crossing into Israel and transferring to the Sea of Galilee, where we check into our hotel and join the rest of the group for the welcome dinner.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels
Three nights at Ramot Resort above the Sea of Galilee and five nights at the Grand Court Hotel in Jerusalem. At Ramot you can upgrade your room; each upgrade shows its added price on its card below. The Jordan pre-tour stays one night in Amman and two in Petra. Hotels are subject to change.
Upgrades at Ramot Resort
Upgrade your room for the three nights at the Sea of Galilee when you register.
“This was the trip of a lifetime and excellent customer service.”
“As a Catholic yearning to know about the faith, the trip was deeply satisfying.”
“Our local guides were authentically Catholic and extremely knowledgeable.”
Price per person
Land package per person. International airfare is separate: request a flight quote at registration, or book your own.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. $200 of the deposit plus any charges imposed by our vendors is non-refundable. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Airfare quoted for your airport
Select “Send me a flight quote” at registration and we’ll reach out with a price from your airport before anything is booked.
Any U.S. airport, an upgraded cabin, or arriving early and staying later can all be quoted.
Protect your pilgrimage
Your pilgrimage is paid for long before you leave. After you reserve, your booking confirmation email has our Allianz Travel Insurance plans and a link to buy one directly. Classic is the plan we recommend for most pilgrims.
- Covers your trip cost. Classic reimburses 100% of the trip cost you insured if you cancel for a covered reason, and adds emergency medical care and baggage cover.
- Buy within 14 days of your first deposit to keep Cancel Anytime and pre-existing condition cover. The plans stay available until departure.
- Buy it from your confirmation email. Prefer to add it by phone? Call us at +1 (800) 653-0017.
Frequently asked questions
This active program covers a good amount of ground each day, usually starting with a wake-up call around 7am and departure by 9am or earlier, and returning to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. We encourage all pilgrims to be able to walk 2 to 3 miles per day at a moderate pace, with some uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and significant slopes, and some walking in the open air with no shade or seating.
Yes. Passengers from the United States and all other countries exempted from entry visa requirements must complete the Israel ETA application before arrival. Your passport must also be valid for six months from the trip return date; passport cards are not accepted.
Rates are per person. Solo travelers are always welcome: you can book a single room, or ask us to match you with a roommate of the same gender. Shared rooms have one bed or two beds, and if we cannot find you a roommate, the single room rate applies.
You can have a room to yourself, with a single room supplement of $1,300 for the standard room, or share a room with two beds with another pilgrim. If you would like to share, we will do our best to match you with a roommate. If we cannot find a match by March 15, 2027, the single room supplement applies. Couples, families, friends and singles are all welcome, and plenty of pilgrims come on their own.
Yes. Select “I plan to book my own flights” at registration. Please arrive at Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion) no later than 3:00pm on June 14 for hotel check-in and the welcome dinner; the last group transfer leaves the airport at 4:30pm. You may depart at any time on June 22; hotel checkout is at 11:00am, with group airport transfers in the morning at select times.
Yes, premium economy and business class upgrades are available. Select “Send me a flight quote” at registration and we’ll reach out with a price before anything is booked.
If you book airfare with us, a Canterbury representative greets you in the arrival hall and transfers you to the hotel, and on the last day you are transferred to the airport for your flight home. If you book your own flights, you can add arrival and departure transfers through us for an additional cost.
The group’s flight schedules are sent to you digitally and in the mail 30 days before the pilgrimage.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
Airfare, since this pilgrimage is priced land only; we quote flights from your airport at registration. Donations at Masses, souvenirs and laundry. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day. Tips for your tour manager, local guides and driver: the recommended amounts are in your final travel documents. Travel insurance if you choose it, and a 3% fee if you pay by card. Abroad, we recommend paying for most things by credit card, which is accepted almost everywhere and comes with protection that cash does not; bring a couple hundred U.S. dollars in cash for emergencies. When a card machine or ATM asks whether to pay in dollars or in the local currency (shekels in Israel, and dinars in Jordan on the pre-tour), choose the local currency; it is almost always cheaper.
Cancel in writing. Up to March 15, 2027 (90 days before departure), everything you have paid is returned except $200. After that date, the $450 deposit and any costs we cannot recover are kept. Travel insurance may cover a cancellation, depending on the reason.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Your chaplain is there to guide you spiritually on the journey.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.
The Holy Land with Chris Stefanick & Jim Wahlberg
June 13 to 22, 2027, with Fr. Michael O’Loughlin and Fr. Richard Sunwoo, and an optional Jordan pre-tour from June 10. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.