The Holy Land with St. John the Evangelist Parish

Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land begins as we board our flight for Israel today.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we’ll meet our Canterbury tour manager at our hotel in Tel Aviv for check-in and dinner.

Following breakfast, we will drive to Caesarea. We will visit the archaeological remains of this ancient port. Shortly after the time of Jesus Christ, it was revealed to Peter in Caesarea that the Good News (to repent) is not only intended for Jewish people, but also the entire world. Continue North to Haifa. In Haifa, you will find Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery. The monastery is located above the cave where Elijah, the prophet, once lived. Following this visit, enjoy the scenic drive to Nazareth, were we’ll visit the church of the Annunciation which includes the church of St Joseph which tradition identifies it with the workshop of Joseph and the house of the Holy family. We will continue with a visit of the Church of the Incarnation, viewing at Grotto the remains of the house of the Blessed Virgin where the Angel appeared and announced the good news. Following Pilgrims path we visit Mary’s well, where often the Virgin Mary would have walked to draw water from the spring. The next stop will be to Cana where you will visit the Franciscan Wedding Church. Couples will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony to renew their wedding vows. We’ll continue onto Tiberias, check-in at the hotel before dinner.

In the morning we drive north to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his famous confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Traveling back to the Sea of Galilee area, we visit Tabgha, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, along with St Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus bestowed church leadership upon Peter, and the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus proclaimed His great Sermon on the Mount. After lunch we’ll visit the Ancient Galilee boat, which dates back to the time of Jesus. We will enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee before visiting Magdala, the birthplace of Mary Magdalene, and Capernaum, the launching place of Jesus ministry. In Capernaum we will visit the Synagogue where Jesus taught and gave His sermon on the Bread of Life. Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we will drive to the site of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration. Continue south to the Jordan Valley to the oldest inhabited city in the world, Jericho. In Jericho, we can view the exact location of the Mount of Temptation, where the Devil tempted Jesus. We’ll continue to Jesus’ baptismal site on the Jordan River where you will have the opportunity to renew your baptismal vows. After some time at the Jordan River, we will transfer to Jerusalem to check-in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.

This morning, enjoy breakfast before we start our day in Jerusalem, which houses the temple to which Jesus was Presented. Visit a model of the Second Temple as it was in the time of Jesus. Following this visit, we will take a short drive to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. There are two churches in Ein Karem, the two homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The first is in a valley, the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The second is on a hill where Elizabeth spent five months in seclusion at the Church of the Visitation. In the afternoon, transfer to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. In Bethlehem, you will have the opportunity to view the Shepherds’ Fields. The tour concludes at the Manger Square which stands in front of the Church of the Nativity. As you enter the Church, you will proceed down to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Our Savior’s birth. Following Mass in this Sacred space, return to the hotel for dinner.

Following breakfast, we will travel down the Jordan Valley to Qumran. Qumran is made up of 2,000 year old ruins from the days of the Second Temple and also the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Time and weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to take a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Continue as you travel through the Judean wilderness, the site where Jesus spent 40 days of fasting. We’ll end our day in Bethany, the site where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Return to the hotel for dinner.

After breakfast, we will make our way to the Mount of Olives where you will be able to take in the beautiful, panoramic view of Jerusalem. Historically, the Mount of Olives was a mandatory transit point for Jesus during many iconic moments. Visit the Pater Noster Shrine where Jesus taught His disciples the Lords Prayer. You will have the opportunity to stop at Dominus Flevit which is a Church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Continue on to Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Jesus brought His disciples here to pray the night before He was crucified. The Garden still contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus. Next we’ll stop at the Church of All Nations, built over the Rock of Agony. This is where Jesus prayed alone on the night of His arrest. Throughout this time, pilgrims are invited to remain in prayer and to reflect on Christs agony that He experienced. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Jewish Temple after it was destroyed in 70 A.D..Next we’ll visit the Upper Room on Mt. Zion where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Last Supper and where Jesus appeared to His disciples after His Death and Resurrection. In addition, visit the nearby Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Tradition tells us that this Church is where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, fell asleep. Return to the hotel for dinner.

This morning we’ll begin the Via Dolorosa at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. We’ll end by Celebrating Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Following Mass, we will return to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. We will continue our day with a visit to the Church of St. Annes, the home of Jesus maternal grandparents (Anne and Joachim); and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the crippled man. This afternoon, enjoy a revisit to the Old City. Following this visit return to the hotel to enjoy dinner. With a renewed sense of pilgrimage and an invigorated love of our Catholic faith, we say farewell to our fellow pilgrims as the pilgrimage comes to a close this evening.

Arrival back into the USA.