Holy Land Itinerary

For those interested, this is how the trip panned out:
Day-by-Day Itinerary:


Day 1, Friday, Jan 4, 2013 : DEPART TO TEL AVIV
Our journey begins as we depart from the our hometown for our flight to Tel Aviv. Meals are served in-flight.

Day 2, Saturday Jan 5, 2013: ARRIVE TEL AVIV
On arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met and transferred to the Dan Panorama hotel on the Mediterranean coast. Dinner will be served at the hotel. D

Welcome Meeting and Mass (Precided by Monsignor James Swiader): at 6.30 – Level H
Dinner at 8.00 pm

Day 3, Sunday Jan 6, 2013: STELLA MARIS, NAZARETH, CANA 
Theme: The Annunciation 
This morning after breakfast, leave up the Mediterranean coast to Haifa to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Stella Maris. After seeing the cave where Elijah lived, Dr. Scott Hahn will give a short lecture, and then enjoy lunch at the Carmelite Monastery. Then drive to Nazareth, Mary’s home and the town where Jesus lived as a child. Celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation (Precided by: Father John Amsberry), and visit the Byzantine Church of St. Joseph and Mary’s Well. End the day at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of His mother. See the Franciscan chapel where those who wish to, can perform the renewal of their wedding vows (Precided by: Father Rodrigues). Drive to the Leonardo Plaza hotel in Tiberias.

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45

Day 4, Monday Jan 7, 2013: TIBERIAS: SEA OF GALILEE 
Theme: The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee
The day starts with a drive to Tabgha, to visit the Church of the Loaves and Fish, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. Then to Capernaum, from where Jesus launched his Ministry; see the synagogue that dates to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of Peter’s home. Celebrate Mass in this special place (Precided by: Father Jeff Woolnough), followed by a short lecture from Dr. Scott Hahn. Enjoy a lunch of St Peter Fish in Tannurim. In the afternoon visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy”. Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep”, confirming him to be the first Pope. On to Mt Beatitudes, where Jesus gave His great sermon, we will pray the rosary, followed by a short lecture from Monsignor Swiader and Dr. Scott Hahn. The day will conclude with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to take the beautiful setting of the landscape that Jesus loved.

Dinner at 6:30
“Pilgrim Introduction” and a short Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45

Day 5, Tuesday Jan 8, 2013: MT. TABOR / JERUSALEM
Theme: The Transfiguration
Today, after breakfast, start the day by then drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, with time to reflect on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity, good preparation for the journey to Jerusalem where Jesus was to suffer the crucifixion and resurrection. Mass will be celebrated here, at the Basilica (Precided by: Father Carlos Rodgrigues). After lunch, we drive directly to your Hotel. Check-in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45 pm

Day 6, Wednesday Jan 9, 2013: JERUSALEM: EIN KAREM, & BETHLEHEM
Theme: The Visitation and Nativity
A short drive takes us to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, to visit the church that commemorates his memory. After lunch in Bethlehem, we go up to Manger Square which stands in front of one of the oldest of Christian churches, the Church of the Nativity. Enter the Church and down to the Grotto of the Nativity, which marks the spot of Jesus’ birth. Beneath the Altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). We will celebrate Mass at St. Catherine’s Church (Precided by: Monsignor James Swiader). Drive to the outskirts of Bethlehem to see the cave at the Shepherds’ Field. The caves have soot marks of the fires that shepherd’s lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks. Return to the hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Kimberly Hahn at 7:45 pm

Day 7, Thursday Jan 10, 2013: BETHANY / JORDAN RIVER / MOUNT OF TEMPTATION
Theme: Early Years in Jerusalem, the Wilderness & The Baptism
Start the day with a moment of reflection. Following breakfast, we will make our way downstairs where we will enjoy an introduction from Monsignor James Swiader, and then a short lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn. This will also allow time to reflect on all that we have seen, and heard, so far. Pray the Rosary as a group, and allow time for confession. Then drive down the Jordan Valley, to the River Jordan, the site that marks where John baptized Jesus. Stop at Jericho, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, for lunch. Mass will take place at the Good Shepherd Church (Precided by: Father John Amsberry). Following Mass, we will leave to view the Mt of Temptation and see an example of a Sycamore Tree. Conclude with day with a stop to see the Monastery of the Temptation where Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights, and then to Bethany, where Lazarus was raised from the dead. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45 pm

Day 8, Friday January 11, 2013: JERUSALEM: MT. OF OLIVES, GETHSEMANE, VIA DOLOROSA 
Theme: Palm Sunday, the Agony in the Garden & The Way of the Cross
Following breakfast, we make our way to Gethsemane to reflect on Jesus’ final night. The Garden contains trees, the roots of which go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of His arrest. Mass at Gethsemane (Precided by: Father Jeff Woolnough). From the Mount of Olives, take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Walking down the Palm Sunday Road stop at the beautiful little church, Dominus Flevit - “The Lord wept.” It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41]. In the afternoon after visiting the Pool of Bethesda, we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there, He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Return to the Hotel for Dinner. Following dinner, we will make our way downstairs to the Lecture Hall where we will be greeted by His Excellency, William Shomali, Bishop of Jerusalem. We will take part as an audience in a ceremony for members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre who will be receiving their Pilgrim Shells.

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45 pm

Day 9, Saturday Jan 12, 2013: THE CHUCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE/ Mt ZION / QUMRAN / DEAD SEA
Theme: The Crucifixion
We leave the hotel at 5.30 am to go to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for High Mass at the Tomb of Christ (Precided by: Father Carlos Rodgrigues). We return to the hotel for breakfast, then visit Mt Zion overlooking the Kidron Valley along which Jesus was taken as a prisoner to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where He was interrogated and imprisoned. Now called Peter in Gallicantu (“crowing rooster”), this beautiful Church also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ, his repentance and then being forgiven by Jesus. On Mt Zion is the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper. Nearby is the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Following lunch, we will make our way to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, along with a short lecture from Dr. Scott Hahn. After, we will head down to the Dead Sea where you can choose to go in, or relax.

Dinner at 6:30
Lecture with Dr. Scott Hahn at 7:45 pm

Day 10, Sunday Jan 13, 2013: Final Day in Jerusalem. DEPARTURE.
Theme: The Resurrection. Eucharist in Emmaus and Farewell to Jerusalem
Start the day with a late and leisurely breakfast. Check out of your rooms at 11.00 am and board your coach. Visit Abu Ghosh, thought by some to be the site of Emmaus, where Christ appeared to the two disciples and gave the first Eucharist after the Resurrection. We celebrate the closing Mass of the Pilgrimage at the Church of Our Lady, Ark of the Covenant (Precided by: Monsignor James Swiader). A visit to the Israel Museum to see the Second Temple scale model for an overview of Jerusalem as it was at the time of Jesus, and then a visit to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). Return to the hotel at 6:00 PM for a drinks reception followed by a Farewell Dinner.
Depart the Hotel for your return flight home.

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