THIS TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELLED

UNTIL NEXT YEAR

Nov 20 - Nov 29, 2010 (Mass Celebrated Daily)

 

DAY 1  NOV 20 DENVER  Depart Denver Airport for an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast will be served aboard.

 

DAY 2  NOV 21   TEL AVIV/TIBERIAS Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will be greeted by our English speaking tour escort and transfer to our deluxe motor coach and head for Tiberias in the Galilee for dinner and over-night. Already we can feel the heart of this land enchanting us, as we visit the sites of the Bible and share the experience of walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

 

DAY 3  NOV 22    TIBERIAS  We will drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, where the Romans held Paul prisoner and Peter baptized Cornelius (Acts 10:24). We will visit the Roman theater, the aqueduct, and Herodian Port and continue on to Haifa. We will see the magnificent panoramic view from the top of the mountain at Mukraka, the location of Elijah’s altar, it was here Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). From here we go to Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. We continue to the Sea of Galilee via the Valley of Armageddon. Our next stop is Nazareth, boyhood town of Jesus. We then visit the Church of Annunciation (Luke 1:46) where the Angel appeared to Mary announcing she was chosen to be the Mother of the Savior of the world. Mass may be celebrated here. We also visit the Church of Mary’s Well and St Joseph’s workshop, then on to Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1). Here couples can renew their marriage vows. Afterwards we return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 4  NOV 23     TIBERIAS    After breakfast we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, then on to the Village of Capernaum to visit the ruins of St. Peter’s House where Jesus stayed while he was preaching in the local synagogue and cured St Peter’s Mother-in-law, we will visit the second century synagogue and then proceed to Tabgha, to visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Mark 6:44), then visit the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy (John 2 1 : I 5) where Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection and told Peter “feed my lambs”. We then proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 1). Mass will be celebrated here. From here we travel to Caesarea Phillip where St. Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16: 13). Jesus replied that Peter was the rock on which the Church would be built. As we drive back to our hotel, we pass Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 5 NOV 24    JERUSALEM  This morning we leave the Sea of Galilee for Yardenit, baptismal site on the Jordan River; here we can renew our Baptismal Covenant. We then proceed to Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2); we will ascend the mountain to the Church where we will celebrate Mass, continue to the old Roman city of Beit Shean to visit the impressive ruins. In the afternoon, we drive to nearby Bethlehem of Judea (The House of Bread), birthplace of Jesus (Matthew 2:1). We will visit the Church of the Nativity, on the site of the Manger where Joseph came with Mary and where the Wise Men came to worship the King of Kings. We will see the Milk Grotto and the Cave of St. Jerome, where the 3rd century saint translated the Latin Vulgate. Afterwards we will stand on Shepherds Field, where the Angel proclaimed the Good News “Jesus Is Born” (Luke 2:8). As we depart we will visit the Tomb of the Matriarch Rachel — Mother of Joseph of the Old Testament. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

DAY 6 NOV 25    JERUSALEM Today our day starts with a visit to the Model of Ancient Jerusalem to see how it was in the Lord’s Day, followed by a visit to the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed; then to the Mount of Olives to walk the Palm Sunday Walk. From the top of the Mount of Olives we have an outstanding view of the city and surrounding area revealing 4,000 years of history. Our first visit is the site of the Ascension from where Jesus ascended to Heaven, then to the Church of Pater Noster (Acts 1:9) with the Lords Prayer in many languages, we will walk down the hill to the Church of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32), Church of All Nations where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his betrayal and arrest, then visit the Cave of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. We will see the Kidron Valley, Tombs of Absalorn, Zachariah and James. We continue on to Mt. Zion, to the Church of the Dormition, where it is said Our Blessed Lady ascended to Heaven, the Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:17), and the Cenacle to visit King David’s Tomb. Proceed to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, (The Cock Crows) (Mark 14:30) here Peter denied Jesus three times. We will continue to the Church of the Visitation, where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth and proclaimed the Magnificat (Luke 1:41), Mass will be celebrated here. We then continue on to Ein Karem, birth- place of St. John the Baptist. We Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 7 NOV 26  Jerusalem  After breakfast we continue to the Old City and enter through St. Stephen’s Gate to St. Anne’s Church birthplace of our Blessed Lady and home to her parents, Sts Anne and Joachim. We will see the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man (John 5:2). We will continue on to the Via Dolorosa “The Way of the Cross” (Luke 23: 1). We will process carrying a wooden cross starting at Pilate’s Judgment Hall and stopping to pray at each station as we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice all the way “to Calvary and the Tomb” at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Mass will be celebrated at the Franciscan Chapel. This is truly a way to be celebrating Thanksgiving.  After Mass we will visit the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) the most holy place for Jews. The walls are what remains of the Holy Temple and it is at this temple it is said Jesus was presented as a baby (Luke 2:22-24), was lost for three days.( Luke 2:46) and where Jesus was brought to the Sanhedrin and asked if He was the Messiah (Luke 22:66-71). There will be time at this site for us to meditate and pray. We will see the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque, Temple Mount. We continue winding our way through the ancient cobblestone alleyways amidst the colorful bazaars. Time permitting; we will visit The Garden Tomb. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight

 

Day 8 Nov 27 BETHANY/MASADA/QUMRAN CAVES

Mass will be arranged before we head for the Dead Sea (deepest point on earth), to visit the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947 and on to Masada. Ascend to the top for a magnificent view of the desert. We will have time for a “swim” in the Dead Sea, visit Ein Gedi, and return to Jerusalem via the Judean Wilderness for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY 9  NOV 28 JERUSALEM

A full day of leisure to peruse personal interests or shop. Farewell dinner and overnight

 

DAY 10  NOV 29  Denver

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home, arriving home the same day, We take with us blessings and memories to last a lifetime.