June 12 – 20, 2024 • Nine Days
Pilgrimage
only- Single Room $350 additional
Pilgrimage cost includes: pensioni that is clean, comfortable, secure and well located; three meals per day with few exceptions; transportation by air-conditioned coach; all tips, offerings and sanctuary fees; books, notebooks, full services of staff; daily input with lectures and conferences. Snacks and shopping not included. NEW As Of 2023: To offer you the most flexibility in making flight arrangements, we have decided to offer Land Only prices for our pilgrimages this year. If you would like to use a travel agent to book your flights, please contact Barbara Witkowski, at Rex Travel (1.800.777.7739). We ask that all pilgrims meet our staff at Fiumicino Airport (Rome) or Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) outside of Customs at noon on Day 2 of the pilgrimage (Day 1 is a travel day). Our buses will leave soon thereafter. If you miss the bus, you will be responsible to meet the group at your first hotel.
A Franciscan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is one journey that addresses a new dimension to Christian faith. Through an integration of prayer, reflection and relaxation, you will feel a spiritual awakening touch your hearts. As you follow in the footsteps of Christ, you will see the stories of the Bible come to life. Picture yourself in Bethlehem as you pray inside a cave and wonder at the mystery of Christ’s birth. Think about crossing the Sea of Galilee, climbing the Mount of Beatitudes, celebrating Eucharist while overlooking the Sea. Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, and listen for the sounds of yesteryear along the narrow streets of Old Jerusalem.
This 4:28 minute video of Fr. Chircop, OFM may help you in your decision to become a pilgrim to the holiest place on earth. Double click on the video and you may view it on a full screen.
The following schedule is a typical example of our Classic Holy Land Pilgrimage. Your pilgrimage will adapt itself to the needs of the group and schedules of the sanctuaries and hence will vary.
Sample Classic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Day One
- Departure for Israel
Day Two
- Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport*
- Visit Mount Carmel – opening Eucharist on Mount Carmel.
- Lunch on the road to Nazareth – Depending on Time of arrival.
- Transfer to the hotel in Nazareth.
- Orientation Dinner and overnight in Nazareth
Day Three
- 10:00 Mass in Nazareth
- Visit of Nazareth
- Transfer to Mount Tabor
- Lunch on Mount Tabor
- Visit Cana
- Transfer to the hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.
Day Four
- Transfer to Capharnaum. Mass at 09:00
- Tabgha, Beatitudes.
- 12:00 Boat ride across Sea of Galilee.
- 13:00 Lunch Visit Magdala
- Transfer to the hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.
Day Five
- 07:30 Leave Nazareth – through Jordan Valley
- Jericho, Temptation Mount, Dead Sea.
- Visit Qasr el Yahud Baptismal Site where Jesus was baptised.
- Visit and Lunch at Qumran.
- Transfer to Bethany, Mass at 15:00hrs
- Transfer to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.
Day Six
- Morning in Bethlehem.
- Mass at 9.00.
- Lunch at the hotel.
- Shepherd’s Field
- Ain Karem. Visit Yad Vashem Memorial
- Transfer to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.
Day Seven
- Transfer to Mount of Olives, Betphage, Ascension etc.
- 12.00 transfer to Hotel in Jerusalem for Lunch.
- Transfer to Mount Sion for visit
- 16:00 Mass at the Chapel of the Cenacolino.
- Visit Jewish quarter.
- Transfer to hotel for dinner.
- Transfer to Gethsemene at 20:00 for Holy Hour in Basilica.
- Transfer Back to the Hotel. Jerusalem, and overnight.
Day Eight
- Visit to the Holy Sepulchre with Mass
- St. Anne’s, Flagellation, Via Dolorosa.
- Lunch at the hotel.
- PM free time
- Transfer to the hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day Nine
- Departure to Ben Gurion Airport