Holy Land Pilgrimage

You will visit the stunning Mt. Nebo, mentioned in Deuteronomy 34, where Moses climbs Mt. Nebo from the plains of Moab. Here, you will tour the Holy site where Moses died and was buried.

This beautiful church houses the oldest map of the Holy Land including Israel, Palestine, and Southern Egypt. This ancient map is a true, historical gem of the world.

Nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, Jerash is the grandeur of Imperial Rome, being one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world, outside of Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition.

In Caesarea, St. Peter baptized the first gentile convert, Cornelius, and it is also where St. Paul gave his defense of the church. Caesarea is home to the Roman Theater, Herod’s Palace, the Hippodrome, and the harbor from which St. Paul sailed on his journeys.

Visit the Carmelite Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and pray at the cave where Elijah, the prophet, took refuge.

In Nazareth, we will tour the Church of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. We will also see the remains of Nazareth at the time of Christ, and St. Joseph’s workshop which is now known as St. Joseph’s Church.

In Cana, Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine. During your visit at the Wedding Church, married couples will have the opportunity to take part in a ceremony to renew their wedding vows.

Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the beautiful Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). Upon docking the boat, you will have the opportunity to view the remains of a boat that dates back to the time of Jesus. Also in Galilee, we will visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus proclaimed his great Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). Near the Mount is Tabgha, where Jesus fed the 5,000 from five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). Tabgha is also the site where Jesus bestowed church leadership on Peter (John 21:9) at St. Peter’s Primacy.

Magdala is the birthplace of Mary Magdalene, and also was a prosperous fishing village in the time of Jesus. Magdala exported fish and garum (a fish sauce reduction; popular in Roman cooking).

Capernaum was the launching pad of Jesus’ ministry. In Capernaum, you will see the Synagogue where Jesus taught (Mark 1:21-29) and gave his sermon on the Bread of Life.

Mount Tabor is the site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-50). At this site, you will have time to reflect on Christ’s humanity and divinity, as well as celebrate Mass.

When visiting Jericho, you are visiting the oldest inhabited city in the world (Joshua 6:12-25). In Jericho, you view the exact location, the Mount of Temptation, where the Devil tempted Jesus during his forty-day fast (Luke 4:1).

You will stand in awe at  the site of Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), where the voice of the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” and the Spirit of God descended like a dove.

Jerusalem is home to the temple in which Jesus was Presented (Luke 2:22). It also hosts a model of the Second Temple as it was in the time of Jesus. You will visit the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Jewish Temple after it was destroyed in 70 A.D. Nearby in Ein Karem, you will visit the birthplace of John the Baptist, as well as two churches which represent the two homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Your pilgrimage through Jerusalem can also include a visit to the home of Jesus’ maternal grandparents (Anne and Joachim) at the Church of St. Anne’s, and a stop at the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the crippled man (John 5:1-9).

You will have the opportunity to view the Shepherd’s Fields (Luke 2:8), where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. In the caves here, you are still able to see the soot marks of fires that shepherds lit to keep warm. Also in Bethlehem, we will visit the Church of the Nativity where we will worship at the spot of our Savior’s birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Beneath the altar, there is a silver star and a Latin inscription that states: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary).

Qumran is made up of 2,000 year old ruins from the days of the Second Temple and is also the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written and discovered (Ezekial 47:8-10). These writings have helped further the understanding of Jewish background in Christianity. You will have the opportunity to take a float on the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest spot on Earth, and also to travel to Judea, the site where Jesus spent his 40 days of fasting.

Here, you will visit the site where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, foreshadowing his own resurrection (John 11:38-44).

On the Mount of Olives, you will 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 Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster) (Luke 11:1-4). You will have the opportunity to stop at Dominus Flevit which is a Church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). You will travel down 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 (Luke 22:29-53). The Garden still contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus. You will stop at the Church of All Nations, which is built over the “Rock of Agony,” where Jesus prayed alone on the night of his arrest. During this time you are invited to remain in prayer and to reflect on Christ’s agony. On your journey to the cross of Christ you will also visit the Upper Room, where Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30), and where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection (Mark 16:14).

This sobering and amazing part of the journey will begin at Antonia Fortress, the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16). Following His condemnation, He was taken (on the Road to Calvary) to His place of Crucifixion. You will reflect upon the Stations of the Cross as you travel through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Luke 23:26-33). This sacred destination is the site of Calvary (Jesus’ crucifixion place), His tomb (Luke 23: 50-55), and His resurrection. You will then have the opportunity to celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.