Holy Land Pilgrimage - 11/5/2019

This morning, we will enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea
of Galilee and proceed to the Church of Peter’s Primacy (John
21:16). Here on the shore of Galilee, Jesus appeared to the
Apostles after His Resurrection and confirmed Peter in the role
as Vicar of Christ with the words, “Feed My sheep.” The rock
emerging from the center of the church is the actual table at
which they ate breakfast. We will proceed onto Capernaum
which for three years was the center of Jesus’ public ministry.
Here our Lord met his first disciples – Peter, Andrew, James,
John and Matthew – and worked many miracles. He healed
Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever, brought a child back to life,
cured a leper, healed the centurion’s servant, cast out a demon
from a young boy and healed all that were sick (Matt 8:16). We
will celebrate Mass, visit the synagogue where Jesus taught,
and then drive to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve
Apostles and view its magnificent icons. Next we will visit
Tabgha – the site where Jesus multiplied the Loaves and Fishes
and fed over 5000 people (Luke 9:13) and finish at the Mount of
Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount.

After Mass at the Mount of the Beatitudes, we will travel
through the Judean wilderness to the River Jordan to renew
our baptismal vows. The Bible tells us that the Children of Israel
crossed the River Jordan opposite Jericho when they came into
the Promised Land. The prophet Elijah divided its waters and
crossed with Elisha on dry land. Naaman the Syrian dipped in
the waters seven times and was cured of his leprosy. And Jesus
was baptized by John in the Jordan (Mark 1:9). Each year,
pilgrims from far and wide come to the Place of Baptism to
immerse themselves in these holy waters. Then drive to ancient
Jericho, the oldest known city in the Western world. In 1250
B.C., Joshua encircled the city and at the blast of the priests’
trumpets, the walls came tumbling down (I Kings 16). Many
times Jesus passed through this city on his way to Jerusalem.
The sycamore fig, the tree which Zacchaeus climbed in order to
catch a glimpse of Jesus, still grows in this area. From the ruins
of ancient Jericho, we will ascend the Mount of Temptation
where Jesus fasted and prayed forty days to resist the devil.
From here, we will drive a short distance to Bethlehem.

Above the traditional Grotto of Jesus’ birth, we will visit the
Nativity Church, built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th
century. Also visit the Manger, Grotto of St. Jerome, and the
Church of St. Catherine. Then visit the Milk Grotto Chapel
followed by some free time to walk around Manger Square. In the afternoon, we will go to the Shepherd’s Fields where we
will celebrate Mass. In the evening, celebrate a Holy Hour at
the Church of the Nativity.

This morning we will drive to the top of the Mt. of Olives for
a spectacular view of Jerusalem. We will visit the Church of
Pater Noster where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray,
Ascension Chapel, the site where Jesus ascended into Heaven,
and then walk the “Palm Sunday Road” to Dominus Flevit,
where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Then we will proceed
to the Garden of Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations
for Mass on the Rock of Agony. The balance of the day is free
for personal prayer.

This morning we will enter the Old City of Jerusalem through
St. Stephen’s Gate to visit the Church of St. Anne, where the
Blessed Virgin Mary was born. Next to this site is the Pool of
Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic man. We will then
walk the Via Dolorosa finishing prayerfully in the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher where we will have Holy Mass. There we will
climb Mt. Calvary and pray at the site of the crucifixion. We will
venerate the site where Jesus’ body was anointed, the tomb
where he was buried and rose from the dead, and the Chapel
of St. Helena where the True Cross was found. While in the
Old City, we will also see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel
of Flagellation, the Arch of Ecce Homo, the “Wailing Wall”, and
we will view the Temple Mount. In the afternoon, we will drive
through the New City of Jerusalem to Ein Karem, birthplace of
St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church where Mary
proclaimed her famous “Magnificat.”

After an early Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we
will return to our hotel for breakfast. We will drive to Bethany
to visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha & Lazarus and the
Tomb of Lazarus. Return to Jerusalem where the remainder
of the day will be free to explore the Old City on your own. In
the evening we will celebrate a Holy Hour at the Church of All
Nations.

Outside the Old City, we will visit the Pool of Siloam, where
Jesus healed a man born blind. Visit St. Peter in Gallicantu
where Peter denied Jesus three times. We then go to Mount
Zion to visit the Upper Room, the site where Jesus celebrated
the Last Supper. Later, pray our Rosary together in the Church
of Dormition, where Mary was assumed into heaven. This
evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner.

Today our Holy Land pilgrimage comes to an end. We will
transfer to the airport for our return flight home.