Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
Under the spiritual direction of Fr. Thomas Kane, CSP and Fr. Bruce Nieli, CSP
We are delighted to invite you to join us on this pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2019. We look forward to travelling prayerfully with you and have personally designed this special itinerary for Paulist Pilgrimages. The Holy Land has been revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims throughout the centuries with a stunning diversity of architecture, history, culture, and geography.
Our journey will focus on the Holy Land as The Fifth Gospel, as St. Jerome called it. To make this spiritual journey is to have the opportunity to walk and pray where Jesus lived, died, and rose again. On holy ground, the Scriptures can come alive in new and exciting ways!
Our group size is limited and we strongly encourage you to register as soon as possible for this special pilgrimage, since we often sell out soon after this posting. Pricing starts at under $3,000.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, DAY 1: DEPART THE USA: We depart Newark airport en route to Tel Aviv. Complimentary meals andbeverages are served on our overseas flight.
SUNDAY, MARCH 31, DAY 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO JERUSALEM: We arrive in Tel Aviv this morning and meet our Catholic Travel Centre guide who will accompany us throughout our pilgrimage. We transfer by private motor coach to the city of Jerusalem, stopping for lunch on our own at a local restaurant along the way. Once our rooms are ready we check-in to our hotel for the balance of the afternoon at leisure to rest from our travels. Dinner this evening is served at our hotel. (D)
We will be spending our six nights in Jerusalem (March 31-April 6) at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel.
MONDAY, APRIL 1, DAY 3: JERUSALEM: VISIT OF THE OLD CITY: This morning we gather for an orientation meeting at our hotel. Next, we visit the Church of St. Ann, which marks the birthplace of the Virgin Mary, and see the Pools of Bethesda. Here we celebrate the opening Mass of our pilgrimage, followed by some time for prayer and reflection at the nearby Pools. We have some leisure time in the Old City, and time for lunch on our own. Later this afternoon, we go to the Temple Mount and view the Dome of the Rock and El Aqsa Mosque from the outside (subject to local conditions). We pray at the Wailing (Western) Wall, where we mingle with devout Jews. We visit the fascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. The tunnel and exhibit provice a perspective of the construction of the Temple Mount and allow us to traverse the Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Dinner is served at our hotel. (B, D)
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, DAY 4: JERUSALEM: MOUNT OF OLIVES, MOUNT ZION & THE OLD CITY: This morning we travel to the Mount of Olives where we enjoy a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Dominus Flevit Chapel. On the way, we pass the beautiful Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalen. We will have some quiet time for reflection in the Garden of Gethsemane, then we celebrate Mass in the Church of All Nations. We will have time for lunch on our own. Later we cross the Kidron Valley to the Palace of Caiaphas, a site known today as St. Peter in Galicantu (“crowing rooster”). We make our way to Mount Zion, where we visit the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper and the nearby Tomb of David. Our day concludes with a visit to the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition. Dinner this evening is at our hotel, followed by a speaker who will tell us more about the Jewish faith and its traditions. (B, D)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL, 3, DAY 5: JERUSALEM: YAD VASHEM, JERICHO, BAPTISMAL SITE & DEAD SEA: We begin today atYad Vashem Memorial Museum, which tells the story of the Holocaust. We travel to Jericho, considered by many to be the oldest city on earth. We celebrate Mass at Good Shepherd Church. A short distance from Jericho is the Baptismal site at Qasr Al Yahoud, which holds the most ancient tradition for being the place of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew, 3: 13-17). We stop at the Dead Sea to swim in the amazing salt waters (optional). We return to our hotel for dinner and the evening. (B, D)
We travel to Bethlehem for a visit including Shepherds’ Field, where we celebrate Mass. Our visit continues to the Church of the Nativity, St. Jerome’s Chapel and St. Catherine’s Church. We take some time to browse in the local shops and learn about the local Christian community. We will also visit the Holy Family Children’s Home. This evening we invite a speaker from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to tell us about their important work in this land. (B, D)
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, DAY 6: JERUSALEM: BETHLEHEM DAY: Leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we return to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a tour of Calvary and the Tomb of Jesus. There is much history connected with these sites that will be explained to us by our guide. This afternoon we travel to Emmaus. It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus appeared to His disciples following His resurrection and revealed Himself in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35). We continue to our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. (B, D)
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, DAY 7: JERUSALEM: EIN KAREM, ISRAEL MUSEUM, SHRINE OF THE BOOK & LEISURE: This morning, we travel to the village of Ein Karem. Here we visit the Church of the Visitation and the Church of John the Baptist, where we celebrate Mass. Later we visit the Israel Museum for a background lesson on the history of the Holy City with its Model of Jerusalem in the 2nd Temple Period, and the Shrine of the Book containing the Dead Sea Scrolls. The balance of the day is at leisure. This evening we invite a leader of the Muslim community to tell us more about their faith and traditions. Dinner is served at our hotel. (B, D)
From April 6-9, we will be staying at the Ron Beach Hotel in Tiberias.
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, DAY 8: JERUSALEM: VIA DOLOROSA, CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE / EMMAUS / GALILEE: We begin the morning early as we gather at the Antonia Palace to walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, culminating at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site where Jesus was crucified and buried. Here we celebrate Mass.
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, DAY 9: GALILEE: EXCURSION TO NAZARETH & CANA: This morning we travel to Nazareth, Mary’s home and the town where Jesus played as a child, learned a trade, and grew to manhood. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation with the local community during their regularly scheduled Sunday liturgy. We visit St. Joseph’s Workshop, Mary’s Well, the Chapel of Charles de Foucould and the Convent of the Sisters of Nazareth. After our included lunch at the Convent, we have an opportunity to visit the fascinating archaeological dig underneath the Convent. This afternoon we travel to Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle, where we invite couples to renew their marriage vows. Dinner is served at our hotel. (B, L, D)
MONDAY, APRIL 8, DAY 10: GALILEE: CAPERNAUM, TABGHA, MOUNT TABOR & NAIN: We visit Tabgha, where Jesus fed the five thousand, and the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter.
We take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, and visit the synagogue at Capernaum and the home of Peter. We have our included lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we travel to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-36). The basilica is an inspiring structure; here we celebrate Mass. After our visit, we pass by the Village of Nain before returning to our accommodations for a time of reflection. (B, L, D)
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, DAY 11: GALILEE / MOUNT CARMEL / HAIFA / CAESAREA MARITIME / TEL AVIV AIRPORT: This morning, we depart Galilee for the Sanctuary of Stella Maris Our Lady of Mount Carmel, associated with the prophets Elijah and Elisha. The traditional cave of Elijah is found inside the Carmelite Church. Here we celebrate the final Mass of our Pilgrimage. We enjoy a panoramic tour of the ancient port city of Haifa. After some time for lunch on our own, we travel on to Caesarea Maritime, the Roman city of Herod where we visit the Crusader fortifications, the Roman aqueducts and amphitheater. Paul was imprisoned here for two years. After some time at leisure, we continue on to Tel Aviv where we gather for light dinner before proceeding to the airport to check-in for our flight home. (B, D)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, DAY 12: RETURN TO THE USA: Wearrive in the USA, our hearts and suitcases filled with a lifetime of memories of our Paulist Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Cash discount price:
- FULL PACKAGE: $3,374 From Newark (EWR) plus airport taxes and fees of $690 plus tips of $195.
- LAND ONLY PACKAGE: $2,774 plus tips of $195.
Standard (credit card) price:
- FULL PACKAGE: $3,573 From Newark (EWR) plus airport taxes and fees of $690 plus tips of $195.
- LAND ONLY PACKAGE: $2,973 plus tips of $195.
Single supplement: $795
Full details on pricing and fees (e.g., refund policy, airline policies) are detailed in the official pilgrimage packet (PDF).