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Holy Land 2020: An experience you will never forget...

From Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ our King, Jerusalem, the holy city of David, Cana and Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, River Jordan and Mount Carmel, travel to Old and New Testament sites where the greatest mysteries of our Faith have unfolded! To pray the Holy Mass in these sacred places is an unparalleled privilege!

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PILGRIMAGE HIGHLIGHTS:
• Five nights in the Old City of Jerusalem near the Holy Sepulchre
• Two nights and days along the Sea of Galilee
• One night on Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
• The sites of many of Jesus’ miracles including the Wedding Feast of Cana
• Ein Kerem; the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and place of the Visitation
• Mt. Tabor; site of the Great Transfiguration
• The Carmel Convent founded by St. Mariam Baouardy in Bethlehem
• The Israel Museum housing the Dead Sea Scrolls

Please note: If you are one of the first twenty people to sign-up for this pilgrimage, $200.00 of your tour payment will be given to the rebuilding of the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago in your name.

Traveling with Rev. Canon Jean-Baptiste Commins
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
Vice Rector of the Shrine of Christ the King, Chicago

Our itinerary

MONDAY – April 13 Departure from Newark, NJ.
Late evening departure on a non-stop Delta Airlines flight from New York to Tel Aviv.

TUESDAY – April 14 (Day 1) Arrival to Tel Aviv
Late afternoon arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport and transfer to Jerusalem, the holy city of David, for check-in at the Knights Palace Hotel (or similar) in close walking distance to the Holy Sepulchre.

WEDNESDAY – April 15 (Day 2) Bethlehem
Today we will travel just south of Jerusalem in the steps of the Holy Family, the Shepherds and the three Kings, to the holy city of Bethlehem, where Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, was born! Upon arrival, we’ll walk through Manger Square to the Church of the Nativity located above the birthplace of Christ. Bending low as we pass through the Door of Humility, we enter in and descend into the most sacred Grotto of Nativity. Then we’ll continue to Shepherd’s Field to visit the church built over the site where the shepherds first heard the angels announcement of our Saviour’s birth. Also, an added blessing of our visit to this ancient “City of Bread” will be our stop at the Carmel founded by the newly canonized St. Mary of Jesus Crucified (Mariam Baouardy), a mystic from Galilee, who upon prompting from Our Lord, found this spot on top of the hill of David as the site on which to build this monastery in 1876. Visit the museum and the chapel where her remains rest. Late afternoon return to Jerusalem for overnight.

THURSDAY – April 16 (Day 3) Mt. of Olives – Gethsemane – Mt. Zion – Jewish Quarter
A marvelous day in Jerusalem! Starting at the top of the Mount of Olives, we’ll visit the Pater Noster Church and Ascension Chapel, walking the Palm Sunday Route, stopping at the Chapel of Dominus Flevit, before arriving at the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We’ll then travel to Mt. Zion to visit the Dormition Church, the Cenacle and St. Peter in Gallicantu (house of Caiaphas). Lastly, we’ll stop in the Jewish quarter to visit the Wailing Wall, the holiest place for the Jews. Overnight in Jerusalem.

FRIDAY – April 17 (Day 4) Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulchre – St. Anne – Ein Karem – Israel Museum
This morning we’ll have the most incredible privilege to walk the Via Dolorosa in the steps of Our Lord praying the Stations of the Cross, ending up at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site of Christianity, built over the hill of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, buried and miraculously rose on the third day! Return to the hotel for breakfast followed by a visit to the Church of St. Anne, the home of Jesus’ maternal grandparents. This afternoon we will set out for the western slope of Jerusalem to the quaint village of Ein Karem; the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and place of the”Magnificat”, the holy meeting of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth. On our return to Jerusalem we’ll stop at the Israeli Museum to see the Model of the holy city from the time of King David and the Shrine of the Book which contains the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight in Jerusalem.

SATURDAY – April 18 (Day 5) Free day – Holy Fire
A day at leisure in the holy city! Today is Easter Saturday for the Orthodox Christians and each year on this day the miracle of the Holy Fire occurs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. A ceremony begins in the late morning with prayers leading up to what is believed to be the appearance of a miraculous fire, which then is lit from one persons candle to another, lighting up the church one candle at a time. The Holy Sepulchre is open for all to witness and take part in this stirring ceremony. Overnight in Jerusalem.

SUNDAY – April 19 (Day 6) Jerusalem – Qumran – Baptismal site – Dead Sea – Tiberius – Tabgha
Morning check-out and departure for Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee, traveling by way of the Dead Sea (Sea of Salt), the lowest point on earth, surrounded by the striking panorama of the Negev Desert between Israel and Jordan. Our first stop will be at Qumran National park (site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947). We will then travel to the baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River, to have the opportunity to renew our baptismal vows. Mid-afternoon arrival and check-in at the Pilgerhaus (or similar) on the Sea of Galilee. Following check-in, we’ll visit the nearby Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Tabgha) where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish. Also, in Tabgha is St. Peter’s Primacy where Our Lord appeared to the apostles after His Resurrection and bestowed the Keys of the Kingdom upon Peter. Overnight at the Pilgerhaus.

MONDAY – April 20 (Day 7) Sea of Galilee – Capernaum – Mount of Beatitudes – Ibillin
This morning we will begin our day with a boat ride on the calm waters of the Sea of Galilee in the tradition of the Apostles. Afterwards we will go to Capernaum to visit the church built over the ruins of St. Peter’s House. Enjoy St. Peter’s Fish for lunch followed by a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes where Our Lord gave His stirring ”Sermon on the Mount”. In the afternoon we’ll travel to the village of Ibillin to visit the Daod courtyard (birthplace of St. Mariam Baouardy) and the newly built and exquisite Orthodox Church of Ibillin. Overnight at the Pilgerhaus.

TUESDAY – April 21 (Day 8) Cana – Nazareth – Mount Tabor – Haifa
Morning check out and departure for Cana to visit the Church of the 1st Miracle of Jesus. Here the married couples on the trip will have an opportunity to renew their wedding vows. Next we’ll make our way to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (the holy grotto of the Incarnation where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Our Lady) and the church built over St. Joseph’s Carpentry workshop. Continuing on to Mount Tabor, rising high above the Jezreel Valley, we’ll visit the site of the Great Transfiguration. Our day will culminate in our arrival on Mount Carmel, the monastery built over the site of the 9th Century Prophet Elijah’s cave. The Carmelite Order takes its name from this holy mountain and traces its roots back to 12th Century hermits living here in the tradition of Elijah. Check-in at Stella Maris Hotel (or similar) in Haifa, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, for overnight.

WEDNESDAY – April 22 (Day 9) Caesarea Maritime – Muhraqa – Farewell dinner – Evening transfer to Tel Aviv Airport
Some time in the morning at Stella Maris before our departure for the nearby Carmel of Muhraqa overlooking the ancient valley of Megiddo (Biblical Armageddon), where Elijah battled the false prophets of Baal. See a giant statue commemorating this event. Finally, visit Jaffa, home to one of the oldest sea ports in the world, located on Israel’s western coast of the Meditteranean Sea, where the reluctant prophet, Jonah, set sail from before being swallowed by the great fish. Visit St. Peter’s church built over the site where Peter raised Tabitha from the dead. Enjoy our farewell dinner before heading to the airport for our overnight flight back home.

THURSDAY – April 23 (Day 10) Arrival in the United States
Early morning arrival at NY JFK Airport with plenty of time for those pigrims needing to make flight connections to other parts of the country.

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