If you desire to draw closer to Jesus of Nazareth, come, as we follow in His footsteps. Each day of your pilgrimage you will have time to renew and affirm your faith; to pray and reflect. The Scriptures will come alive as you visit Our Lord’s homeland. You will be inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape, in addition to its rich historical heritage It is an encounter that has changed the lives of many pilgrims, an act of faith and prayer. Pilgrims have been traveling to the Holy Land for hundreds of years, and as part of your pilgrimage, we include many of the rich traditions that have evolved over time.

Rome has been one of history’s most powerful and important cities, along with home to the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope, and the site of the Vatican City. First built in 337, St. Peter’s Basilica lies over the tomb of St. Peter. Contained within is a vast array of the most beautiful artwork ever assembled, reflecting the immensity, beauty, vastness, majesty, glory and awesomeness of God.

DAY 1: DEPART USA: Depart en route to Rome with complimentary meals and beverages served aloft.

DAY 2: ARRIVE ROME: Upon arrival in Rome we are met by our Holy Land travel Center Representative and continue to our hotel for check in. We end our night with a walking tour of Rome, featuring a stroll to the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, a Christian church since the 7thcentury, and Piazza Navona.

DAY 3: ROME: PAPAL AUDIENCE – After an early breakfast we depart for Vatican City, the spiritual capital for all Catholics around the world. Vatican City is it’s own city-state nestle within Rome, and it even has it’s own currency and postage! Today is truly a day which will live in our hearts for many years to come. We make our way to St. Peter’s Basilica where we will attend the Papal Audience given by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (pending papal schedule). Following the audience we will visit the Vatican Museums, an astonishing series of galleries which contain the most impressive spiritual and art treasures. You will see awe-inspiring relics and works of art donated throughout centuries as tributes of faith. We will visit the Tapestry Gallery, the Raphael Rooms and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel where we will see Michelangelo’s masterpiece the Last Judgment. We continue our exploration of the Vatican as we enter the largest church in Christendom – St. Peter’s Basilica. Built on the site where St. Peter was martyred. St. Peter’s is unsurpassed in beauty; a monument to the long history of the Catholic Church, to which pilgrims from around the world flock. You will have time to marvel at the Pieta and Bernini’s amazing bronze canopy. We will also visit the tomb of Pope John Paul II located in the Vatican. After a day exploring the home of our Catholic faith, we gather together to dine and reminisce about our day with our fellow pilgrims. We return to our hotel to settle in for a restful sleep on our last night in Rome.

DAY 4: ROME: This morning we awake in the Eternal City, one of the centers of Western civilization! After a filling breakfast we depart on our sightseeing tour which will offer insight into the most significant Catholic sites in Rome. We will have an opportunity to see the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, which contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus. We will see the Holy Stairs and visit the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, which was the residence of the popes prior to returning to Rome in 1377. We also explore St. Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the remains of St. Paul under its main altar. We will see the Appian Way, the oldest road from Roman times, as well as the famous Domino Quo Vadis Chapel, the ancient Baths of Caracalla, Arch of Drusus and the Tomb of Celilia Metella. Our day ends with a special visit to one of the catacombs, such as St. Callixtus, where the early Christians hid themselves to escape persecution for their devout faith.

DAY 5: ROME/TEL AVIV: Today we board our flight to Tel Aviv and continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6: CAESAREA, HAIFA, NAZARETH: This morning we start our pilgrimage and head to Caesarea, once capital of the Roman Province, to visit Roman and Crusader remains and the Roman Theatre. Continue our journey by visiting Haifa and the Summit of Mount Carmel, this magnificent garden features 19 terraces and its centerpiece, the gold-domed Shrine of the Bab. Later we head to Mt. Tabor, the site of Christ’s Transfiguration, and the beautiful scenery of the Valley of Jezreel. Here we celebrate mass. We continue to Nazareth for overnight.

DAY 7: CANA, TIBERIAS, SEA OF GALILEE: Begin the day with a visit to the small village of Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding feast. Here, couples will have the opportunity to renew their wedding vows. We then visit Capernaum where our Lord Jesus chose to center his ministry. Celebrate mass in the Church of St. Peter. At Tabgha, you will visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Fishes and Loaves, and visit the Chapel of Primacy of Peter. Then we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We then head to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation for Mass at the Grotto, then continue to St. Joseph’s Workshop, Mary’s well.

DAY 8: CAESAREA PHILIPPI, BETHSAIDA: Drive to the Golan Heights and visit Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus traveled with his disciples and where nearby Peter made his great profession of faith. Continue on to Bethsaida where Jesus chose five of his disciples, and see ruins from Jesus’ time as well as of King David’s Time. Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes where our Lord preached to the multitudes. Here we celebrate mass.

DAY 9: JERUSALEM: MT. of OLIVES, GARDEN of GETHSEMANE: This morning, drive to the top of the Mt. of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of Pater Noster, the Chapel of Ascension, and then walk the “Palm Sunday Road” to Dominus Flevit, where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations for Mass on the Rock of Agony. After lunch, we continue onto the Church of St. Peter in Gallicanctu (where Peter denied Christ), the House of Caiphas, the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady, and the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper.

DAY 10: JERUSALEM: EXCURSION TO BETHLEHEM, EIN KAREM, CHURCH OF VISITATION: Today we start by celebrating Mass at Shepherds’ Field, and then visiting the Church of the Nativity, St. Jerome’s Chapel, and St. Catherine’s Church. After lunch we head to Ein Karem where we visit the Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation. The balance of the day is at leisure to browse in the local markets.

DAY 11: JERUSALEM: THE OLD CITY, HOLY SEPULCHER: We begin today entering through Stephen’s Gate, with a visit to the Church of St. Anne, marking the place of birth of the Blessed Mother, visiting as well the nearby Pools of Bethesda. We proceed to the Chapel of the Flagellation (where Our Lord was scourged), then carry the cross as we follow the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross). After the Stations, we return to the Ecce Homo Arch and Lithostrotos, where we celebrate Mass. Balance of the day in the Old City, where we will have time to visit the Dome of the Rock & Temple Mount (conditions permitting).

DAY 12: JERICHO, DEAD SEA: We depart early this morning towards Jericho to view the Mt. of Temptations. We then visit the “Dead Sea” for a day swim (bring your swim suit). At night, we all gather for a special dinner and overnight.

DAY 13: ARRIVE USA: Today we board our flights home, carrying with us memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.