PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

17th - 24th September 2024

£1420.00 per person 

Led by Father Michael Edem CM
St. David’s Catholic Church, Abbey Wood

YOUR ITINERARY

Tuesday 17th September
LONDON HEATHROW / TEL AVIV / BETHLEHEM
Fly on a direct scheduled EL AL service from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport on LY316 departing at 15:15 hours and arriving at 22:00 hours. You will be allocated one 20kg check in luggage and one hand luggage per person. Meeting and assistance on arrival at Ben Gurion airport and transfer to your hotel in Bethlehem for check in, dinner, and overnight stay. Please note that for arrivals after 21:00 hours a cold platter will be provided for dinner.

Wednesday 18th September
BETHLEHEM
In the morning we leave our hotel and proceed to Manger Square, where we visit the Basilica of the Nativity, including Jerome’s Cave, the Grotto of the Holy Innocents and the Grotto, where our Lord was born. We then continue to the Bethlehem Milk Grotto, According to tradition, Mary and Joseph were fleeing Herod’s soldiers on their way to Egypt and stopped in this cave while Mary nursed the baby Jesus and a drop of Mary’s milk fell upon the stone and turned it white. We also visit a Christian Cooperative selling the locally made souvenirs including the Olive Wood that Bethlehem is famous for. We then proceed to the Grotto restaurant for lunch at 14:-00 hours (included). After lunch, we will make our way to the Shepherds Fields for a visit and to celebrate Mass at 16:00 hours. After our visits, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Thursday 19th September
MOUNT OF OLIVES / MOUNT SION
After breakfast, we drive to the Mount of Olives to view the Place of the Ascension (Luke 24: 50-52) and to visit the Pater Noster, where traditionally Our Lord taught His Disciples the Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6: 7-15) and where it is written in more than 110 different languages. Continue along the Mt. of Olives to enjoy the panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We descend by foot to the Church of Dominus Flevit. Here Our Lord wept over the City and foretold of its destruction (Luke 19:41-44). Continue walking along the Palm Sunday Path to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Our Lord began His agony, was betrayed and arrested (Luke 22: 22-54). Lunch at the Holy Land Hotel at 12:30 hours (included). In the afternoon, we visit Mount Sion, starting at the Upper Room, also known as the Cenacle, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, where we celebrate Mass at 16:00 hours. The Church is built over the site of the house of the High Priest Caiaphas and the dungeon where Our Lord was imprisoned before his trial. It is also here that Peter denied knowing Jesus thrice (Luke 22: 54-62). After our visits, we return to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight stay.

Friday 20th September
STATIONS OF THE CROSS / EIN KAREM
In the morning, we leave our hotel early and enter the Old City to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, where we celebrate Mass in the Holy Tomb at 07:15 hours. We then continue to the Church of St. Anne and the Pools of Bethesda for a visit. Continue to visit the Tower of Antonia where Our Lord was tried and the Church of the Flagellation, before we follow the Stations of the Cross through the Old City, ending at the Holy Sepulchre. Lunch at Everest restaurant at 13:00 hours (Included). In the afternoon, we proceed to the Village of Ein Karem, the home of St. John the Baptist and where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. We visit the Church of St. John and the Church of the Visitation before we return to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight stay. Please note that today’s tour of the Old City is not suitable for people with walking difficulties.

Saturday 21st September
BETHANY / JERICHO /DEAD SEA / WESTERN WALL
This morning, we leave Bethlehem, our first stop being at Bethany (circumstances permitting) where we visit the Tomb of Lazarus. We will then drive through the desert to Jericho, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world and an Oasis in the desert. We will view the sycamore Zacchaeus is said to have climbed, visit one of the shops selling the fruit Jericho is renowned for including the Mejdool dates and take a cable car to the top of the Mount of Temptation at 11:00 hours, where we will admire the spectacular views of the desert, the Mountains of Moab and Gilad and remember Jesus’s Temptation in the desert. Celebrate Mass in the Jericho Church of the Good Shepherd at 12:00 hours. We will then continue to Green Valley restaurant in Jericho for lunch at 13:15 hours (included). In the afternoon, we continue to the Dead Sea for some time to ’float’. We then return to Bethlehem, stopping on our way at the Western Wall for a visit before we return to our hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight stay.

Sunday 22nd September
NAZARETH / CANA /MT. TABOR
After an early breakfast and check out, we will drive to Nazareth, where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to give birth to the Son of God. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Gabriel (Mary's Well), which is built over the only freshwater spring in Nazareth, a place where Mary and Jesus must have visited to draw their daily water supply. Lunch at the Casa Nova Nazareth at 12:30 hours (included). After lunch continue to visit Cana of the Galilee, the traditional site where Our Lord performed His first miracle by turning the water into wine at the wedding feast (John 2: 1-11). At Cana Church, we have the opportunity to renew our wedding vows and celebrate Mass at 14:00 hours. We then continue to Mount Tabor, where we ascend to the top by taxi to visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration. We descend by taxi to our coach before we continue to our hotel for check in, dinner & overnight stay

Monday 23rd September
SEA OF GALILEE / RIVER JORDAN
After breakfast, we will drive to the Mount Beatitudes, which commemorates Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-12). We then visit Mensa Christi, which commemorates the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Also visit the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, which marks the spot, of Jesus' reinstatement of Peter as chief among the Apostles. We then continue to visit Capharnaum "The Town of Jesus where He carried out the major part of His Ministry and Messianic Work. It was also here that our Lord made the promise of the Eucharist (John 6: 22-71). Celebrate Mass in Capharnaum at St. Peter’s memorial Church at 11:00 hours. We then take a cruise on the Sea of Galilee, where we will have time for prayer and reflection at 12:30 hours. Enjoy a St. Peters fish lunch at a lake side restaurant at 13:15 hours (included). In the afternoon, we then continue to Yardenit, the Baptismal Site on the River Jordan, where we have the opportunity to renew our Baptismal Vows. We then return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Tuesday 24th September
MT. CARMEL / TEL AVIV / HEATHROW
After check out, we proceed to Mount Carmel where the Prophet Elijah’s fire lighting challenge took place. We will visit Elijah’s cave, where the Prophet is said to have meditated before his encounter with the priests of Baal at Muhraka. Visit the Carmelite Stella Maris Monastery, which is built over the cave of Alya and Elisha and where we celebrate Mass at 11:00 hours. Lunch at Layali Al Carmel (included). In the afternoon, we transfer to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport for your return flight to London Heathrow on LY317 departing at 17:00 hours and arriving at 20:00 hours. The last days activities are subject to flight times permitting.

THE TOUR INCLUDES: -
Flights from London Heathrow with EL AL. You will have one hand luggage and one check in luggage per person. A meal and refreshments are served inflight.
Hotel accommodation on Half Board basis for 5 nights at the Bethlehem Hotel or similar https://www.bethlehemhotel.com/ for 2 nights in the Galilee at the Prima Galil Hotel or similar https://www.prima.co.il/prima-galil-tiberias-hotel. Rates are based on sharing a double / twin room. All rooms will be with private facilities.
7 lunches as per your itinerary
The services of an official fully licensed local excellent English speaking guide for the duration of your pilgrimage (airport to airport)
All transfers and transportation in deluxe and air-conditioned tourist motor coaches as per your itinerary.
All the entrance fees as outlined in your itinerary.
The advance booking of all the services relevant to your tour including Communion services.
A basic tip of $1.00 per person per day for the guide, driver and hotel staff in the Holy Land

NOT INCLUDED: -
Single room supplement £275 per person
Insurance; it is vital that all tour participants have fully comprehensive travel insurance before departure.
Lunches unless specified under ‘included’ beverages and refreshments
Items of a personal nature, e.g. laundry, telephone, bar bills etc.
Passport and Visa Costs