In the company of our pilgrimage director, Robert Cooke, we will visit holy places, give God plenty of time to work on us, and when we return home, we will have faces and stories of Palestinian Christians – the “Living Stones” of the Holy Land deeply embedded in our minds and hearts.
Pax Christi International (PCI)
May 10- 23, 2015 –13 Days/ 12 nights
Departure Day, May 10, 2015 Our journey to the holy places, to visit the “Living Stones,” and to participate in the Pax Christi International Conference– begins this evening on our flight to the Holy Land. There are meals and movies in flight, as well as opportunity for conversation and sleep.
Day 1— Monday, May 11th: Travel to & Arrival
After a brief layover in Istanbul, we arrive in Tel Aviv and travel to Bethlehem for dinner & overnight.
Day 2— Tuesday, May 12th: Bethlehem, Beit Sahour
We will begin our day with a welcoming by HCEF staff, who will educate us about the HCEF programs in the Holy Land. Next, we visit the Shepherd’s Field in Beit Sahour, where the angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, there we will celebrate Mass. We will visit the Church of the Nativity (the birthplace of Jesus) as well as the Grotto of St. Jerome and the nearby Milk Grotto. We will then visit Bethlehem University and have lunch there with the students. In the afternoon, we will have a meeting with one representative of the listed organizations at Bethlehem, Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 3— Wednesday, May 13th: Bethlehem, Hebron
After breakfast, we will have a meeting with a representative of the listed organizations in Bethlehem, and then we will go and visit the Tent of Nations, where we will meet with Daoud Nassar and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, we will drive to Hebron to visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs (the burial place of three biblical couples – Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah). We will also tour the Abraham Mosque, before returning to Bethlehem. There, we will go to Aida Refugee Camp to see the separation wall. Afterwards, we will attend the dinner and opening ceremony of the Pax Christi International Conference in Bethlehem. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 4— Thursday, May 14th: Bethlehem
Breakfast at HCEF Inn. Today we will participate in the Pax Christi International Conference in Bethlehem. A full itinerary of the PCI Conference events can be found here. The conference will include lunch and dinner. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 5— Friday, May 15th: Bethlehem
Breakfast at HCEF Inn. Today we will participate in the Pax Christi International Conference in Bethlehem. A full itinerary of the PCI Conference events can be found here. The conference will include lunch and dinner. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 6— Saturday, May 16th: Bethlehem
Breakfast at HCEF Inn. Today we will participate in the Pax Christi International Conference in Bethlehem. A full itinerary of the PCI Conference events can be found here. The conference will include lunch and dinner. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 7— Sunday, May 17th: Jerusalem
We begin the day with a very early breakfast before departing for Jerusalem to walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) through the narrow alleys and bazaars of the Old City of Jerusalem, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Tomb of Christ, where we will celebrate Mass in the Franciscan Chapel, followed by a tour of the Church. Later in the morning, we meet representatives of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Then we drive to the Mount of Olives to visit the churches of Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit. We also visit the beautiful Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before his passion. Then we will have a meeting with one representative of the listed organizations at Jerusalem. Afterwards, we will visit Bethlehem Museum for Culture & Heritage where we can also enjoy some unique shopping, followed by dinner with the HCEF staff in the museum restaurant. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 8— Monday, May 18th: Jerusalem
After breakfast, we will meet with a representative of the listed organizations at Jerusalem. After that, we will visit Dome of Rock and the Temple Mount – the site of the temple that housed the Ark of the Covenant, and where Jesus was presented as a child and began to teach as a mere twelve-year-old and After lunch, we visit Mount of Zion, site of the tomb of David, and then the Church of the Assumption, built on the site of the assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the Upper Room where Jesus ate his last supper with his apostles before his crucifixion. Then we will meet with one representative of the listed organizations at Jerusalem Dinner & Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 9— Tuesday, May 19th: Jordan River, Bethany and Dead Sea
Today after breakfast we have the chance to visit the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Then we will visit the church in Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and where we will attend mass with the local community. This is also where Jesus ate in the home of Lazarus’ sisters Martha and Mary, St. Anne Church and pool of Bethesda. Then we will head to Jericho. In the Jericho area we will see the Mount of Temptations and visit the ancient monastery build on its slope. Then we will visit for an hour the new house of Prayer of all Peoples. After lunch in Jericho we will visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. After that, if we will have a time we will enjoy ourselves in the Dead Sea Dinner & Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 10— Wednesday, May 20th: Birzeit, Bethlehem
After breakfast we will drive to Birzeit and will visit Our Lady of Peace, the Catholic Church in Birzeit, where we will have a mass and meet the parish priest who will talk to us about the local Christian population. Then we will have lunch in HCEF’s Birzeit Senior Citizen Center, giving us the chance to meet with the elders of Birzeit and hear their stories. Then we drive back to Bethlehem. Dinner & Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 11— Thursday, May 21th: Nablus and Nazareth
After early breakfast, we check out of our hotel in Bethlehem and then drive north, reaching the town of Nablus and Jacob's Well, where Jesus met the Samaritan woman who offered him water. Next, we will visit the town of Sebastia where there is an ancient tradition associated with John the Baptist. There, we’ll also see ancient Roman tombs, a Hellenistic tower and Herodion gate towers. After lunch, we will drive to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. Next, we visit St. Joseph’s church, Joseph’s workshop (where Jesus worked as a carpenter alongside his stepfather), and Mary’s well. If we have free time, we will explore and shop in the old city of Nazareth before dinner & overnight in Nazareth.
Day 12— Friday, May 22th: Sea of Galilee
After early breakfast, we will go to visit the Mount of Beatitudes with ample time for a private prayer and reflection. We will have a lunch of “St. Peter’s Fish.” When we finish, we will enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Next, we visit Capernaum, which Jesus considered “home,” and where we see an ancient synagogue and the remains of Peter’s house. Our final pilgrimage stop today is Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of the fishes and the loaves. There we’ll celebrate an outdoor Mass at St Peter’s Primacy, the place along the shore where Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me?” His question resonates just as clearly for us today. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.
Day 13— Saturday, May 23th: Return to US from Tel Aviv
After an early morning check-out and transfer to the airport, we fly back home. However, our faith journey will continue in a new, invigorated way. Having visited the sacred places in our tradition, having met the descendent of the first disciples of Jesus and witnessed how the people of the Holy Land strive to build bridges of justice, peace and reconciliation -all these experiences will enrich your spiritual life and transform you. They will also enable you to read newspapers and watch the news in a different way. A Living Stones pilgrimage the Holy Land will definitely enrich and change your life for better.
Notes:
- Mass can be arranged daily
- Itinerary subject to change without notice
- The Itinerary includes interaction with the locals
- The Itinerary can change according to your special requests; sites can be added or removed.
To register online, Click HERE!
To register by fax, e-mail, or mail, download our registration form HERE!
To proceed with the payments, Click HERE!
TO REGISTER BY PHONE, OR FOR OTHER QUESTIONS,
CALL THE PILGRIMAGE COORDINATOR, Abigail Galván, AT (301)-951-9400, EXT. 219