Events
Shrine of St. Jude Living Stones Pilgrimage, April 27 – May 11, 2009
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EVENT DETAIL
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| Date: |
27-Apr-09 through - 11-May-09
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| Location: |
Rockville, MD -- The Holy Land |
| Contact: |
Rocio Rabie
301-951-9400, Ext 20
rocior@hcef.org
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We expect that Mass will be celebrated at the main holy places. However, the Mass schedule and the itinerary may need to be adjusted, due to situations beyond our control. What will not change is that we will visit holy places, we will 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 heads and hearts.
This Living Stones Pilgrimage will be led by Fr. Russel Murray of the Shrine of St. Jude”.
Monday, April 27 – Travel to Amman, Jordan
Our pilgrimage – our prayerful journey to the holy places to meet the “living stones” – begins this evening as we board Air France from Dulles International Airport and fly toward the Holy Land with a transfer in Paris. There are meals and movies in flight, as well as some conversation and sleep.
Tuesday, April 28 – Arrival in Amman
We arrive at Queen Alia Airport and transfer to a hotel in Amman for dinner. Overnight in Amman.
Wednesday, April 29 - Baptismal Site, Mount Nebo, St. George’s Church in Madaba
We begin our day by driving to the traditional baptismal site of Jesus, just east of the Jordan River. We learn about the significance of the Jordan, experience its waters, and recommit ourselves as disciples of the one in whose name we have been baptized. After lunch we visit St. George’s Orthodox Church in Madaba to see the oldest mosaic map of Jerusalem in the world and then we take our first look into “the land flowing with milk and honey” from Mount Nebo, where Moses first glimpsed the Holy Land. Dinner and overnight in Amman
Thursday, April 30 – Jericho, Bethlehem
Remembering Joshua leading his people into the Promised Land, we cross the Jordan River, leaving Jordan and entering Israel/Palestine. We drive to Jericho, the first city taken by Joshua. In Jericho, we remember the short stature of Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree and the blind Bartimaeus wanting to see. We call to the mind the temptations of Jesus, as we look at the monastery on the side of the mountain. After lunch in Jericho, we drive to Bethlehem. We visit the Milk Grotto Shrine of the Motherhood of Mary where we offer prayers. We celebrate Mass at the church from which the Bethlehem Christmas Midnight Mass is broadcast. At the cave of the nativity we sing “Silent Night” and touch the star that reminds us that this is the place of the birth of Jesus. In late afternoon, there is time for some shopping at a souvenir store owned by Bethlehem Christians. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Bethlehem.
Friday, May 1 – Bethlehem
This morning we drive to Shepherd’s Field in Beit Sahour, where the angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus for a time of prayer. We return to Bethlehem and spend some time at Manger Square for exploring or shopping. After lunch we visit the HCEF office to learn more about the programs of HCEF (including some rehabilitated homes) and to get a better understanding of the situation of our Christian brothers and sisters. Dinner is at an authentic Arabic restaurant in Beit Sahour with the HCEF staff. Overnight at our hotel in Bethlehem.
Saturday, May 2 – Ramallah, Jifna, Birzeit
This morning we travel to Ramallah (where Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was “lost”) to see the city that is the center of Palestinian government and commerce and to visit local Christians. Next we travel to the village of Jifna (the place where tradition says the Holy Family rested on their way from Jerusalem) for lunch and a visit to the local Latin Church. After lunch we journey to nearby Birzeit to visit the brothers and sisters of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, our sister parish. After a tour of the church and school we meet our host families for dinner.Overnight with our host families in Birzeit.
Sunday, May 3 - Birzeit
After breakfast in the homes of our host families we attend Sunday Mass with our friends at our sister parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace followed by a visit to the nearby Birzeit Senior Citizens Center. We spend our day enjoying activities with the parish in Birzeit, including a visit to Birzeit University. Overnight with our host families in Birzeit.
Monday, May 4 – Jerusalem, Mount of Olives
This morning we travel to meet with heads of churches in Jerusalem, including Latin Patriarch Twal. After lunch we walk part of the Palm Sunday route on the Mount of Olives ending at the Church of All Nations at Gethsemanefor prayer around the Rock of Agony. Next we visit Mt. Zion to visit the Church of Peter Gallicantu (“cock-crow”) where Peter denied Jesus three times. The rest of the day is free for visiting other churches, prayer, or shopping in the Old City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Jerusalem.
Tuesday, May 5 – Jerusalem
Beginning very early in the morning we enter the Old City of Jerusalem through St. Stephen’s Gate to sing and pray our way along the Via Dolorosa (the “Way of Suffering”) carrying the wooden cross through the narrow alleys and bazaars, among the early sounds and smells of the markets, to the holiest place of our Christian faith – the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site of Calvary and the tomb. We spend time in prayer at the place where Jesus was crucified, died, buried, and rose from the dead. After early morning prayer and Mass together in the inner chamber of the Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre over the empty tomb of Jesus, we return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne (the mother of Mary and the grandmother of Jesus), an absolutely perfect place to hear our song rise to heaven. We view the nearby Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus met and healed the man paralyzed for thirty-eight years and we spend time praying for the sick. After lunch we return to Mt. Zion to visit the Church of the Dormition (the falling asleep of Mary, commemorating her death, assumption, and coronation as queen of heaven and earth) and the reconstructed Upper Room. The rest of the afternoon is free in the Old City. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, May 6 – Jerusalem, Cana, Nazareth
We begin the day with a visit to the Western Wall (the holiest shrine and synagogue in the world for the Jews) and leave our prayers and proceed to the Temple Mount, the site of the temple where Jesus went to pray and the place where presently stands the golden Dome of the Rock and El Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third most sacred mosque. Next we leave Jerusalem and travel to the Galilee region. After lunch we visit Cana where our married couples can renew their marriage vows at the chapel where water became wine.
Thursday, May 7 – Nazareth, Galilee
We begin the day in Nazareth at the Basilica of the Annunciation where we pray and celebrate Mass. After a visit to nearby St. Joseph’s Church (site of the home of the Holy Family) and Mary’s Well we stop for lunch in Nazareth. After lunch we pass through the Valley of the Doves (the Arbel Pass) approaching the Sea of Galilee. When we reach the Sea of Galilee we spend time at the place along the shore where Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” We also visit the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Friday, May 8 – Galilee, Mt. Tabor
We begin the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, stopping to rock on the waves, to feel the wind, and to sing of the one whom “even the wind and the sea obey”. Next we visit the Mount of Beatitudes for meditation and prayer and a meal of “St Peter’s fish”. After lunch, we visit Mt. Tabor, the most striking mountain in Galilee and the place chosen by Jesus to be the site of his Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Saturday, May 9 – Galilee, Capernaum, Madaba
Today we travel along the Sea of Galilee and visit the ancient town of Capernaum, which Jesus considered “home” and where we see an ancient synagogue and the remains of Peter and Andrew’s house. In early afternoon we return to Jordan and travel to Madaba. After Mass with the local Christian community we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Sunday, May 10 – Petra
Today we head down to Petra, one of the most breathtaking sites in the Middle East. Known as the “Red Rose City “, it was capital of the Nabatean people and dates back 5000 years. We follow a path through the Siq, a chasm created in a prehistoric earthquake. Our path is dotted with impressive buildings hewn from the pink rock, including the Treasury (“Al-Khasne”), the High Altar, and the Roman Theater. In late afternoon we return to Madaba for dinner and rest at your hotel to prepare for the late night flight to Paris.
Monday, May 11 – Return Home
Our flight takes us home with a morning plane change in Paris. Some might say that on this day our pilgrimage ends. Not so! We have been to the places and have seen the faces – they will never leave us. We will read the paper and watch the news in a different way. We will hear and read the gospels in a new way. Our ears and our eyes, our minds and our hearts have been opened.
The above schedule is subject to change with notice.
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