10 Days

Science of Sainthood

Holy Land Pilgrimage

Group Leader: Matthew Leonard

Spiritual Director: Fr. Matthew Gossett

March 30 – April 8, 2025

ML040724

Science of Sainthood

Holy Land Pilgrimage

Group Leader:

Matthew Leonard

Spiritual Director:

Fr. Matthew Gossett

March 30 – April 8, 2025

ML040724

Tel Aviv · Jerusalem · Temple Model · Ein Karem · Bethlehem · Mount Tabor · Nazareth · Cana · Mount of Olives · Gethsemane · Mt. Zion · St. Peter in Gallicantu · Tiberias · Sea of Galilee · Tabgha · Mount of Beatitudes · Capernaum · Via Dolorosa · Church of the Holy Sepulchre · Old City Tour of Christian Quarters · St. Anne's · Pool of Bethesda · Western Wall · Jewish Quarters · Mount of Olives · Jericho · Jordan River · Bethany · Dead Sea · Caesarea · Stella Maris (Haifa) · Emmaus

Tel Aviv · Jerusalem · Temple Model · Ein Karem · Bethlehem · Mount Tabor · Nazareth · Cana · Mount of Olives · Gethsemane · Mt. Zion · St. Peter in Gallicantu · Tiberias · Sea of Galilee · Tabgha · Mount of Beatitudes · Capernaum · Via Dolorosa · Church of the Holy Sepulchre · Old City Tour of Christian Quarters · St. Anne's · Pool of Bethesda · Western Wall · Jewish Quarters · Mount of Olives · Jericho · Jordan River · Bethany · Dead Sea · Caesarea · Stella Maris (Haifa) · Emmaus

Walk in the footsteps of Jesus with “Science of Sainthood” Founder, Author, and Speaker Matthew Leonard in the Holy Land. Scripture will come alive and you’ll never experience Mass the same way after basking in the exotic beauty and rich vitality of Christ’s homeland. After all, it’s the epicenter of our faith. We’ll visit and pray at all the incredible holy sites that have inspired pilgrims for centuries. On this 5 Star pilgrimage, Matthew will offer lectures and daily Mass will be celebrated in shrines and churches whose connection to Christ will take your breath away. Simply put, there is nothing like a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will transform you forever.

Matthew Leonard

Fr. Matthew Gossett

DATES & PRICES
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Your trip includes

  • Round-trip airfare from your desired Airport
  • All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
  • Hotel accommodations: (or similar) in double occupancy
      ~ 3 nights: Mar 31 - Apr 3: Magdala Guesthouse, Migdal, Israel
      ~ 5 nights: Apr 3 - 8: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Breakfast and Dinner daily
  • Wine with dinners
  • Evening Lectures with Matthew Leonard
  • Assistance of local guide throughout
  • Whisper headsets
  • Transfers as per itinerary
  • Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
  • Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
  • Catholic Priest, Mass daily & Spiritual activities
  • Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Centrally located hotels or similar
Magdala Guesthouse
Migdal, Israel
Inbal Hotel
Jerusalem, Israel
Not Included
  • Beverages not mentioned, Tips to your Guide & Driver.
Optional
Travel Protection

Providing you coverage for situations that may arise during your trip, including medical and dental emergencies, loss of luggage, trip delay, and so much more.

Cancel For Any Reason Waiver

A Cancellation Waiver – allowing you to cancel your trip and receive a refund anytime – up until 48 hours prior to departure.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Sunday, March 30: Depart for the Holy Land

Make your way to your airport where you will board your overnight flight. Your meals are served on board.

Day 2 | Monday, March 31: Arrive in Tel Aviv – Transfer to Tiberias

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver. Your group will transfer to your Hotel in Tiberias, located on the Sea of Galilee, where you will arrive in time to check-in. You will gather for your Welcome Meeting, followed by dinner, and then retire back to your room for the evening.

Day 3 | Tuesday, April 1: Nazareth - Cana - Tiberias
Theme: The Annunciation

This morning will start with breakfast, and then board your transfer to Nazareth and visit to the Church of the Annunciation. Walk down to the Grotto, where the remains of the house of the Blessed Mother are visible. Here is where the Angel of the Lord announced the good news to Mary. Visit the museum and archaeological site where you can see the remains of Nazareth at the time of Christ, as well as the workshop of St. Joseph – which is now known as St. Joseph’s Church. Celebrate Mass, and then continue to Cana. It was here that Jesus performed His first miracle, changing water into wine. During your visit to the Wedding Church, married couples will have the chance to participate in the ceremony and renew their wedding vows. From there, we return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 | Wednesday, April 2: Sea of Galilee
Theme: The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee

After breakfast, enjoy a boat ride on the beautiful and scenic Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). Upon docking, you will have the opportunity to view the remains of the boat dating back to the time of Jesus. Following the Sea of Galilee, continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus proclaimed His great Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). Near the Mount is Tabgha, one of Jesus’ miracle sites. At Tabgha, Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). In Tabgha is St. Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus bestowed church leadership upon Peter (John 21:9). Continue to visit the birthplace of Mary Magdalene in Magdala. During the time of Jesus, this village was a prosperous fishing village that exported fish and garum (a fish sauce reduction popular in Roman cooking). Your day concludes at Capernaum, the launching place of Jesus’ ministry. In Capernaum, see the Synagogue where Jesus taught (Mark 1:21-29) and gave His sermon on the Bread of Life. We will end the day with a stop at the “Valley of the Doves”. This is located at the foot of the steep cliffs of Mt Arbel and was part of the ancient Via Maris trade route linking Mesopotamia and Egypt. This route also linked Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee and would have been the path that Jesus walked when travelling between the two places. Today the valley is still undeveloped and we can imagine Jesus walking along this ancient way and resting by the stream. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 | Thursday, April 3: Mt. Tabor - Caesarea - Jerusalem
Theme: The Transfiguration

After breakfast, we will ascend Mt Tabor (Matthew 17:1-50). At this site, Christ’s Divinity was revealed. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration. From the top of Mt Tabor, enjoy a dramatic view the Valley of Armageddon, before driving to Caesarea Maritima located on the shores of the Mediterranean. Built by Herod the Great, Caesarea was where St. Peter baptized the first gentile convert, Cornelius (Acts 10). We will see the Roman Theatre – Herod’s Palace, view the Hippodrome, and the harbor from which St. Paul sailed on his journeys to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the ancient world. Continue the drive up to the Judean Hills where you enjoy your first view of Holy, complicated, Jerusalem from Mt Scopus. Arrive in time for check-in, relax, and then make your way to dinner. Retire to your room for a restful nights sleep.

Day 6 | Friday, April 4: Jerusalem: Ein Karem - Bethlehem
Theme: The Visitation and Nativity

This morning, enjoy breakfast, before we start our day with to the Israel Museum which houses the Temple to which Jesus was presented (Luke 2:22). Visit a model of the Second Temple, as it was in the time of Jesus, as well as viewing the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on display). Following this visit, take a short drive to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Known for its two churches representing the two homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The first is in a valley where the birth of St. John the Baptist is commemorated (Luke 1:39-80) in the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The second, the Church of the Visitation, is on a hill where Elizabeth spent five months, in seclusion (Luke 1:24). Visit both churches. You will have the opportunity to pray the Mystery of the Rosary as you walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. In the afternoon, visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. You will have the opportunity to view Shepherd’s Fields (Luke 2:8). In the caves, you can see the soot marks of fires that shepherds lit to keep warm. The tour concludes at the Manger Square, which stands in front of the Church of the Nativity. As you enter the Church, you will proceed down to the Grotto of the Nativity which, marks the spot of Our Savior’s birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Beneath the altar, there is a silver star and a Latin inscription that states: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS ( Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Following Mass in this Sacred space, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 | Saturday, April 5: Mt. Of Olives - Gethsemane - Mt. Zion (Upper Room) - Western Wall
Theme: Palm Sunday and the Agony in the Garden

After breakfast, you will make your way to the Mount of Olives, where you will be able to take in the beautiful, panoramic view of Jerusalem. Historically, the Mount of Olives was a mandatory transit point for Jesus during many iconic moments. Visit the Pater Noster Shrine where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster) (Luke 11:1-4). You will have the opportunity to stop at Dominus Flevit, the Church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Continue to Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Jesus brought His disciples here to pray the night before He was crucified (Luke 22:29-53). The Garden still contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus. Your next stop, the Church of All Nations, is built over the “Rock of Agony”. Jesus prayed here alone on the night of His arrest. Take time to Pray and reflect on Christ’s agony that He experienced. You will have the opportunity to visit the Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Jewish Temple after it was destroyed in 70 A.D. Continue with a visit to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas (Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu). This Church commemorates where Jesus was examined and eventually imprisoned before the Council in Jerusalem. It also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ (John 18:15-18), Peters’ repentance, and Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter. You will also visit the Upper Room on Mt. Zion. The Upper Room is where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30) and where Jesus appeared to His disciples after His Death and Resurrection (Mark 16:14). Also, visit the nearby Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Tradition tells us that this is the Church where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, fell asleep. At the end of this prayerful day, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 | Sunday, April 6: Jordan River - Qumran - Dead Sea
Theme: The Judean Wilderness and the Baptism of Christ

This morning you will drive through the Judean Wilderness, the site where Jesus spent His 40 days of fasting. From there, we head to the Jordan River for some time to reflect on the Baptism of Christ ( Matthew 3:13-17). In the afternoon we visit Qumran, the Essene site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. (Ezekiel 47:8-10). These writings have helped further the understanding of the Jewish background to Christianity. There is also time to swim or float on the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest place on Earth before returning to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 | Monday, April 7: Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa – Church of the Holy Sepulchre – Western Wall
Theme: The Way of the Cross, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection

This morning you will have a very early wake-up to begin the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16). Following His condemnation, He was taken (on the Road to Calvary) to His place of Crucifixion. Reflect upon the Stations of the Cross, as you travel through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Luke 23:26-33). This sacred destination is the site of Calvary (Jesus’ crucifixion place) and His tomb (Luke 23: 50-55). Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Following Mass, we will return to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. Continue your day with a visit to the Church of St. Anne’s, the home of Jesus’ maternal grandparents (Anne and Joachim); and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the cripple man (John 5:1-9). This afternoon, enjoy a revisit to the Old City. End the day with a visit the Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Jewish Temple destroyed in 70 A.D. Following this visit, return to the hotel to enjoy dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 10 | Tuesday, April 8: Jerusalem – Return Home

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.

 

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$ 400.00 Deposit is due at the time of Registration

Would you like to arrive earlier or stay later?

Let us know at the time of registration if you would like to arrive earlier, or stay later, than the scheduled tour dates, and pending availability, we will change your airline reservations accordingly, additional fees may apply. Pre- and/or post-stays at the hotel will cost an additional fee. These options should be available to you when registering online, or simply contact us: sales@206tours.com

About your trip

About Matthew Leonard:

Matthew Leonard is an international speaker, author, podcaster, and founder of Science of Sainthood, a online membership community focused on teaching Catholic spirituality (www.scienceofsainthood.com). An accomplished filmmaker, he has written, produced, directed, and hosted multiple best-selling Catholic video series such as the Bible and the Virgin Mary and Genesis to Jesus, which have been translated into almost a dozen languages. A convert to Catholicism and former missionary to Latin America, Matthew is a frequent guest on radio and television programs across the country. His podcast “The Art of Catholic”, is heard in more than 170 countries around the world. Matthew holds a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the author of two books, Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic and Prayer Works! Getting A Grip On Catholic Spirituality. He lives in Ohio with his wife Veronica and their six children. more about him at https://matthewsleonard.com./

About The Holy Land – In the footsteps of Jesus:

If you desire to draw closer to Jesus of Nazareth, come, as we follow in His footsteps. You will have time to renew and affirm your faith each day of your pilgrimage; 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. The maxim at the entrance to the Church of the Nativity says: “We are hoping that: If you enter here as a tourist, you would exit as a pilgrim. If you enter here as a pilgrim, you would exit as a holier one.” We pray that same will occur when you join this 206 Tours pilgrimage.

Options and upgrades

Would you like to arrive earlier or stay later?

Let us know at the time of registration if you would like to arrive earlier, or stay later, than the scheduled tour dates, and pending availability, we will change your airline reservations accordingly, additional fees may apply. Pre- and/or post-stays at the hotel will cost an additional fee. These options should be available to you when registering online, or simply contact us: sales@206tours.com

About your trip

About Matthew Leonard:

Matthew Leonard is an international speaker, author, podcaster, and founder of Science of Sainthood, a online membership community focused on teaching Catholic spirituality (www.scienceofsainthood.com). An accomplished filmmaker, he has written, produced, directed, and hosted multiple best-selling Catholic video series such as the Bible and the Virgin Mary and Genesis to Jesus, which have been translated into almost a dozen languages. A convert to Catholicism and former missionary to Latin America, Matthew is a frequent guest on radio and television programs across the country. His podcast “The Art of Catholic”, is heard in more than 170 countries around the world. Matthew holds a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the author of two books, Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic and Prayer Works! Getting A Grip On Catholic Spirituality. He lives in Ohio with his wife Veronica and their six children. more about him at https://matthewsleonard.com./

About The Holy Land – In the footsteps of Jesus:

If you desire to draw closer to Jesus of Nazareth, come, as we follow in His footsteps. You will have time to renew and affirm your faith each day of your pilgrimage; 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. The maxim at the entrance to the Church of the Nativity says: “We are hoping that: If you enter here as a tourist, you would exit as a pilgrim. If you enter here as a pilgrim, you would exit as a holier one.” We pray that same will occur when you join this 206 Tours pilgrimage.

Pilgriamge Information
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