Day 01, September 3 (Thursday):  Departure from Boston

Depart for your overnight flights to the Holy Land.  

Day 02, September 4 (Friday):  Arrival Tel Aviv

Upon our arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will meet your local guide who will escort you to your hotel.  Dinner and Overnight.

Day 03, Sept 5 (Saturday):  Galilee, Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Stella Maris, Carmelites, Cana, Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation

We travel via the coast to Caesarea, where the Romans held Paul prisoner. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins. Drive through the Carmel Mountains heading for the Galilee. In Haifa, visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. Continue to Mukhraka where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Drive to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine; here couples may renew their wedding vows. Continue to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 04, Sept 6 (Sunday):  The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee: Tiberias, Boat ride on Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitudes, Caesarea Philippi

 Some of today's highlights are a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter's house, a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of Peter's Primacy where Peter was told " Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the Primacy or Mt Beatitudes. In the afternoon we visit Caesarea Philippi, location of the testimony of St. Peter and where Jesus answered him “You are the Rock and upon this rock I will build my Church.”

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in the Galilee.

Day 05, Sep 7 (Monday):  Nazareth

Visit Cana, the site of the first miracle taken place at a wedding feast. We’ll continue to Nazareth and the annunciation site.  We’ll visit Beit-Shean/Scythopolis, the archeological site located at the juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys.  Drive along the Jordan Valley via Gilgal. Pass by Jericho , and then via the wilderness and onto Bethany.  Our day ends in Jerusalem, for dinner and overnight.

Day 06, Sep 8 (Tuesday):  Jerusalem

This morning after breakfast, we’ll depart for a tour of Jerusalem. We’ll visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, the Yad Vashem Museum.  In nearby Bethlehem, will visit the Church of the Nativity that stands upon the site where Jesus was born.  Dinner and overnight.

Day 07, Sep 9 (Wednesday):  Jerusalem The Way of the Cross:  Via della Rosa, St Anne’s Church, Ecce Homo, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Wailing Wall, Upper Room, Dormition

Early in the morning we retrace the last steps of Jesus. As we walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice. Finally we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass.  After breakfast at our hotel we return to the Old City of Jerusalem to visit St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne. We pass the Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for Jews.  Nearby is the Dome of the Rock and the Haram al Sharif or Temple Mount.  We exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper. Next we go to Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary died. We end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Him thrice.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 08, Sep 10 (Thursday):  Jerusalem, the Old City

Today we’ll see Jerusalem’s panorama, Mount Moriah and Dome of the Rock from the Mt of Olives. We’ll walk among the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, and spend time for personal reflection.  We’ll visit the old city, walking through the Zion Gate, see the Jewish quarter, the Roman Cardo, the Temple Institute.  We’ll later visit the southern wall excavations, and the Davidson center.  Later, we’ll drive to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist.  Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 9, Sep 11 (Friday):   Masada, Dead Sea Scrolls, Ein Gedi

We’ll enjoy a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada.  Afterward we’ll proceed to the oasis of Ein Gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea. You’ll visit Qumran Cave, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, written over 2000 years ago.

Day 10, Sep 12 (Saturday):   Emmaus, Jaffa, Tel Aviv

This morning, we’ll drive from Jerusalem toward Jaffa and visit biblical Emmaus.  We’ll continue to the modern city of Tel Aviv and drive through the city center and the Mediterranean Promenade. We’ll visit the old city of Jaffa, the port used by King Solomon when he guilt the first Temple in Jerusalem.  This afternoon you’ll have free time for shopping or relaxing at your hotel.  Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 11, Sep 13 (Sunday):  Return to Boston

Early morning departure for the airport and your return flights home.