Today we depart New York for Tel Aviv. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the Arrivals Hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Transfer to Bethlehem to check-in and enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

After breakfast, we will visit Manger Square, which stands in front of the Church of the Nativity. As we enter the Church, we 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). Next we will continue on to visit Shepherd's Fields (Luke 2:8). In the caves, you can see the soot marks of fires that shepherds lit to keep warm. Return to our Bethlehem hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will visit Caesarea Maritima, one of the three largest ports in the Roman world, next to Alexandria and Piraeus Athens, both built by Herod the Great between 21 B.C. and 9 B.C. It was in Caesarea where St. Peter baptized the first gentile convert Cornelius and where St. Paul gave his defense of the Church. From here, we will see the Roman Theater Herod's Palace, view the Hippodrome, and the harbor from where St. Paul sailed on his journeys. Continue north to Haifa, located on Mt. Carmel, where we will visit the Carmelite Shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and pray at the cave where Elijah the prophet took refuge. Dinner and overnight Tiberias.

After breakfast, we will drive to the site of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1-50). Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration and then continue on to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine. During our visit at the Wedding Church, married couples will have the chance to take part in the ceremony and renew their wedding vows. Next, we will visit Nazareth for lunch and visit of the Church of the Annunciation! Within the Church of the Annunciation, we will make our way down to the Grotto to see the remains of the house of the Blessed Mother and where the Angel of the Lord announced the good news to Mary. Visit the museum and archaeological garden where we can see the remains of Nazareth at time of Christ, as well as St. Joseph's workshop - which is now known as St. Joseph's Church. Dinner and overnight Tiberias.

This morning, after breakfast, we will depart for the Sea of Galilee. By boat, we cross the Sea of Galilee and view the surrounding mountains and sites of Jesus' bountiful ministry. Then we travel on to Capernaum, where we see the remains of the village synagogue and the new church built atop of St. Peter's house. Next, we drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we have time for personal meditation in the beautiful gardens. Return to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we visit Magdala to view the recent archaeological discoveries. We will then visit the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection. We proceed to Tabgha and see the Benedictine Basilica of the loaves and Fishes. This afternoon we will transfer to Jerusalem to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will make our way to the Mount of Olives, where we 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). Continue on 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). Our next stop, the Church of All Nations, is built over the "Rock of Agony". This is where Jesus prayed alone on the night of His arrest. We are invited to remain in prayer and to reflect on Christ's agony that He experienced. We 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. We will also visit the Upper Room on Mt. Zion 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). In addition, visit the nearby Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Tradition tells us that this Church is where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, "fell asleep." At the end of this prayerful day, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we will have a very early wake-up to begin the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress. This is 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. We will continue our 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 crippled man (John 5:1-9) and enjoy a visit to the Old City. We will then drive south towards the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world (Joshua 6:12-25). In Jericho, we get to view the exact location of the Mount of Temptation. Here is where the Devil tempted Jesus during his forty-day fast (Luke 4:1). Following our visit to this mountain, continue to Jesus' baptismal site on the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). Following time for Prayer and reflection at the Jordan River. After our visit, we will continue on to the Dead Sea and spend the afternoon at your own leisure; feel free to shop, relax. Time and weather permitting, we will have the opportunity to take a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest spot on Earth. Return to our hotel to enjoy dinner and overnight.

This morning travel to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. It is known that there are two Churches in Ein Karem, 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 is on a hill where Elizabeth spent five months in seclusion (Luke 1:24) at the Church of the Visitation. We will have a chance to visit both of these Churches and have the opportunity to pray the Mystery of the Rosary as we walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. Return to our Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, attend Mass, and then depart for the Tel Aviv airport for return flights home.