Departure for your overnight flights to the Holy Land.

Arrival via US early afternoon (pending flight confirmation) at Ben Gurion, we will be met by our representative. A luxury motor coach will transfer us to the Negev, 18 miles from Beer Sheva (Gn21:25), towards Arad (Judges 1:16) our destination. We will overnight in Kfar ha Nokdim a typical and original Bedouin Style Guest Rooms in the desert. Time for settling in, dinner. In the evening, Mass and fraternal time.

The Negev -Walk in the desert, descent to the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi After breakfast, In the morning we will wake up in a magnificent rocky landscape, perfect to reflect on God the Father's promises from Abraham through his prophets. In this beautiful landscape we will head for an hour walk. We will celebrate Mass in the wilderness (open air). After lunch, in the afternoon, the coach will drive us on the Arava side (Ez47:8-12). Drive along the Dead sea to Ein Gedi, an oasis in the region were King David hid while fleeing Saul (1Sm24:2). Time of teaching from Pere Jacques on the importance of Scripture reading called Lectio Divina. Finish the day in the beauty of the desert, driving along the Dead Sea to our Hotel. Dinner and overnight a few miles from Jericho.

After breakfast, passing close to Qumran (Jr32:14), the site where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, we will travel at the Jordan banks, to the Baptismal site (Jn1:29) Father will give a teaching and lead us, feet in the water, or totally immersed, to renew our baptismal vows. There will be the shift from 'the Father to the Son' in our Trinitarian journey. From the Jordan banks, drive to the old city of Jericho (Js6:1-20), "the city of Roses" (Qo24:18). We will celebrate the Eucharist at Jericho's Parish. Enjoy lunch in a beautiful restaurant nearby. After lunch, see a sycamore tree like the one of Zacchaeus the tax collector (Lk19:1-10), and continue along the Jordan Valley to Nazareth to your lodging. Dinner and overnight. In the evening, discover the fascinating excavations in the basement of the Sisters of Nazareth, the home of the Holy Family and the Tomb of the Just. One of the nuns will give a tour. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Today, let's let Mary guide us to Jesus. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation which is built over the remains of the House where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she was to become the Mother of God (Lk1:26). Celebrate Mass in the Basilica. Take a long time of personal prayer after the teaching of Fr. Jacques in a beautiful Chapel dedicated to Mary (Chemin Neuf Community). Lunch at Sisters of Nazareth. In the afternoon drive to Cana where Christ performed his first miracle (Jn2:1-11), at the request of His mother. Take time to ponder on the miracle of Cana and pray. While there, we will visit the Franciscan Chapel where those who wish to can perform the renewal of their wedding vows. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we will proceed to Mt. Tabor in the Jezreel Valley (Zc12:11), 11 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. According to Origen, St Jerome and St Cyril of Jerusalem, this is the site of the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1). Also, the site -in the first covenant, in the mid - 12th century BCE of the battle between Barak and Sisera, under the leadership of Deborah the Israelite Judge of that time (Jg4:5). We will ascend the Mount Tabor by foot in silence (1,886 feet). After praying and contemplating the Moso-Arab Church, a jewel of art, Father will celebrate the Eucharist in this magnificent place. We will have lunch on the mountain followed by a time of teaching and personal reflection. Descent of Mount Tabor by foot. En-route for the Lake of Galilee called also the Sea of Kinnereth (Nb34:11). The next three days we will ponder on the Public life of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in the Mount of Beatitudes Guesthouse.

Visit the Church that commemorates where Christ taught the Eight Beatitudes to his Disciples (Mt 5). Walk down the Mount to the altar of the Beatitude Grotto. Mass will be celebrated outside. Teaching and reflection on Scripture passage in this wonderful panorama view over the Lake and the Golan. Descent by foot to the Primacy of Peter where Jesus met the apostles after the Resurrection and healed Peter of his denial during the Passion (Jn21). Lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. After lunch, drive nearby to Magdala, the city of Mary Magdalene. Afternoon of silence and prayer. Dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will embark for a Boat ride from Ginosar to Capernaum. Capernaum is now in ruins but was once a thriving town where Peter lived and where much of Christ's public ministry took place (Mt 4:13). Celebrate Mass on the sea-shore. After lunch, the bus will drive us to Tabgha, a Benedictine Abbey on the site of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish (Mt14). Visit the Church and its famous mosaics. Afterward, we will have a time of adoration on the sea-shore (called Dalmanoutha). Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we depart from Tiberias directly to Jerusalem. While ascending the mountains, we will shift from 'the Son to the Holy Spirit' in our Trinitarian journey. Make the ascent to Jerusalem while reading the Psalms of Ascent. Enter in Jerusalem and drive directly to the Temple Mount to reach the Wailing Wall during the Bar Mitzvas. After attending the Bar Mitzvas we will walk through the Jewish Cardo and have lunch in the Old City. After lunch, we will visit the Church of the Melkites (Catholics of Eastern rite). We will have a quiet reflection time with Pere Jacques in this incredible place we will celebrate the Eucharist. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Teaching on the Holy Sepulcher in the evening.

Early Mass at the Holy Sepulcher. Back to the Hotel for breakfast. Drive to Bethlehem. Visit the Basilica of the Nativity, built over the site of the birthplace of Jesus, born amongst the Jewish people. Visit the Cave where Christ was born. We will then visit the Chapel of St. Jerome, who lived there for some 20 years translating the Bible into Latin. The nearby Church of St. Catherine is the venue for the midnight Mass which is broadcast all over the World from Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Lunch in Beit Sahour. After lunch, walk at the Shepherds field, recalling the "great throng of the heavenly hosts" that appeared to the Shepherds announcing to them of the birth of the Savior (Lk2:8). Teaching from Fr. Jacques in one of the Grotto. Time of errands in Bethlehem. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Start the day walking through the Old City, towards the Temple area, where Jesus used to preach (Jn7:15) and where many episodes from the Bible took place (Lk2:22). Visit the Temple Mount. Time of teaching with Father. The coach will pick us up at the Lion gate. We will drive to the Mount of Olives (Mt21). Visit the Dominus Flevit Church, where Christ wept over Jerusalem (Mt23:37). After celebrating the Eucharist, Father will preach in front of this incredible view on the ramparts. Onwards to Gethsemane reliving the descent of Mount of Olives of the Palm Sunday. We will view the ancient Olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt26:36) and visit the Church of All Nations which houses the Rock of the Agony of Christ on Holy Thursday. In this Church is a beautiful mosaic donated by the United States. The coach will drive above the Kidron Valley and bring us to the Zion Gate for Lunch in the Armenian Quarter. After lunch, we will head towards 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 take a time of prayer in the cistern that served as prison. Late afternoon, the bus will drive us to the Lion Gate, for the Way of the Cross. Relive the way of the Cross. We will start at the site of the Antonia Fortress where Christ was tried and condemned to death. Proceed along the Via Dolorosa praying the Stations of the Cross - ending at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Our Lord. Return to our accommodations for dinner and then make our way to the private Garden of Gethsemane for a special Holy Hour of Adoration.

The day starts driving to Mount Zion. We will ask for a renewal of the Holy Spirit in 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 they were together the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell upon them. In addition, our group will visit the nearby Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Tradition tells us that this Church is where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, "fell asleep." Drive down the mountains towards North for the celebration of the Eucharist in the Holy site of Emmaus Nicopolis where the Risen Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and was recognized through the braking of the bread (Lk 24). We will have lunch served at the Monastery of the Beatitude's Community, the Community to which both Father and Sister belong . After lunch, we will have a time of fraternal sharing in their Chapel and visit this moving site. We will end our pilgrimage with a thanksgiving Mass in the antic outdoor Basilica. Return to Jerusalem to pack our bags and overnight.