Holy Land Itinerary December 16, 2008 - January 1, 2009

December 16: Depart Houston IAH Delta Airlines, 5:55 p.m. via Atlanta to Tel Aviv. December 17: O Wisdom, O Holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. Arrive Tel Aviv 5:25 p.m. Depart by motor coach for Haifa. Mass/Dinner/Accommodations at Carmelite Guest House – Stella Maris.

December 18: O Adonai, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. Mass in of the Prophet Elijah’s cave on Mt. Carmel. Depart for Nazareth via Acre, site of Crusader city and castle (Richard the Lion-Hearted) – lunch stop; to Sepphoris to visit an archeological dig of city where Joseph and Jesus may probably have worked (4 miles from Nazareth) to help build one of Herod’s great cities; to Nazareth. Dinner/Accommodations at Sisters of Nazareth Guest House adjacent to the of the Annunciation and over the probable site of the tomb of St. Joseph.

December 19: O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. Mass in ancient Grotto of the Annunciation (home of Joachim and Ann); visit Mary’s well, Church of the Nutrition over home of Holy Family, International Marian Center. Travel to Cana and visit the Wedding Church: celebrate renewal of marriage vows. Dinner at Sisters of Nazareth.

December 20: O Key of David, O royal Power of controlling at your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. Travel to Mt. Tabor and the Church of the Transfiguration for Mass; then on to Tiberias for lunch by the sea and a boat ride in the Jesus Boat on the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Church of St. Peter before going to the kibbutz of Ginosar and the museum that holds the 1st Century ancient boat believed by many to be the boat of Peter. Dinner/Accommodations at Pilgerhaus in Tabgha.

December 21: O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Visit Benedictine Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes; Mt. of the Beatitudes; Mass at Primacy of St. Peter (Place of the Coals John 21); Capernaum. Dinner at Pilgerhaus.

December 22: O King of all the nations, the only joy of every human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust. Mass at Dalmanutha. Travel to the Jordan River; to the Mt. of Temptation, to the Dead Sea and Qumran; to and overlook from Mt. of Olives. Accommodations at Notre Dame de Jerusalem – Vatican Hotel for Pilgrims of the Holy Land, across street from the . Dinner Notre Dame.

December 23: O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord our God. Visit Benedictine Monastery of Abu Ghosh, chapel of the Ark of the Covenant; to Ain Karim to the birthplace of John the Baptist; Mass at Church of the Visitation; Monastery of St. John in the Desert. Dinner at Notre Dame.

December 24: When the sun rises in the morning sky, you will see the King of kings coming forth from the Father like a radiant bridegroom from the bridal chamber. Christmas Eve: Go to Shepherd’s Field and see the fields of Boaz and Ruth; excavations of 4th century; Holy Child Program; visit souvenir shops of Beit Sahur carvers; Dinner at The Shepherd’s Tent; Vigil Mass of Christmas in Shepherd’s Cave.

December 25: Christ the Lord is born today; today, the Savior has appeared. Earth echoes songs of angel choirs, archangels’ joyful praise. Today on earth his friends exult: Glory to God in the highest, alleluia. Morning Mass in Grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Visit Milk Grotto, (house of Holy Family – visit of the Magi). Christmas dinner at Notre Dame.

December 26: Feast of St. Stephen the First Martyr – The gates of heaven opened out to blessed Stephen, and he was crowned first of martyrs. Visit Church of St. Stephen at Damascus Gate (Ecole Biblique). Visit Mt. Zion – Mass at Chapel of the Cenacle; visit the Cenacle Room of and ; Dormition Abbey; Peter Gallicantu (Place of the Cock Crow – Prison of Caiphas). Dinner Notre Dame.

December 27: Feast of St. John the Beloved – The Word was made flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory. The Mount of Olives: Church of the Pater (the Eleona of St. Helena), Mass at Dominus Flevit (Lord Weeps over Jerusalem); the Place of the Arrest; the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane; Dinner Notre Dame.

December 28: Feast of the Holy Family– Son, why have you done this to us? Think what anguish your father and I have endured looking for you. But why did you look for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house? St. Ann’s Crusader Church; Ecce Homo (Lithostrotos); Via Dolorosa. Mass: Holy Sepulchre. Dinner Notre Dame.

December 29: Feast of St. Thomas Becket – Whoever hates his life in this world keeps it safe for life everlasting. Mass at Place of the Arrest. Western Wall; Shrine of the Book; Israel Museum. Dinner at Notre Dame.

December 30: We sing your praises, holy Mother of God: you gave birth to our Savior, Jesus Christ; watch over all who honor you. Mass at Notre Dame. Travel to Masada. Dinner in La Rotisserie at Notre Dame.

December 31: O marvelous exchange! Man’s Creator has become man, born of a virgin. We have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Shop in Old City bazaar; coffee at the Austrian coffee house; citadel of David museum. Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God at Notre Dame. Lite supper at Notre Dame Coffee Shop. Depart for Tel Aviv airport.

January 1: 8:45 a.m. arrival Houston IAH. Happy NEW Year!