The Holy Land
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14 DAYS University Chaplaincy Pilgrimage to The Holy Land 11 NIGHTS / 14 DAYS Dead Sea (2 Nights) / Ancient Petra / Jericho / Bethany / Bethlehem (2) / Nazareth / Cana / Sea of Galilee (3) / Mt Tabor / Mt Carmel / Haifa / Jerusalem (4) DEPARTS THURSDAY 9 JULY 2020 Dead Sea Mt of Olives (B) = Breakfast (L) = Lunch (D) = Dinner We will see also the Roman Theatre, Corinthian DAY 5: MONDAY 13TH JULY - BETHLEHEM & tomb along with churches, homes and many SURROUNDS DAY 1: THURSDAY 9TH JULY 2020 - DEPART other buildings from this fascinating period. Theme: The Birth of Jesus FOR JORDAN Return to our Dead Sea hotel for a poolside We firstly travel out to Ein Karem, the birthplace DAY 2: FRIDAY 10TH JULY - ARRIVE AMMAN / splashout before dinner! of St John the Baptist. Our highpoint here will be VIA MT NEBO TO THE DEAD SEA Dead Sea overnight (BD) our visit to the Church of the Visitation of Mary to Theme: Overlooking the Promised Land Elizabeth “Why should I be honoured with a visit DAY 4: SUNDAY 12TH JULY – JORDAN & from the mother of my Lord?” (Lk 1:43). Pilgrims Arrive this morning into Jordan’s capital Amman. JERICHO TO BETHLEHEM may choose to pray a mystery of the Rosary We will be met and travel west by coach to Theme: New Beginnings as we walk up to this church dedicated to ‘The ascend Biblical Mt Nebo for a spectacular opening Mass. Here, at the site where the Old Begin today with a visit to Bethany Beyond the Magnificat’ – ‘My soul proclaims the greatness Testament opened its door to the land of the Jordan, one of the most recent archaeological of the Lord’ (Lk 1:46). Journey on to the Church New, Moses looked over into the Promised Land and religious discoveries. The five springs here of St John the Baptist, built over a natural grotto and blessed Joshua who was to lead the Israelites form a tributary of the Jordan River and are identified as the saint’s actual birthplace. under God’s protection (Joshua 1:6-9). While here believed to be the Baptismal site of Jesus by John Returning to Bethlehem, we enjoy a fascinating we will view the stunning collection of Byzantine the Baptist. Here we will celebrate Mass and visit to Bethlehem University to engage with mosaics preserved within the shrine. renew our Baptismal vows as we remember the local students in discussion before visiting the His Holiness Benedict XVI, on his pilgrimage to powerful commission from the Fatherly voice of beautiful chapel and Cultural Heritage Centre the Holy Land in 2009, said this while here on Mt Heaven: ‘This is my Beloved Son, with whom I am within the grounds. To cap off our visit, the Nebo: “Here, on the heights of Mount Nebo, the well pleased’ (Mt 3:17). students from the Hotel Management Institute memory of Moses invites us to ‘lift up our eyes’ Transfer west to the Allenby bridge border to will prepare and host a special home cooked to embrace with gratitude not only God’s mighty cross into the Holy Land of Israel, affectionately meal for lunch. (Note: Visit here subject to works in the past, but also to look with faith and known by Christians as the land of the “fifth semester operating dates) hope to the future which he holds out to us and Gospel”. We soon come to Jericho the ‘City of Continue to Shepherd’s Field to celebrate Mass to our world.” We too can seize this opportunity Palms’ and said to be the oldest inhabited city in a local cave to commemorate the appearance to thank God for our journey as we anticipate the in the world dating back to the first hunter- of the angels to the shepherds on that first blessings to come in the days that follow. gatherers around 9000 BC. Christmas night (Lk 2:8–16). We continue to our hotel on the shores of the Stop by the famous Sycamore tree used to Our day will culminate at the Church of the Dead Sea. Here we will unwind and take the ideal commemorate the story of the tax collector Nativity, the oldest complete church in the opportunity to float in the salty waters said to Zacchaeus who climbed the tree to see Jesus, Christian world (6th century) and birthplace of have healing qualities. only to be singled out above the crowds. (Lk Jesus. Bow low and enter the grotto through the Dead Sea overnight (D) 19:1-10). small Door of Humility as we descend to the Holy Manger where a silver star in the floor marks Across the valley we view the Mt of Temptation, DAY 3: SATURDAY 11TH JULY - PETRA DAY TRIP the actual spot where Jesus was born. The star’s where Christ was tempted by the devil during his inscription reads in Latin: Hic de Virgine Maria Theme: Ancient Worlds 40 day fast. Journey south along the Biblical Kings Highway Jesus Christus Natus Est (Here of the Virgin Mary Travel west through the dry rocky landscape of to the magnificent ancient trading city of Petra Jesus Christ was born). Finally we come to St the Judean Desert. Here there are enough stones known as the ‘Red Rose City’ and one of the Jerome’s Cave where in 386 AD the saint spent 30 to illustrate Satan’s words “If you are the son of new Seven Wonders of the World. Here we are years translating the scriptures from Hebrew into God, tell these stones to turn into loaves” (Mt 4:3). positioned in the biblical land of Edom (Judges Greek and Latin producing the first vernacular 11:17-18). Continue on to Bethany where we relive the version of the Bible! story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Enjoy an unforgettable guided walking tour We will then visit the Milk Grotto, under the After taking the narrow steps down into his tomb through the ruins of ancient Petra – the city that custody of the Franciscans in the Holy Land. The we will arise and visit the adjacent Church of St the Nabateans carved out of solid rock dating legend recalls how Mary spilt some milk while Lazarus. back to 300 BC! Our visit will follow a passage breast feeding baby Jesus in the cave and this through the Siq, a chasm created in a prehistoric Finally we arrive into Bethlehem, the City of David is the reason for the “white” stone of the cave. earthquake. It is one of the special moments and the birthplace of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Tradition also tells us that this site is the burial to walk through this canyon which dramatically Christ. Here we will formally begin our journey in place of the innocent victims killed by Herod the opens up to reveal the Treasury Building (Al- the Footsteps of Jesus. Great after the birth of Jesus. Khazneh) - a never to be forgotten experience. Bethlehem overnight (BD) Bethlehem overnight (BLD) DAY 6: TUESDAY 14TH JULY - VIA NAZARETH painstakingly raised and restored from the rugged and beautiful landscape of the Galilee. TO THE SEA OF GALILEE muddy Galilee lake-bed in 1986. Begin at Arbel to firstly visit the Ancient Theme: The Formative Years of Jesus Set off from here on a traditional sailing vessel for Synagogue visited by Jesus before continuing We farewell Bethlehem this morning and journey a spectacular Harvest highlight – a Private Mass on to the breathtaking Cliffs of Arbel providing directly north to Nazareth, the town of Jesus’ in the centre of Lake Galilee. Here we will pause a panoramic view stretching from the Golan childhood. Firstly come to nearby Nazareth and float in quiet tranquillity while reflecting Heights along the entire Sea of Galilee and the Village, an authentic non-profit re-creation of upon the miracles of Jesus calming the storm and Jordan River valley. the village life of Nazareth as in the days of appearing to the apostles walking on this very Our morning’s highlight will culminate as we join Jesus. Here we will take a parable-rich walk back water. the most authentic stretch of the Jesus trail down in time along the path which brings to life the Continue back to shore to enjoy a traditional ‘St from Arbel village through the pass between environment and atmosphere which shaped Peter’s fish’ lunch to commemorate our Galilee the mountains along the ancient trade routes Jesus’ early years and ministry. Complete our experience. frequented by Jesus and his disciples. memorable visit with a fascinating first-century Journey north around the lake to remember Afternoon at leisure. (Optional waterslide fun meal in a stone-dining area typical of the days of the Galilean cities of Bethsaida and Chorazin park located on the shores of Lake Galilee) Christ. eventually cursed by Jesus. These two cities Sea of Galilee overnight (BD) Back in Nazareth township, we soon enter the along with Capernaum became known as the Basilica of the Annunciation where a traditional ‘evangelical triangle’ because most of Jesus’ DAY 9: FRIDAY 17TH JULY - VIA HAIFA TO cave becomes the focal point as we ponder teachings and miracles occurred there. In JERUSALEM Mary’s response “Let it be done to me according Chorazin we will enter the 3rd century synagogue Theme: Living Stones to thy word” (Luke 1:38). After celebrating Mass constructed of local black basalt stone. Prepare for yet another pilgrim highlight this we will visit the nearby Church of St Joseph Visit Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the morning as we set off to a secret location down before entering the nearby Synagogue Church, a loaves and fishes (Mt 14:20) and pray within the by the shores of Lake Galilee to enjoy Breakfast Crusader structure said to be built on the site of 4th century church displaying Byzantine mosaics with Jesus in the spirit of John 21:12 when Jesus the synagogue where Jesus read the Messianic considered to be some of the best in the Holy said to his disciples “Come and have breakfast”.