Escorted by Father Timothy Scott, CSB Image Credit- GoIsrael Sea of Galilee th th May 17 – 27 , 2022 / person 9 Nights / 10 Days Double occupancy | CAD -- Single Supplement add $1,199 Taylor Made Package Includes: Escorted by Father Timothy Scott, CSB Flights from Edmonton, hotels, meals, taxes, tips & transfers ** Please inquire about other departure gateways ISRAEL – A DESTINATION FOR ALL Not Included: Travel Insurance & Personal Items More and more people from around the world are fulfilling their dream of visiting Israel. The Ministry of tourism is committed to enabling everyone who wishes to visit, regardless of any possible impairment. The Region's Rich History. From the Bible to the Crusaders to the Ottoman Empire, the land on which modern-day Israel was founded has seen it all... With everything from Roman ruins to Amish-like German “Templar” villages, visiting Israel allows you to experience history from the comforts of the modern world. Israel's location, bridging Africa, Asia, and Europe, has blessed it with four bio-geographical zones (Mediterranean, steppe, desert, and African), making it unique worldwide in terms of its combination and variety of climate, flora, and fauna. As an example, Israel has 2,600 species of wild plants. Fun Facts About Israel • Israel has more museums per capita than any other country, including the world’s only one underwater. • Israel is home to the world’s only theater company comprised entirely of deaf and blind actors. • Life expectancy in Israel is among the highest in the world at 82 years. • Coffee and cafés are so good in Israel that it’s the only country where Starbucks failed trying to break into the local market. (shocking right???) • Two professors at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University created the first cherry tomatoes. • Beersheba, in Israel’s Negev desert, has the largest number of chess grandmasters per capita than any other city in the world. • Israel has the world’s highest rate of university degrees on a per capita basis. • The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is the world’s oldest continuously used cemetery. • Israel has not only the lowest place is the world (the dead sea), but also World's lowest freshwater reservoir, the Sea of Galilee. • Every year, half a billion migratory birds pass through Israel, in spring and autumn - This is a world record. • Israelis consume more fruits and vegetables relative to the population than any other nation in the world. Itinerary Wed May 18: Flight: AC 080 arrives at 10 am ARRIVE TEL AVIV – Transfer to Galilee for 3 nights After arrival in the beautiful city of Tel Aviv, experience a tour along the Mediterranean with a stop for light lunch in Jaffa. Then transfer to the Caesar Tiberias Hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Well-designed rooms, all overlooking the charming view of the Sea of Galilee. Group orientation before dinner with Fr. Scott, 1 hour. Dinner will be served at the hotel. L, D (Time and room location TBA) Thu May 19: NAZARETH, CANA Drive to Nazareth, the site of Mary’s home and the town where Jesus lived as a child. At Nazareth, celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation, and visit the Byzantine Church of St. Joseph and Mary’s Well. Visit the Mary’s Center. In the afternoon visit Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of His mother [John 2:1-11]. Visit the Franciscan chapel. Couples who wish can renew their wedding vows. Return to your hotel in Galilee. B, L, D Fri May 20: TIBERIAS: SEA OF GALILEE The day starts at the Mount of Beatitudes, scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. Then to Tabgha where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 and onto the site known as “Peter’s Primacy”. Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” [John 21:9]. A short drive away is Capernaum, from where Jesus launched his Ministry; see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of Peter’s home. Celebrate Mass in this special place.” Dinner and overnight at your hotel. Last night in Tiberias. B, L, D Sat May 21: MT. TABOR & DEAD SEA Today, after breakfast, drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, with time to reflect on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity. This is a good preparation for the journey to Jerusalem where Jesus was to suffer the crucifixion and resurrection. Mass will be at the Basilica designed to represent 3 tents. Leaving the Galilee area, drive down the Jordan Valley to your hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea for overnight. There will be time for a swim in the Dead Sea. Isrotel Dead Sea. B, L, D Sunday May 22: MASADA, QUMRAN & JERUSALEM Following breakfast, visit Masada, scene of the Zealots last stands against the Romans. Then to Qumran Caves, located on the Dead Sea’s northern shore, and the place where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Now a national park, the caves were used for storage purposes by the Essenes, a mystical sect that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd discovered manuscript fragments in the caves hidden for centuries in airtight jars. The fragments from the Books of Exodus, Isaiah and Psalms are now on exhibit in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Stop for mass in Jericho, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Drive to your hotel in Jerusalem. Olive Tree Jerusalem. B, L, D Monday May 23: JERUSALEM - EIN KAREM & BETHLEHEM A short drive takes us to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, to visit the church that commemorates his memory. Pray the Mystery of the Rosary on the walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. Drive to Bethlehem to see the cave at the Shepherds’ Field. The caves have soot marks of the fires that shepherds lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks. Then to Manger Square which stands in front of one of the oldest of Christian churches, the Church of the Nativity. Enter the Church and down to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Jesus’ birth. Beneath the Altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.). B, L, D After Mass return to the hotel in Jerusalem. Tuesday May 24: MT. OF OLIVES & GETHSEMANE MT. ZION From the Mount of Olives take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples the Pater Noster — The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Walking down the Palm Sunday Road stop at the beautiful little church, Dominus Flevit - “The Lord wept.” It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41]. At Gethsemane reflect on Jesus’ final night. The Garden contains trees, the roots of which go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of his arrest. From there, take the route through the Kidron Valley along which Jesus was taken as a prisoner to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where He was interrogated and imprisoned. Now called Peter in Gallicantu (“crowing rooster”), this beautiful Church also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ, his repentance and then being forgiven by Jesus. Here we celebrate Mass. After Mass go up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper. Nearby is the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. B, L, D Wed May 25: WESTERN WALL, SOUTHERN WALL, TEMPLE MODEL & JERUSALEM Following breakfast, begin the day with a visit to the Israel Museum to see the Second Temple scale model. An impressive model of Jerusalem as it was at the time of Jesus and see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then, at the steps of the Southern Wall of Temple Mount, ponder the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, the Finding of Jesus at the Temple and healing the blind man at the Temple. Visit the Western Wall Temple Mount then walk to see the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethseda where Jesus healed the crippled man. Then Visit to Yad Vashem. B, L, D Thu May 26: VIA DOLOROSA, HOLY SEPULCHRE EMMAUS This morning we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross or The Way of Suffering) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The rest of the is free to explore the Old City. B, L, D Friday May 27: DEPARTURE Transfer to airport for the flight home. B Note: The above itinerary is intended for illustrative purposes. The sequence and timing of visits to sites each day may change because of local conditions, such as traffic, local feast, road closures and congestion. The time and location of Mass each day is subject to local church schedules and may be changed to a location and time of day than that listed in the itinerary. Special Interest Breakfast in an Israeli hotel or restaurant is unparalleled The Israeli breakfast is a world-renowned culinary institution.