Day 1 Monday, June 12 th : Travel to Amman, Jordan Our mission trip begins today as we fly toward the Holy Land. There are meals and movies in flight, as well as some conversation and sleep. Day 2 Tuesday, June 13 th : Arrival in Amman We arrive at Queen Alia Airport and proceed to our hotel in Amman to check in. If there is time, we will drive out to Madaba to explore this traditional Christian town and its mosaic workshops. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Amman. Day 3 Wednesday, June 14 th : Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptismal Site This morning we visit St George s Church in the Madaba town center to see the amazing Madaba Mosaic Map. Next we take our first look into the land flowing with milk and honey from Mount Nebo, where Moses first glimpsed the Holy Land and where we celebrate Mass. After lunch we will visit the traditional baptismal site of Jesus, just east of the Jordan River. We will learn about the significance of the Jordan, experience its waters, and recommit ourselves as disciples of the one in whose name we have been baptized. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Amman. Day 4 Thursday, June 15 th : Petra After early breakfast, we will drive through the desert terrain, to Petra: "The Red Rose City - half as old as time." We will walk or go by horseback through the narrow canyon that leads to the Red Rock. There we'll see scores of imposing monuments, including the Khazneh (treasury), the Roman theatre and many other ancient buildings, all carved into the pink mountains. During the walk through Petra we will have a break for lunch, giving us a chance to relax a bit before we continue our journey. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 Friday, June 16 th : Bethlehem After breakfast, we will drive to the border to cross to Israel and Palestine, and after entry formalities, we will follow the traditional pilgrim route up to Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. We will visit HCEF s Bethlehem Museum to have a tour and take our lunch there. After Lunch we will visit Shepherd s Field in Beit Sahour, where the angels appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. We will also visit the Church of the Nativity and celebrate Mass in one of the grottos. Then we will visit the Milk Grotto, Shrine of the Motherhood of Mary, where we will offer prayers to the women who long to conceive, bear and nurse a child and all women in need of some maternal healing. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. Day 6 Saturday, June 17 th : Jerusalem We will begin our day with a welcome by HCEF staff, who will teach us about HCEF s programs in the Holy Land. Next we will depart to Jerusalem and walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) through the narrow alleys and bazaars of the Old City of Jerusalem, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Tomb of Christ. After that we will visit the Church of the Redeemer where we will celebrate Mass. Then, we will visit the Latin Patriarchate and meet with the Patriarch HB Fouad Twal. After lunch, we will drive to the Mount of Olives to visit the churches of Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit. We will also visit the Church of All Nations, located in the beautiful Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before his passion. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. Day 7 Sunday, June 18 th : Jerusalem After Breakfast, we will drive to Jerusalem to visit the Dome of the Rock, the Golden Gate and the Temple Mount. After lunch, we will visit Mount Zion and the Upper Room, scene of the last supper, and then the Church of the Assumption (Tomb of Mary). We will
continue then to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist for a visit to the Church that recalls his birth, and the Church of the Visitation on the other side of the valley. Then we will have a meeting with the representative of Al- Musalaha; the Ministry of Reconciliation - Musalaha is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians as demonstrated in the life and teaching of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. Day 8 Monday, June 19 th : Dead Sea, Jericho and Qumran After breakfast, we will head to Jericho, where we will remember Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree and the blind Bartimaeus wanting to see. We are also reminded of the temptations of Jesus, as we view the Monastery of Temptation on the summit of the Mount of Temptation. After lunch in Jericho we will visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered, and then we will enjoy ourselves around the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. Day 9 Tuesday, June 20 th : Birzeit, Ramallah After Breakfast, we will drive to Birzeit to visit the Catholic Church, where we will attend Mass and meet the parish priest who will talk to us about the local Christian population. Then we will have lunch in HCEF s Birzeit Senior Citizen Center, giving us the chance to meet with the elders of Birzeit and hear their stories. Then we will go to Ramallah and visit the Church of Hope were we will meet our brothers and sisters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. Day 10 Wednesday, June 21th: Nablus, Jenin and Nazareth In the morning we will drive to Nablus to visit Jacob s Well, where the Samaritan woman reminded Jesus that Jacob gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it; he told her he was the promised Messiah, and she and many residents of her village believed in him. (Jn 4:5-42). Then we will enjoy our free time in the old city and have our lunch there. After that we will visit the town of Sebastia where there is an ancient religious community still active there associated with John the Baptist. There, we ll also visit ancient Roman tombs, a Hellenistic tower and the Herodion gate towers. Dinner and overnight in Jenin.
Day 11 Thursday, June 22 : Nazareth This morning we travel north toward the Sea of Galilee. We will drive to visit Mt Tabor, the site of Jesus Transfiguration at the top of the mountain where we can enjoy beautiful views of the Jezreal Valley. Then we will continue to Nazareth and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation where we pray the Angelus in the cave of the Annunciation and celebrate Mass. Next we will visit St. Joseph s Church and Mary s Well. After lunch in Nazareth, we will travel to the Church at Cana, the site of Jesus first miracle where there is an opportunity to renew wedding vows. Dinner and overnight Nazareth. Day 12 Friday, June 23: Sea of Galilee Today we will pass through the Valley of the Doves-- the Arbel Pass --to approach the Sea of Galilee as Jesus would have on his way from Nazareth. In Tabgha we will spend some quiet time along the water, imagining ourselves with Jesus. We will pray at the site of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes, and at the place along the shore where Jesus three times asked Peter and on this day will ask us Do you love me? Next, we will visit Capernaum, which Jesus considered home and where he healed many times and taught so much. Today, the remains of Capernaum include an ancient synagogue and the vestiges of Peter s house. Then for lunch we will eat fish in the Mount of Beatitudes Monastery, and then we will go aboard a boat for a ride on the Sea of Galilee, stopping to rock on the waves, to feel the wind and to sing of the one whom even the wind and the sea obey. Then we will travel to the Mount of Beatitudes for a time of prayer and meditation on the hillside. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.
Day 13 Saturday, June 24: Nazareth and Ben Gurion Airport -Tel Aviv After breakfast and check out from the hotel, we transfer to the airport to fly back home. However, our faith journey will continue in a new, invigorated way. Having visited the places sacred to our tradition, having met the descendent of the first disciples of Jesus and witnessed how the people of the Holy Land strive to build bridges of justice, peace and reconciliation we will be enriched and our spiritual lives transformed. For further information and to register for this pilgrimage, please contact: Rev. Anthony Strouse franthony.sja@gmail.com (517) 265-8938 Notes: Mass or Worship Service can be arranged daily. Itinerary subject to change without notice. The Itinerary includes interaction with the local community. The Itinerary can be adjusted according to requests from pilgrim leader if this does not affect cost or logistics.