Catholic Days of Discovery-10 Days

10 days

Day 1 DEPART THE U.S.A

Your spiritual journey begins as you depart on your transatlantic flight.

Day 2 JAFFA/CAESAREA/MUKHRAKA/ TO THE SEA OF GALILEE

Visit Jaffa where St. Peter had his vision on the rooftop of the House of Simon the tanner (Acts 10:32), raised Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:36); Jonah set sail to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3) and King Solomon built his port (2 Chron. 2:16) on the Mediterranean. Drive along the Sharon Valley to Caesarea – the magnificent ruins of Herod’s showcase port city continue the story of St. Peter, with his conversion of Cornelius’ household (Acts 10:24). Caesarea is also the scene of St. Paul’s imprisonment (Acts 23:35), his appearance before King Agrippa and his departure for Rome (Acts 25:13-26:32). It figures centrally in the history of early Christianity as home to the Church father Eusebius. Next see The Carmelite Monastery of Mukhraka – where Elijah called down fire from Heaven (1 Kings 18:19-39). After this miracle, a great drought ended with the appearance of a small cloud over the sea (1 Kings 18:44), a pre-figuring of St. Mary. Continue to Acre – called Ptolemais when St. Paul visited it (Acts 21:7), a gem of the medieval world, with its Knights Halls, fishermen’s port, Turkish Bath Museum, bazaar and ramparts overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Arrive in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee – built by Herod Antipas (Luke 13:31) during Jesus’ ministry, Tiberias is the contemporary capital of the Sea of Galilee, with many reminders of Bible days. Dinner and overnight

Possible venues for Mass: Church of St. Peter in Jaffa, Carmelite Monastery of Mukhraka; Franciscan Church in Acre.

Day 3 SEA OF GALILEE AND CAESAREA PHILIPPI

This morning enjoy a boat-ride across the Sea of Galilee in a wooden vessel reminiscent of Jesus’ day. Proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes – where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5), and one of many sites where Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II prayed. Next to The Tabha Benedictine Monastery Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes – the site of the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:13-21) and The Church of the Primacy of Peter – site of the miraculous catch of fish (John 21:6), where Jesus appeared to the disciples after the Resurrection (John 21:7), and of St. Peter’s reconciliation to Jesus (John 21:15-19). Visit Capernaum – scene of many miracles and teachings, and known as Jesus’ “own town” (Matt. 9:1), including: The House of St. Peter – (Mark 1:29) and the Memorial of St. Peter. See The Ancient Synagogue – built over the site where Jesus preached (Mark 1:21). Continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias) – at the headwaters of the Jordan, where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that I am” (Mark 8:27) and gave St. Peter the keys to Heaven (Matt. 16:19). Banias also features the ruins of temples built by Herod and his son Philip (Luke 3:1), and a thundering waterfall. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Possible venues for Mass: Mount of Beatitudes; Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha; Peter’s Primacy; Memorial of St. Peter in Capernaum; outdoors at Bethsaida; St. Peter’s Church in Tiberias.

Day 4 FROM ARMAGEDDON TO NAZARETH

Begin the day at Megiddo – with ramparts, temples, dwellings and a water system that made it one of the greatest cities of the ancient Near East, Megiddo became a regional capital of King Solomon (1 Kings 9:15), and is the New Testament’s Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). Next to Mount Tabor ¬– crowned by the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration with its brilliant mosaics, this mountain is also the scene of gathering of the forces of Barak and Deborah (Judges 4:6). See Nain – a charming church which graces this picturesque village where Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead (Luke 7:11-15). Continue to Cana – on the outskirts of Nazareth, where Jesus performed the first miracle, changing water into wine (John 2:1-11), with the Wedding Church and the Church of Nathanael (John 21:2). Arrive at Nazareth – beautiful churches now grace Jesus’ boyhood home, including Mensa Christi in an old residential quarter, the Synagogue Church in the market, St. Gabriel’s Church over the ancient spring, the Church of St. Joseph, and the jewel in the crown, the Basilica of the Annunciation, with its magnificent representations of Mary from around the world. From here we go up to the Holy City of Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Possible venues for Mass: the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Joseph, Cana, Mount Tabor, Nain.

Day 5 JERUSALEM – THE MOUNT OF OLIVES AND MOUNT ZION

Begin this morning at the Mount of Olives –a magnificent vantage point of the Holy City, with many important churches marking biblical sites, including: Paternoster – where Jesus taught the Our Father prayer (Luke 11:1-4), The Dome of the Ascension ¬– the site where Jesus ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:11), Bethphage – where Jesus began the triumphal entrance to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:29), Dominus Flevit – where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Walk to The Garden of Gethsemane – with its ancient olive trees where Jesus was arrested (John 18:1-12), next to the Church of All Nations, named for the contributions made by Catholics from around the world. The church overlooks the Kidron Valley (John 18:1), and is also known as the Basilica of the Agony, as here Jesus sweated blood in fervent prayer (Luke 22:44). Visit Mount Zion, including: St. Peter in Gallicantu – with its beautiful mosaics and bronze statuary, built over the ruins of the house of Caiphas (Matt. 26:57), the stone pit where tradition says Jesus was held, and the Sacred Staircase, which for centuries has led here from the Kidron Valley. See The Coenaculum – or Room of the Last Supper, built over the site of where Jesus and the disciples celebrated the first Eucharist (Mark 14:24) and the Dormition Abbey – marking the site of the Dormition of Mary, where Mary was taken up to Heaven. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight

Possible venues for Mass: Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Church of All Nations, or the Dormition Abbey; St. Peter in Gallicantu, Bethphage.

Day 6 JERUSALEM – THE VIA DOLOROSA AND EIN KAREM

Walk this morning the Via Dolorosa – following the Stations of the Cross from the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Sisters of Zion Convent, through the streets of Old Jerusalem to the Judgment Gate and the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. See the Pools of Bethesda – where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:2). Visit the Church of St. Anne – built over the home of Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary. Drive across Jerusalem to Ein Karem – the “city of Judah” (Luke 1:39), which was birthplace of John the Baptist, including: Church of the Visitation – where Mary met Elizabeth and uttered the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) and the Church of St. John – where John the Baptist was born. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Possible venues for Mass: The Franciscan Chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the Church of the Visitation; the Church of St. John.

Day 7 THROUGH THE JUDEAN WILDERNESS TO THE DEAD SEA

Drive south this morning to The Judean wilderness – where John the Baptist preached (Matt. 3:1) and where Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights (Matt. 4:2). See the Inn of the Good Samaritan – traditional site of Jesus’ parable (Luke 10:30-37). Next to Qumran – where the Dead Sea Scrolls where discovered. Continue to Massada – the dramatic mountain fortress built by Herod the Great where the Jews made their last stand against the Romans in the Great Revolt. Take a cable car up to the fortress. Here the defenders held out for three years against the Roman Army and then committed suicide rather then be taken into slavery. "Massada shall not fall again" is the oath taken by cadets who graduate from Israel's military academy. Enjoy floating in the unsinkable Dead Sea – The lowest, saltiest body of water on earth; the Salt Sea, or Eastern Sea of the Bible (Josh. 15:5; Ezek. 47:18).

Possible venue for Mass: Open-air at Qumran.

Day 8 JERUSALEM – FROM THE OLD CITY TO THE NEW

Enjoy a day to explore and shoVisit The Maronite Catholic Church – near the Jaffa Gate, with a wonderful view of Jerusalem from the roof. See The Convent of Akeldama– where Judas died, in the Valley of Hinnom (Acts 1:18-19). Enter The City of David – the most ancient part of the Holy City (2 Sam. 5:7) and see The Pool of Siloam – where Jesus healed a blind man (John 9:7). Next to the Shrine of the Book – in the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. See The Model of Jerusalem – the famed 1:50 model of the way the Holy City looked in Jesus’ day.

Possible venues for Mass: The Maronite Catholic Church in Jerusalem.

Day 9 DAY AT LEISURE OR DEPARTURE

Day 10 DEPART ISRAEL/ARRIVE IN THE USA

Depart Israel with memories of your many experiences in the Lands of the Bible.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS:

The Negev and Eilat
Jordan and Petra
Egypt and Mt. Sinai us destinations.