Israel Pilgrimage with FR. DAVE T. CONCEPCION

Breakfast and check-out. Meet and assist by the local guide. Drive to Caesarea, a city which was built by Herod the Great, to catch sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. Continue to Mt. Carmel to visit Stella Maris Church. Pass by Haifa where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Bahai Gardens. Go up to Mt. Tabor to see the Basilica of Transfiguration. Afterwards, we continue to Nain, described in biblical guidebooks as lying at the foot of the Hill of Moreh. Transfer to your hotel in Nazareth for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes; this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Proceed to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Visit Dalmanuta in Tabgha (celebrate private Mass). Then continue on to St. Peter's Primacy Church. And then to Magdala. After lunch, we proceed to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught. Have a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Have a short visit to the diamond factory. Return to the hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive to Nazareth. Visit the Basilica of Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus Christ. Visit also St. Joseph's workshop and Home of the Holy Family. Drive to Mt. Precipice. Then proceed to Cana (celebrate private Mass), where Jesus performed His first miracle. He turned the water into wine at the Wedding in Cana. (Those who wish may renew their Wedding vows at the Church). Then, visit to Deir Mukhraqa Carmelite Monastery. Transfer to your hotel in Bethlehem for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. We will start our day with a visit to Ein Karem for a visit to St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitation (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Proceed to the Shrine of the Book and see the scale model of Jerusalem. Then continue to the Shepherds Field, the site where the star appeared to the shepherds which lead them to the manger where baby Jesus was born. Visit also the Milk Grotto (celebrate private Mass), the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity and the Church of Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, and the Manger Square. Return to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Drive to the town of Bethany and visit the Church of Lazarus (celebrate private Mass). Continue to Jericho, pass by to see the “Sycamore Tree”, where Zaccheus, the tax collector, climbed the tree to see Jesus who was passing by. After lunch, view the Mount of Temptation. It is a high mountain west of Jericho where satan tempted Jesus. Proceed to Qasr Al-Yahud, the Baptismal Site, for the renewal of baptismal vows. Then go to Qumran, the caves of the Essenes where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a wandering shepherd boy. Continue to the Dead Sea and experience a quick dip in the lowest and saltiest sea on earth.  Check-in, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Bethpage (celebrate private Mass). Proceed to the Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel where Jesus ascended into Heaven. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witness the “Lord’s Prayer” written in several languages. Proceed to the Church of Dominus Flevit (God Wept) where God wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the Palm Sunday Road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Rock of Agony the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him. Visit the Tomb of Mary. Visit the Mount Zion area to see the Dormition Abbey. Then visit the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples had their last supper. Visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. See also King David’s tomb. Proceed to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. Return to the hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Pool of Bethesda and Church of St. Anne. Then proceed to Via Dolorosa starting at Ecce Homo where Pontius Pilate washed his hands. Walk to the Flagellation until you reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Then continue to the Wailing Wall. Return to the hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel.  Drive to Tel Aviv. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport to catch your flight back to Manila.

HOME SWEET HOME!!!