Holy Land Pilgrimage with Fr. Brutus October 2024

Holy Land Pilgrimage Tour with Bethlehem Stay October 2024

San Pedro Catholic Church

October 29 – Nov. 7, 2024

With Fr. Ferry Brutus, Pastor

Proposed Special Itinerary

Day 1 – USA-Tel Aviv

Begin your spiritual journey as we depart the USA for overnight flights to Tel Aviv. Breakfast and dinner will be served aboard the transatlantic flight.

Day 2 –Tel Aviv – Nazareth.

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. After clearing Passport Control and collecting your luggage, you will meet your guide in the Arrivals Hall. He will escort you to your waiting motorcoach which will bring you to your hotel located in Nazareth. There will be time to freshen up before gathering for Mass and Welcome dinner. Overnight in Nazareth.

Day 3 –Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation, Cana

Today you will begin with a visit to Nazareth where the group will celebrate Mass in the Basilica of Annunciation. Walk down to the Grotto, where the remains of the house of the Blessed Mother are visible. Here is where the Angel of the Lord announced the good news to Mary. Visit the museum and archaeological site where you can see the remains of Nazareth at the time of Christ, as well as the workshop of St. Joseph – which is now known as St. Joseph’s Church. Visit Mary’s Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel and have lunch before driving to Cana, the village of Jesus’ first miracle of changing water into wine. Here couples may renew their wedding vows. Dinner and overnight inNazareth.

Day 4 –The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee: Tiberias, Boat ride on Sea of Galilee, Gerasene, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitudes

Some of today’s highlights are a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter’s house, a visit to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of Peter’s Primacy where Peter was told: “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” Visit Gerasene (Kursi) where Jesus exorcised demons out of a man and into a herd of swine, causing them to run down the hill into the Sea of Galilee where they drowned. There will be an unforgettable Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nazareth.

Day 5 –Mt Tabor, Mt Carmel, Caesarea, Emmaus, Jerusalem

Start the day with a visit to Mount Tabor, the scene of the Transfiguration, where you will have Mass. Take in the views of the Jezreel Valley before driving to Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery to see the Madonna of Mt Carmel, and to Mukhraka, the place where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Continue along the coast to Caesarea, where St. Peter baptized the first gentile convert Cornelius, and where the Romans held Paul prisoner. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins before continuing on to Emmaus along the way to Jerusalem. It was on the road to Emmaus where Jesus appeared to two disciples after His resurrection on the third day. They did not recognize Him until He sat and broke bread with them. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bethlehem.

Day 6 –Ein Karem and Bethlehem the Nativity –Church of Visitation, Church of the Nativity, Shepherd’s Fields

This morning we’ll visit Shepherd’s Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus and have Mass at the Church of the Nativity, which stands upon the site where Jesus was born. We’ll enjoy lunch in Bethlehem before heading to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St John the Baptist. Here we will pray at the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the ‘Magnificat’. We will return to Bethlehem with time for shopping before gathering for dinner. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 7 – Jerusalem, the Holy City, The Passion of Jesus’ Last Hours: Mt Olives, Palm Sunday, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, Cave of Betrayal, Cave of Assumption, Pater Noster

Begin our day with a visit to the Mt. of Olives where you will be presented with an overview for a better understanding of its geography and some of the key sites surrounding the area. This includes a dramatic view of the Old City, revealing a city with 4000 years of history. From this vantage point see much of what makes Jerusalem such a unique city to the three major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Visit the Pater Noster, which has the Lord’s Prayer in many languages, and the site of the Ascension from where Jesus ascended to Heaven. Walk the Palm Sunday route down the mountain stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Continue on to the Garden of Gethsemane, and celebrate Mass at the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before His arrest. Visit the cave of betrayal then the cave of Assumption of Mary to heaven. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bethlehem.

Day 8 –The Wilderness: Bethany, Jericho, Mt Temptation, Jordan River-Baptismal Site, Dead Sea

The desert east of Jerusalem is rich in the Christian tradition. Begin with a visit to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Further east, just off the Roman road that Jesus ‘walked’, is Wadi Qelt gorge, the site of the Monastery of St George. At the oasis town of Jericho, visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. Enjoy lunch in Jericho and visit the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist along the Jordan River. Afterward, enjoy a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties before returning to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 –Stations of the Cross, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, St Anne’s Church. Ecce Homo, Western Wall, Upper Room, Dormition

Early in the morning, the group will retrace the last steps of Jesus. Then walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross, reflecting on the greatness of His sacrifice. Finally, you will arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. After breakfast at your hotel, return to the Old City of Jerusalem to visit St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary, and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne. Pass the Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then the Western Wall of the Temple, the holiest place for those of the Jewish faith. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock and the Haram al-Sharif or Temple Mount, exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper. Next, go to Dormition Abbey where it is believed that the Blessed Mother’s earthly life came to an end. Visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the House of Caiaphas, where Peter denied Him thrice. Special Farewell Dinner in Jerusalem. After dinner, transfer to Tel Aviv airport for the return flight to the USA.

Day 10 – USA – Return to the USA This morning you will arrive back in the USA.

Price from Miami and other airports we serve:  $3,595.  Single room supplement is $879.

Book Here

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. All of our pilgrimage tours include prayer books, name and luggage tags, neck wallets, and travel bags.

Price Includes:

• Airfares – Round trip airfare from MIAMI or other served airports
• 1 Checked Bag with Airlines
• Hotel Accommodations – First Class Hotels with Porterage 3 nights in Nazareth 4 nights in Bethlehem
• Meals – Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Daily
• Wine & Bottled Water with dinners
• All transportation in the destination location via Airconditioned Motor Coach with Bottled Water and WiFi available onboard
• Tour Guide – Professional English Speaking Guides — always Catholic
• Entrance Fees – Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
• Whisper Headsets where needed
• Daily Mass and Spiritual Activities arranged

Price does not include the following:

• Travel Insurance — optional but recommended.
• Gratuities for Guides and Drivers
• Baggage Fees for airlines if applicable
• Fees for Seat Assignments or upgrades, if applicable
• Airport transfers when selecting Land Only and arranging your own flights.
• Any Personal Expenses

Questions?  See our FAQ page.

What are the types of airfare classes?

All of our prices are for the economy-class of travel.  It is possible to upgrade.  The terms used today can be confusing, so here is a link that explains the different classes of service offered by the airlines.

Premium Economy is only on larger Transatlantic flights and is a separate section of the plane between Economy and Business Class Sections. Not ALL Aircraft offer a Premium Economy section but most international carriers and newer aircraft will have it. Like Business Class this is a special fare and must be booked as such from the beginning. This is not the same as “Economy Plus” on United, or “Economy Comfort” on Delta which can be booked when making seat assignments on whichever flights you choose. These seats are located in the front of the Economy Class section and usually have an additional 3″-5″ of space between your seat and the one in front of you. “Premium Economy” seats tend to recline more, usually have a footrest, and have an armrest for each passenger sitting next to each other. They also usually have drinks included and some other additional amenities not included in regular Economy Class.

If you want premium economy or business class please chat or email Marcelle.

Travel Insurance is available for a Holy Land Pilgrimage to Israel and – is recommended.

Click here for information on insurance plans!