0223 Pilgrimage to Israel & Jordan led by Frs. Andy & Remek Blaszkowski

Depart Florida on our way to Jordan

Meet our Jordanian staff and drive to the Red Rose city - Petra. Dinner and overnight Petra.

Following breakfast explore Petra - one of the 7 world wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enter the city through a long narrow gorge which is flanked on either side by 300 feet-high cliffs- dazzling colors and formations of the rocks. This massive site contains hundreds of elaborated rock-cut tombs, a treasury, Roman-style theatres, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets. Lunch, dinner and overnight Petra.

Following breakfast depart Petra. Visit Mt Nebo - the site of Moses' death. Celebrate Mass at the Franciscan church on top of Mt Nebo. Following lunch continue to the Jordan River - cross the border into Israel. Renew Baptism vows at the Jordan River and make our way to Nazareth - our home in the Galilee. Dinner and overnight

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit, pray, and celebrate Mass at the Mountain of Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-11). Capernaum – “Town of Jesus” and the house of St Peter. Visit the synagogue where Jesus Preached and healed. Continue to visit and pray at the Church of the Primacy of Peter (John 21:1-17). walk to the Church of Multiplication of Bread – Tagbha (Mk 6:30-44). Lunch – St Peter’s fish and continue to sail on the Sea of Galilee (Lake of Gennesaret or Sea of Tiberias. cf. Mt 14:22-33). Visit Magdala – “Duc in Altum” (Lk 5:4). Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Breakfast at the hotel. Ascend to Mt. Tabor to celebrate Mass at the Church commemorating the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8). We continue to Cana of Galilee site of the 1st Miracle (John 2:1-11) and renewal of Marriage Vows. Lunch. Walk the streets of old town Nazareth and visit the synagogue where Jesus read and from Isiah and predicted his own words. Visit Mt. Precipice ("brow of the hill"). Participate in the candlelight procession at the Basilica of Annunciation. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Opening Mass at the Basilica of Annunciation. Visit and pray at the site where “Here the Word was made flesh”. Enjoy breakfast and depart on our way to Jerusalem via the coast. Ascend to Mt Carmel where Elijah built the altar and defeated the pagan prophets ( 1st Kings:18). Continue to Caesarea Maritima where St Peter Baptised Cornelius and where St Paul was imprisoned for 2 years before his last journey to Rome. See the impressive Roman ruins including the aqueduct. Ascend the Holy City - Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Bethlehem. Celebrate of Mass at the Shepherds' Fields (Lk 2:8-18). Visit the Basilica of Nativity and the Cave of St. Jerome (Lk 2:1-7). We continue to pray at the Milk Grotto of Our Lady of La Leche. Lunch and shopping at the local catholic gif shop. We continue to visit Mt. Zion, the Upper Room (Lk 22:1-20 and John 20:19-23), and the Tomb of David. We will see the remaining foundation stones of the Church of the Apostles, the Hagia Zion. See the Dormition Abbey (Church of Assumption of the Virgin) which is situated over houses of the first Jerusalem Christians, including the home of St. John where Mary "went to sleep”. We will walk to Peter in Gallicantu (Psalm 88), (House of Caiphas – site of Imprisonment of Jesus and denial of St Peter). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Early departure for the Church of Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Mass at the Tomb of Jesus. After Mass visit and prayer at the Mount of Calvary (John 19:18-30), the chapel of BVM and St. Helena. We will walk the Palm Sunday Road to Dominus Flevit (Lk 19:28-45) and continue to the old city of Jerusalem via St. Stephen’s Gate. Following lunch, we shall walk the Stations of the Cross - Via Dolorosa, which will conclude at the Church of Holy Sepulcher. End our day at the Wailing Wall. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.

Depart the Holy city to the Judean Desert. Celebrate Mass in this unique dessert overlooking Biblical scenery. Visit Qumran - site of the Dead Sea Scrolls, continue to Masada - site of the Jewish zealots' last stand against the Romans - an outstanding fortress in the Judean Desert on the shores of the Dead Sea. Enjoy lunch and the experience of floating in the most salty natural body of water. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Mass at the Basilica in the Garden of Gethsemane. ( Lk 22-39-53). We ascend to Mount of Olives to visit the Chapel of Ascension. Continue to the outskirts of Jerusalem to the birthplace of St John the Baptist and the site of the Visitation (Lk 1-68-78). Drive to the city of Jafa where St Peter revived Tabitha and had the Vision on the rooftop at the house of Simon the Tanner. We shall have our farewell dinner at the port of this picturesque city and make our way to the airport for our overnight flight back home.

Early arrival to Florida