Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Biblical Jordan and Israel

Discover the capital of Jordan in a quick tour to become familiar with the surroundings.

Today we will journey to Madaba, or “The City of Mosaics,” so noted because of the number of Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics found in the city and on display in a museum. We will see the large Byzantine mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta.

Then we will continue on to Mount Nebo, the last stop for Moses after leaving Egypt and is where Moses struck the rock for a second time. There is also a sanctuary here, built on the site where it is believed that Moses was buried.

Today we will take this opportunity to explore Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former center of commerce and trade. This 2,000-year-old concealed city made of sandstone was built to last and serves as the legacy of the Nabateans, a nomadic tribe that settled in this area with Petra as their capital who excelled at water conservation as well.

Travel north to cross into Israel on the Allenby Bridge. Spend a night near the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Travel by boat across Sea of Galilee. You'll visit the many biblical sites around the Sea of Galilee: The Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon of the Mount; Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived during His Galilee ministry; Tabgha, where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes; and the chapel that commemorates where Jesus instructed Peter to "feed my sheep."

Visit the city of Magdala which was recently unearthed to discover an ancient synagogue of the first century. Celebrate a Mass like you’ve never done before. Spend a night near the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Celebrate mass at the Wedding Chapel in Cana before departing for Nazareth.

En route to Nazareth, stop at Mary's Well in the Greek Orthodox Church. Then, we'll walk the streets, stopping at local markets, and on to the Synagogue Church. You'll continue to St. Joseph's and the Museum of the Annunciation. Enter the Parish Church of Nazareth and stand in front of the Grotto where Mary heard the Angel Gabriel announce that she was mother of Jesus.

Visit Antonio Barlucci's magnificent church and have time to mediate on the transfiguration where Jesus revealed His Glory.

You'll head north along the Mediterranean coast of Caesarea Maritime, the great Roman port city and one of the largest archaeological digs in Israel. Here the Roman centurion Cornelius was baptized by Peter and became the first gentile convert to Christianity.

Have lunch at the Franciscan Casa Nova. You'll visit the Church of Nativity, the place where Our Lord was born. Visit Shepherd's Field where we'll celebrate Mass.

Enjoy some shopping in one of the biggest Christian stores in the world and visit one of their famous olive wood traditional shops.

Depart for the Western Wall. Every Monday and Thursday, young Jewish boys celebrate their Bar Mitzvah at this special place. After some time to pray at The Wall, we enter into the Temple Mount area to see the gold Dome of the Rock and learn the history of the special place revered by Jews, Moslems and Christians. As we leave, visit the Pools of Bethesda and the crusader church of St. Anne’s (with perfect acoustics).

Visit the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority, a museum dedicated to the documentation of the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust. Also, see a 1/50th scale model of Jerusalem in 70AD.

Ride to the top of the Mount Olives to view the entire city of Jerusalem. Then, walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus stopped and wept over Jerusalem. You'll see the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the beautiful Church of all Nations.

Ride up Mount Zion where you'll visit the Tomb of the David and the Upper Room. Enter the Old City through the Zion Gate. Walk the Jewish Quarter, visit the Cardo and Hezekiah's Wall.

Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the location of the last five Stations of the Cross and the holiest Christian site in Jerusalem and celebrate Mass. The church is built over the location of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. The site was picked out by Emperor Constantine' mother Helena in the 4th century and much of the current structure dates to the era of the Crusades. You'll view the Temple Mount, home to the Dome of the Rock, where the prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven.

Start the day in Masada and ascend the mountain by cable car to view Herod's desert fortress; then, continue to the beautiful Oasis of Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. Stop for a quick float in the Dead Sea before taking the cable car from Jericho to Qarantal and the monastery.

Our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end a guide accompanies us to the airport for our return flight home.