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Holy Land Pilgrimage with Deacon Michael Russo & Fr. Dave Peles | April 8, 2024

11 days
The Holy Land
Starting from $4446* Taxes & Fees Apply

Join Deacon Michael Russo & Fr. Dave Peles on a Holy Land Pilgrimage, starting at $4,446* from Philadelphia, departing on April 8, 2024. You will see Caesarea Maritima, Mount Carmel, Nazareth, Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop, Mary’s Well, Synagogue, Cana, Sail the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Church of the Primacy of Peter, Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, Magdala, Mount of Beatitudes, Yardenit Baptismal Site, Mount Tabor, Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, St. Catherine’s Church, St. Jerome’s Cave, Shepherds’ Field, Chapel of the Ascension, Mount of Olives Overlook, Palm Sunday Road, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, Wailing Wall, Southern Wall Excavations, and much more!

Register Early & Save
$100 Register by July 8, 2023
$75 Register by August 8, 2023
$50 Register by September 8, 2023
$25 Register by October 8, 2023
Full deposit required. Savings deducted from balance.

What’s Included

  • All Inclusive Pricing
  • Breakfast and Dinner Daily
  • Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
  • Domestic Airfare
  • Entrance and Program Fees
  • First Class Hotels
  • Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
  • Guided Tours
  • Hotel Gratuities
  • Live Audio Headsets
  • Overseas Airport Transfers
  • Study Guide
  • International Airfare
  • Administrative fees

^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply.

† If air purchased through EO.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 April 8 - Depart the USA

Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight.

Day 2 April 9 - Arrive in the Holy Land

Arrive in Tel Aviv and transfer to Netanya for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 April 10 - Caesarea Maritima / Mount Carmel (Mass) / Nazareth / Church of the Annunciation / St. Joseph’s Workshop / Mary’s Well / Synagogue / Cana

Visit the Roman aqueduct and theatre at Caesarea, a center of early Christianity and where Paul was imprisoned for two years (Acts 10). View Mount Carmel, the site of Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Continue on to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23), and celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation. You will also see the House of the Holy Family, St. Joseph’s Workshop, and St. Joseph’s Church (Luke 2:41 -52; Matt. 2:19 -23). You will also see the House of the Holy Family and St. Joseph’s Workshop (Luke 2: 41-52; Matt. 2:19 -23). Visit Mary’s Well. Visit the Franciscan Wedding church inCana, where the first miracle of Christ is remembered (John 2).Couples wanting to have their vows renewed may do so here.Check into your Galilee hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 April 11 - Sail the Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Church of the Primacy of Peter / Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha / Magdala / Mount of Beatitudes / Yardenit Baptismal Site (Baptismal Remembrance Service)

Sail across the Sea of Galilee and experience a special onboard worship service. Enjoy beautiful Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry, and visit the synagogue located on the site where Jesus taught (Matthew 4:13, 23). As you pray in the Chapel of the Primacy, remember how Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ three times (John 21). Visit the Church of the Loaves and Fish in Tabgha, the traditional location of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17). In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue. On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5-7). At the River Jordan, you can remember your baptism at the Yardenit Baptismal Site. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 April 12 - Mount Tabor / Bethlehem – Church of the Nativity / St. Catherine’s Church / St. Jerome’s Cave / Shepherds’ Field

Ascend Mount Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured before Saints Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:2). In Bethlehem, visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace and see the Church of the Nativity constructed over the site (Matthew 1: 18 -25). Nearby, visit St. Catherine’s Church and St. Jerome’s Cave. Gaze out over the Shepherds’ Field, where angels first proclaimed the Good News. Check in to your Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 April 13 - Chapel of the Ascension / Mount of Olives Overlook / Palm Sunday Road / Dominus Flevit / Gethsemane / Church of All Nations / Chapel Caves – Mary’s Agony / Wailing Wall / Southern Wall Excavations

Visit the chapel of the Ascension, from which Jesus returned to his Father. Be inspired by the breathtaking beauty of Jerusalem (“the Golden City”) as you stand on the Mount of Olives, the place from which Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:9 -12). Walk the Palm Sunday Road down the Mount of Olives. At Dominus Flevit church, visit the place where Jesus mourned for Jerusalem. Visit the Church of Agony, the private garden area across the road, for a time of contemplation in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36 -44) and the Church of All Nations. Visit the Southern Wall Excavations of the Temple, including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 April 14 - Temple Mount / Ein Karem / Church of the Visitation / Israel Museum / Shrine of the Book / First-Century Model

This morning, conditions permitting, stand on the Temple Mount where the Jewish Temple once stood, and the Dome of the Rock now stands. Travel to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist, and where Mary visited Elizabeth (Luke 1: 26 -40). Understand better the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day with a look at the first-century model of the City of Jerusalem, now housed at the Israel Museum. The museum itself houses 10,000 years of archeological artifacts. Also, visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Book of Isaiah, discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls, is displayed. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 April 15 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center / St. Peter in Gallicantu / Church of Dormition / Upper Room / St. Anne’s Church / Pools of Bethesda

Visit the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center for a view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the home of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was held after His arrest (Matthew 26:57). Visit the Church of the Dormition and the Upper Room, revered as the location of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12 -26). Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne, renowned for its beautiful acoustics. View the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle (John 5: 1 -31). Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 April 16 - Jericho / Elisha’s Fountain / Tel Jericho / Mass in Jericho / See Mount of Temptation / Qumran Caves / Dead Sea Swim / Ein Gedi Overlook / Return to Jerusalem

Journey to Jericho (considered the oldest city in the world) to visit the ruins of the ancient city conquered by Joshua (Joshua 6:1). In the distance, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1 -11). Continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Enjoy an opportunity to take a dip in the mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea. Journey to the oasis of Ein Gedi, where David and his men sought refuge from Saul (1 Sam. 23). Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 April 17 - Early Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre / Stations of the Cross, Including the Sisters of Scion / Lithostratos / Antonia Fortress / Via Dolorosa / Time in the Old City Markets - Arab Souk or Cardo Jewish Shops

Remember the Lord’s sacrificial love at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre early this morning prior to walking the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross.” Wander the streets of the Jewish Quarter and explore the Cardo, the ancient marketplace still alive with shops.

Day 11 April 18 - Return to the USA

We arrive back home this afternoon, our hearts filled with many fond memories of this Journey of a Lifetime.

Departure Dates

  1. Monday, April 8, 2024
    From $4446* Register Now!
*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.