Give Thanks and Remember


 10 day PILGRIMAGE to the Holy Land

ISRAEL

October 25 - November 3, 2009

with Father Michael Gallagher

 

 

See included details and cost below

 

 

Proposed Itinerary*

 

SUN 25 OCT
 Depart from USA  in the evening.
 
MON 26 OCT
 Arrive in  Israel and after Passport Control, be greeted by our guide and driver.  Depart for Galilee region and check into our hotel for dinner and overnight in Nazareth.
 
TUE 27 OCT 
     Walk across the street to the Church of the Annunciation. Father will celebrate Mass at the place where The Word Became Flesh. After breakfast visit the upper parish church and then the museum built over the village of Nazareth and learn about the many churches that have been built over the House of Mary. Stop at Joseph's Carpenter Shop, and then walk through the town where Jesus grew up. Continue up to the Synagogue Church to read scripture and pray before walking  through the city to visit Mary’s Well in the Greek Orthodox Church and then enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. 
     In the afternoon, drive to the Wedding Church in Cana where Father will renew the wedding vows of our couples. Continue to Sepphoris to see the Mona Lisa of Galilee. This is where one tradition says Mary was born. Return to Nazareth for dinner and overnight. After dinner, experience praying the Rosary in the Grotto where Mary ‘heard The Word.’
 
WED 28 OCT      
    After breakfast, depart for the Sea of Galilee to visit Tabgha where Our Lord fed the 5,000 men with 2 loaves and 5 fishes. Continue to the site where Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" and then to the Mount of Beatitudes where Father will celebrate Mass.   After, enjoy Saint Peter's fish lunch.
     In the afternoon, drive to Mount Tabor, where we'll transfer to taxis and go up to visit Antonio Barlucci's magnificent church and have time to mediate on The Transfiguration where Jesus revealed His Glory. Before returning to Nazareth, stop by Yardenit on the Jordan River to renew our baptismal promises. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.
 
 THR 29 OCT  
    Depart the region of Galilee and drive south along the Jordan Rift to Jericho where we see the Mount of Temptations, stop for lunch (and maybe a camel ride) before we drive to Ein Karem to visit the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and then climb to the Church of the Visitation where Mary went to help her cousin Elizabeth. Father will celebrate Mass for us here.   Check in and enjoy dinner and overnight in Notre Dame Hotel.

 FRI 30 OCT  
    After breakfast, drive up on the Mt of Olives. We’ll walk down from the place of the Ascension to the Carmelite Convent where we remember Jesus teaching the Our Father, and continue down to Dominus Flevit where He wept over the city, and down to Gethsemane.  
      Drive to  Bethlehem.  After entering Palestine, we stop at Casa Nova to enjoy lunch and then visit the oldest Christian church in the world, built over the place where Our Lord was born. Drive down to  Shepherd’s Field where Father will celebrate Mass.   Have time to shop in one of the big Christian stores, before we return to Israel to  our hotel.  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 SAT 31 OCT 
        After breakfast, drive around to Mt Zion to visit Dormition Abbey where “Mary Slept” and then visit the Upper Room. Father will celebrate Mass at the Franciscan property of the Cenacle .  Later, we’ll visit St. Peter in Gallicantu where our Lord was held by the high priest when he was arrested.

         In the afternoon, enter the Old City through Herod's Gate and begin the Via Dolorosa, carrying a cross through the narrow streets up to the Holy Sepulchre. Climb Calvary and touch the rock where Jesus' cross was placed, and then see His tomb before we join the Franciscans for Benediction before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight,
 

SUN 1 NOV 
       After breakfast, drive around the walls of the Old City and enter through the Dung Gate to visit The Western Wall.   Have time to place a prayer in between the rock walls if you want.  Continue up onto the Temple Mount to see the El Asqa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.  We depart through another gate and enter the French Fathers' property where Father will celebrate Mass in the Church of St Anne with its perfect acoustics.  Later, we'll see the Pools of Bethesda.

     After a lunch break, visit the Israeli Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and a 1/50th scale model of the Old City at the time of Christ.

     

MON 2 NOV
         Walk down to the Holy Sepulchre where Father will be the celebrant for the Latin High Mass with the Franciscans.  Return to the hotel for breakfast and then enjoy a FREE DAY in Jerusalem.  We'll drive out to Bethlehem for a wonderful FAREWELL BANQUET in the evening

 

Tue 3 NOV.

    Tme to celebrate the liturgy in memory of our departed loved ones, then depart for home with memories to Give Thanks and Remember.


 

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*Please note that any part of this itinerary can be changed or rearranged

due to local circumstances and/or weather.

 

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Call 1-800-7-THANKS for more information on joining this special journey

 

PRICE:    to be determined no later than 1 FEB 09

NOT INCLUDED:

    OPTIONAL 4 DAY TOUR OF JORDAN:  Amman, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Petra. 

                 Ask for details after February 1st.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:     **Sometimes AIRLINE TAXES AND FUEL SURCHARGES  may change and cause an increase in the rate. You will be notified and billed for these changes with final invoice.

 

DEPOSITS/CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS

A deposit of $650 is required to confirm your space no later than May 1, 2009    

This is applied to the total price of the pilgrimage and the balance is to be paid in full no later than July 25, 2009

 A copy of the face page of your passport must be submitted with your final payment.

 

 Cancellations MUST be made in writing and refunds are subject to the following charges:

 

Travel insurance is available.  Please call for information.  1-800-7-THANKS