2024 The Holy Lands with Fr. Ruskamp

Plan now to join Father Ruskamp and Barbara Remington in Jordan and Israel. DUE TO HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL October 7, 2023 this pilgrim group was rescheduled from November 2023.

MON 28 OCT 24 Arrive in Tel Aviv and after Passport Control, be greeted by our guide and driver. Drive north along the Mediterranean Seacoast to Stella Maris on Mount Carmel. Check in, dinner. MASS. Overnight Haifa

TUE 29 OCT 24 After breakfast, depart for Cana to renew the vows of our couples at the site of Jesus’ first miracle when he changed water in wine at the wedding feast. Continue to Nazareth for an included lunch. Afterward visit the Church of the Annunciation to see where The Word Became Flesh then 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 to Mary’s Well where the Angel Gabriel came to Mary. Check into our hotel for dinner. Overnight in Nazareth.

WED 30 OCT 24 After breakfast, we depart for the Sea of Galilee. Recalling when Jesus calmed the storm and called Peter to walk on water to Him, take a boat across the lake to Caphernaum where Jesus called St. Peter and many of the other apostles. Visit the Synagogue where He healed and taught and see Peter’s House. Afterwards, go to the Primacy where He confirmed St. Peter’s mandate after His resurrection, and to Tabgha where he fed the 5000. Stop in Magdala to visit the newly revealed first century synagogue. Father will celebrate Mass on the banks of the lake in the new chapel in the city of Mary Magdalene. Return to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

THR 31 OCT 24 Start the day going north onto the Golan Heights to Banyas to visit Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asks, “Who do people say I am?” and tells Peter, “On this rock, I will build my Church & the gates of Hell will not conquer it. After lunch, go up Mont Tabor, site of the Transfiguration where Father will celebrate Mass. Return to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

FRI 31 NOV 24 After breakfast, and drive south along the Jordan Valley, visiting Jericho briefly before continuing south to the Jordan Baptismal site to renew our baptismal promises. Continue to Bethlehem and have time to shop in one of the big Christian stores before lunch at the Franciscan Casa Nova. After visit the oldest Christian church in the world, built over the place where Our Lord was born. We’ll drive down to celebrate Mass in Shepherd’s Field. Have time to shop! Check into our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

SAT 2 NOV 24 After a leisurely breakfast, drive up on the Mt of Olives and 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. After lunch drive Mt. Zion to visit St. Peter in Gallicantu where our Lord was held by the high priest when he was arrested and the Upper Room and Dormition Abbey where Mary slept. Father will celebrate Mass in the Cenacle before we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

SUN 3 NOV 24 After breakfast, drive to Ein Karem to visit the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and then the Church of the Visitation where Mary went to help her cousin Elizabeth. After visit the Shrine of the Book where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are now kept, and see a model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. See the 1/50th scale model of the city and understand how the walls have changed. After lunch, pray the Via Dolorosa, carrying a cross up through the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

MON 4 NOV 24 Father will celebrate Mass in the Tomb of Our Lord and then we return to the hotel for breakfast. Drive around the Old City to visit the Western Wall. Many Jewish boys will come to celebrate their Bar Mitzvah here today and we can pray at and leave our petitions in the Wall. After, walk up onto the Temple Mount where Jesus taught and prayed; where he was presented by his parents after birth; where he was tempted by the Devil to throw himself down; and, where he was angered by the money changers. Today on this Moslem property we find the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. We pass the closed Golden Gate as we leave and enter the Crusader church of St. Ann’s and the Pools of Bethesda. Leave the city by St. Stephen’s Gate. FREE AFTERNOON before we go to Bethlehem for a special MidEast Feast. Overnight in Jerusalem..

TUE 5 NOV 24 FREE TIME in Jerusalem before we depart to cross at the Allenby Bridge into Jordan. Check into hotel at Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight.

WED 6 NOV 24 After breakfast, drive South to Petra where you’ll have a full day to discover one of the new Wonders of the Ancient World sites. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

THR 7 NOV 24 After breakfast, drive to Mount Nebo where Father will celebrate Mass and then visit Madaba to see the oldest known map of the mid-East in the church of St. George. Return to the hotel for some relaxation, Dead Sea floating and rest before dinner.

FRI 8 NOV 24 Depart for home on Lufthansa for home with memories to Give Thanks and Remember.

PRICE TO BE DETERMINED IN LATE DECEMBER 2023

Airfare to Amman, Jordan and from Tel Aviv from Washington, DC
Airline taxes and fuel surcharges**
All transfers and assistance with arrival and departure
Deluxe bus transportation as required.
Hotel accommodations in double and triple rooms using 4* hotels with private baths.
Half board (Breakfast and dinner) daily
3 lunches and special mid-east Farewell Feast
Services of English-speaking local guides
Services of an experienced Certified Tour Manager from the U.S.A.
All entrance fees as shown on the itinerary.
Jordanian Visa for American citizens
All service charges
All tips to Drivers, Guides, Porters, Restaurant and Hotel Staff

NOT INCLUDED:

Expenses of a personal nature
Meals not mentioned. Drinks with dinner.
Single Supplement of $975.00 when no roommate (Note: limited # singles)

IMPORTANT NOTE: **Not always but 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.

Send deposit check for $500.00 made out to

Give Thanks and Remember LLC

1484 Morris Pond Drive, Ste B2

Locust Grove, VA 22508

Heidi’s Email: gvthnks@aol.com. Cell: 540-760-6387

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS for any pilgrimage is found on the website under REGISTRATION.