AWAKEN Catholic
Holy Lands Pilgrimage

11/26-12/6, 2021

Friday, November 26, Day 1:
DEPART USA

We meet at St. Joseph Church, where we celebrate Mass together before boarding the motorcoach, which will take us to Detroit International Airport for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight.

Saturday, November 27, Day 2:
ARRIVAL TEL AVIV – TIBERIAS

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we pass through Immigration and Customs, collect our luggage in baggage claim, and proceed to the Arrivals Hall. Here we will be met by our English-speaking Christian tour guide, who will accompany our group for our entire trip within the Holy Land. We travel to Tiberias and check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. (D)

Sunday, November 28, Day 3:
THE SEA AND THE SHORES OF GALILEE – MT. TABOR

We start the day with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit the “Jesus Boat,” which dates to the time of Christ. We celebrate Mass at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his famous Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). Enjoy a hearty lunch of St. Peter’s Fish before departing for Capernaum, where Jesus began His Galilean ministry. Here we explore the synagogue where Jesus taught and see the site of St. Peter’s home, where Jesus drove out demons and healed many sick people, including Peter’s Mother-in-law and the paralytic man (Lk 4:31-41). We peer into the excavated ruins of the apostle’s home through the glass floor of the Church built over this holy site. Next, we visit the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, commemorating the very place where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 (Mt 14:13-21). Next, we stop at the Church of the Primacy of Peter, situated on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus, after His resurrection, shared breakfast with his disciples and reinstated Simon Peter after his threefold denial (John 21:1-19). In the afternoon, we visit Mt. Tabor to see the Church of the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28-39). Overnight Sea of Galilee area. (B, L, D)

Monday, November 29, Day 4:
MAGDALA – CAESAREA PHILIPPI – CANA

This morning we visit Magdala, the birthplace of St. Mary Magdalene, where we see the recent excavations and the brand-new Duc in Altum Spirituality Center. We then travel north through the Hula Valley to Caesarea Philippi, where Simon confessed Jesus as Messiah, and Jesus declared Simon to be Peter, the Rock, upon which He would build His Church (Mt 16:13-20). After, we travel to Cana, to celebrate Mass and where couples may choose to renew their wedding vows at the Wedding Church built on the site of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:1-11). Overnight Sea of Galilee. (B, L, D)

Tuesday, November 30, Day 5:
HOLY YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH visit to NAZARETH –
SHARING THE BREAD CHRISTIAN DINNER

The Holy See has granted a plenary indulgence (under the usual conditions) to anyone who makes a pilgrimage in the year 2021. This morning we visit Nazareth, the city of St. Joseph, and the Holy Family. We see the Byzantine ruins of the Church of the Nutrition, located beneath the convent of the Sisters of Nazareth. It is believed to be the childhood home of Jesus. We explore the Basilica of the Annunciation, where, according to tradition, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the Mother of God (Lk 1:26-38). Here St. John Paul II celebrated Mass during his historic visit to the Holy Land in the Jubilee Year 2000. We celebrate Holy Mass in the Church of St. Joseph, and stop to see Nazareth Synagogue Church, built above the original location of the Roman period synagogue where Jesus first learned the scriptures and later preached as a young rabbi (Lk 4:16-21), and Mt. Precipice, the traditional site of the cliff that an angry mob attempted to throw Jesus from after his bold proclamation in the Nazareth synagogue (Lk 4:28-30). From this precipice, we enjoy a wonderful view of the Jezreel Valley. We then proceed to the Gospel Trail and follow the very path walked by our Blessed Lord and the apostles. Tonight, we are welcomed into the homes of local Christian Families for a “Sharing the Bread” meal. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, Special dinner)

Wednesday, December 1, Day 6:
BETHLEHEM – SHEPHERDS’ FIELD

We begin our day in Bethlehem with a visit to Manger Square and the Basilica Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the world, with its recent renovations and newly uncovered mosaics. Bending low as we enter through the Door of Humility, we enter the Church and descend into the Grotto of Nativity. Beneath the Altar, a 14-pointed Silver Star marks the exact spot where tradition holds that Christ was born (Lk 2:1-7). We see the nearby Church of St. Catherine and visit St. Jerome’s Grotto. The Church Father & Doctor lived in a cave located beneath the Basilica for over 30 years while he completed his famous Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate. We then proceed to the nearby Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family stopped on their flight to Egypt and Shepherd’s Field and Grotto, where the Angel appeared along with a multitude of the heavenly host announcing the birth of the Savior (Lk 2:8-20).We continue our day with a visit to a local Christian antiquities and souvenir shop that helps support dozens of local Christian families. Here we will have an opportunity to do some souvenir shopping and see an actual Dead Sea Scrolls Jar. We stop to pray for peace at the Separation Wall, just as Pope Francis did during his historic visit to the Holy Land in 2014. Our day ends with the celebration of Mass at St. Charbel Church. Known as the Miracle Worker, St. Charbel is a beloved patron Saint of the Christians living in the Holy Land. Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)

Thursday, December 2, Day 7:
JERICHO - BAPTISMAL SITE - DEAD SEA

We visit Jericho – the first city to be captured by Joshua as part of his conquest of the Land and the site of the Mount of Temptation. It was in Jericho where Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52) and converted Zacchaeus the tax collector (Lk 19:1-10). We celebrate Mass and renew our baptismal vows in the waters of the Jordan River at Qasr Al Yehoud, which tradition holds as the actual site of Jesus’ baptism. (Mt 3:13-17). Next, take a dip in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea and shop for its world-famous skin and beauty products. Be sure to bring a bathing suit! Overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)

Friday, December 3, Day 8:
BETHANY – MT. OF OLIVES – MT. ZION – JERUSALEM

The day begins with a visit to Bethany (conditions permitting) to see the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (Jn 11:1-44). Explore Ascension Chapel and visit the Church of Pater Noster, where Jesus taught his disciples The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-15). Marvel at the panoramic view of the golden city of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. We walk along Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the tear-shaped Church of Dominus Flevit that marks the site where Jesus wept over the city (Lk 19:41). Continue along the Jewish cemetery with a view of the Eastern Gate. Have some quiet time in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden of Betrayal, the site of Jesus’ agony, betrayal, and arrest (Mt 26:36-56). From there we walk over to the Basilica of Agony, where we celebrate Mass. We then proceed to the nearby Caiaphas’s Palace, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which commemorates the three-fold denial of Peter and his subsequent conversion (Mt 26:69-75). Our final stops of the day are the Church of the Dormition where tradition holds that Mary “fell asleep” in the Lord and the Upper Room where Jesus celebrated His Last Supper (Mt 26:17-29) and where the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). After dinner at our hotel, we return to the Basilica of Agony for a special Holy Hour. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)

Saturday, December 4, Day 9:
OLD TOWN JERUSALEM-VIA DOLOROSA – GOLGOTHA -THE TOMB

Start the day early along the Via Dolorosa after grabbing a to-go-cup of coffee from the lobby coffee cart. We begin praying the Stations of the Cross along the Way of Sorrows (Via Dolorosa), which culminates at the holiest site in the world for Christians – The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church is constructed over the sites of Jesus’ crucifixion (Golgotha), burial, and resurrection (empty tomb). It is in this most hallowed of churches that we will celebrate the Solemn Mass. Later this morning, visit St. Anne’s Church and see the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. The afternoon is at leisure to catch up on sleep, visit the Old Town on our own or take a taxi to the Israeli Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)

Sunday, December 5, Day 10:
EIN KAREM – EMMAUS – AIRPORT

Following breakfast and hotel check out, we tuck a prayer into the Wailing Wall as did St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and Pope Francis before us during their trips to the Holy Land. Travel to Ein Karem and see Mary’s Spring and the birthplace of John the Baptist. Visit the Church of the Visitation where Our Blessed Mother prayed her Magnificat (Lk 1:39-56) and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, time permitting we travel to Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to the two disciples after the Resurrection (Lk 24:13-35) before arriving for our Farewell Dinner. Following dinner, we depart for the airport for our overnight flight home after an unforgettable pilgrimage. (B, L, Special Dinner)

Monday, December 6, Day 11: ARRIVE IN THE USA

Arrive at Detroit Airport, where we board the bus which will take us back to St. Joseph Parish where we make our way home.