Early morning arrival on RJ. After a stop for Breakfast drive to the Christian village of Madeba see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land and then on to Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land. You can see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Judean hills beyond. Also see the remains of Byzantine church with their mosaic floors. Drive south to Petra, overnight Petra.

Morning tour of Petra. Walk through the dramatic "ciq" or canyon to visit Petra. See the Treasury, carved in the pink stone, and continue past the Roman theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and Palace Tomb. Drive up to the Dead Sea for overnight on the shores of the world’s saltiest body of water.

This cross the Allenby Bridge into the Holy Land then leave for Haifa to visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. Celebrate Mass here. After enjoying the view of the bay of Acco, drive to Mukhraka; the Monastery here commemorates Elijah confronting the prophets of Baal. End the day at your hotel in Nazareth or on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Drive to Nazareth, the site of Mary’s home and the town where Jesus lived as a child. At Nazareth, celebrate Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation, and visit the Byzantine Church of St. Joseph and Mary’s Well. There is also time to visit the International Centre of Mary. In the afternoon visit Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of His mother [John 2:1-11]. There visit the Franciscan chapel where those who wish to can perform the renewal of their wedding vows. In the afternoon drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, with time to reflect on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity Return to your hotel.

The day starts with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then to the Mount of Beatitudes, scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. Then to Tabgha where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 and onto the site known as “Peter’s Primacy”. Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” [John 21:9]. Enjoy a lunch of St Peter Fish. A short drive away is Capernaum, from where Jesus launched his Ministry; see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of Peter’s home. Celebrate Mass in this special place. In the afternoon visit Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banias; it was here that Peter recognized Jesus as the messiah to Caesarea Philippi, and where Jesus told St. Peter “You are the Rock, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Banias is also the source of the River Jordan. Return to your hotel.

This morning after breakfast leave Galilee and head south to Samaria to visit Jacob’s Well, located at the foot of the twin peaks of Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal, known in the Old Testament as Mt. Blessing and Mt Cursing. The well is hewn out of solid rock and over 100 feet deep and is the place where Jesus met the Samaritan woman and many visitors drink the water from this very well from which Jesus drank. Then to Sebastia where you can enjoy a local lunch before exploring this fascinating site that is rarely visited. Under Herod it was a major city as evidenced by the impressive remains and the Byzantine Basilica that marked the burial place of John the Baptist. Head south through Samaria, a land rich in Old Testament history through the beautiful Levonah valley, referred to in Judges as the Valley of the Dancers and passing Shiloh, where the Ark of Covenant was kept. End the day in Jerusalem.

A short drive takes us to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, to visit the church that commemorates his memory. Pray the Mystery of the Rosary on the walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. After a break for lunch on our own drive to Bethlehem to see the cave at the Shepherds’ Field. The caves have soot marks of the fires that shepherd’s lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks.

Then to Bethlehem, beginning at Manger Square which stands in front of one of the oldest of Christian churches, the Church of the Nativity. Enter the Church and down to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Jesus’ birth. Beneath the Altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.).

After Mass at the Church of St. Catherine return to the hotel in Jerusalem.

Start the day with Mass at Bethany where Lazarus was raised from the dead. Drive through the Judean Wilderness where Jesus spent 40 days fasting. Stop at Jericho, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, to view the Mt of Temptation and see an example of a Sycamore Tree. At Qumran to visit the remains of the Essene community which produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. There is time for a swim in the Dead Sea before returning to the hotel.

From the Mount of Olives take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples the Pater Noster — The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Walking down the Palm Sunday Road stop at the beautiful little church, Dominus Flevit - “The Lord wept.” It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41].

At Gethsemane reflect on Jesus’ final night. The Garden contains trees, the roots of which go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of His arrest.

From there, take the route through the Kidron Valley along which Jesus was taken as a prisoner to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where He was interrogated and imprisoned. Now called Peter in Gallicantu (“crowing rooster”), this beautiful Church also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ, his repentance and then being forgiven by Jesus. Here we celebrate Mass. After Mass go up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper. Nearby is the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. B, D.

This morning we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Attend High Mass at the Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Later in the day revisit the Old City to see the Pool of Bethesda, St Anne’s Church and the Western Wall. Walk through the Jewish Quarter to see the Roman Cardo.

The afternoon is free to explore the Old City and do some shopping.

Visit the Israel Museum to see the Model of Jerusalem as it was in the time of Jesus. The to the Shrine of the Book to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. For those who wish there is time to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.

In the afternoon visit Abou Ghosh, probably site of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to the two Disciples after the Resurrection. Here visit the lovely Crusader church and meditate in the beautiful gardens tended by the nuns. Return to hotel.

Drive down the Elah Valley to Beit Guvrin. This was once a major urban area dating back 2500 years. There are fascinating underground caves that were used as quarries, burial caves, storerooms, industrial facilities, hideouts and dovecotes. During the Byzantine era there were thriving communities and wine making flourished.

In the afternoon visit the Monastery of Beit Jemal which commemorates the burial site of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Celebrate Mass by the remains of the 5th Century Church dedicated to St Stephen. The present day monastery was founded by Salesian monks and there is also a group of nuns at Beit Jamal who belong to the Sisters of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint Bruno. These nuns have taken a vow of silence. There are 32 nuns at Beit Jamal. They produce wonderful hand painted pottery and operate a small store on the premises. Work in the store is rotated every few years and the four nuns who work in the store are permitted to talk.

In the morning cross back to Jordan to visit the Baptismal site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan, then for a tour of the Roman ruins at Jerash. In the afternoon drive to Amman for a tour visiting the Citadel which has recently been excavated, the Roman theatre which has been restored and is used for plays and concerts.

After a farewell dinner leave to airport for late night departure.