Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Under the leadership of Sr. Consilio Rock and Frs. Gerry McCormack & Dwayne Gavin
Easter Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 26 April 2017
Our 9 day Pilgrimage will begin in Jerusalem where we will spend 5 nights. During that time we will visit all of the main sites including the Via Dolorosa, the Holy Sepulchre, Mount Zion and the Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem. We will visit Bethlehem and will spend a day in the desert visiting Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and taking a dip in the Dead Sea. We will visit Emmaus on our way to Tiberias our base for the last 3 nights. From there we will visit Nazareth, Cana, the Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, Capernaum and enjoy a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee itself.
Envisaged day to day programme
Tuesday 18 April
Depart Dublin via Istanbul to Tel Aviv. On arrival meet and greet at the airport and transfer to Jerusalem for check in at hotel.
Wednesday 19 April
After breakfast visit the Church of St. John the Baptist, then to Yad Vashem. Celebrate Mass in the Upper Church of the Visitation. Return via the Haas Promenade and enjoy the view of old and new Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Thursday 20 April
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Bethlehem (10 km). Celebrate Mass in the Church of the Nativity. Visit the site of the Nativity, Manger Square, Milk Grotto and Grotto of St. Jerome. Visit the Shepherds Fields. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Friday 21 April
Breakfast at hotel. See the Dome of the Ascension and visit the Church of Pater Noster. Walk along the Palm Sunday road to Dominus Flevit. Celebrate Mass here. Afterwards continue to the Jordan river for renewal of Baptismal vows. Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran – site of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Lunch break and relaxation at the Dead Sea. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Saturday 22 April
Celebrate Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to hotel for breakfast. Enter the old City, visit the Church of St. Ann and Pool of Bethesda. Then continue to the Church of Flagellation, Lithostrotos and along the Via Dolorosa. Walk through the Jewish Quarter and the Cardo to the Temple Area. See the Western Wall. Afterwards visit the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion, the Upper Room, the Dormition Abbey and
St. Peter in Gallicantu. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Sunday 23 April
Breakfast at hotel and check out. Visit Emmaus (Latrun) and afterwards the Mukraha Monastery.
Drive through the Sharon Valley to Nazareth. Visit the Church of the Annunciation. Celebrate Mass in Nazareth. Afterwards drive to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to Tiberias for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
Monday 24 April
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes – site of the Sermon of the Mount. Continue to the Church of the Multiplication – celebrate Mass here. Afterwards visit the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter (also known as Mensa Christi) and then Capernaum. Lunch break at Ein Gev. Enjoy a boat trip on Sea of Galilee. Continue to Cana of Galilee for renewal of vows. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
Tuesday 25 April
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mount Tabor – celebrate our final Mass here. Remainder of day at leisure.
Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
Wednesday 26 April
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport in time for your return flight to Dublin.
Proposed accommodation – 4 star hotels
Crowne Plaza, Jerusalem (5 nights) Royal Plaza Hotel, Tiberias (3 nights)
Proposed flights
Tuesday 18 April Dublin – Istanbul 11.05 hrs. 17.20 hrs.
Istanbul – Tel Aviv 21.15 hrs. 23.20 hrs.
Wednesday 26 April Tel Aviv – Istanbul 09.50 hrs. 12.05 hrs.
Istanbul – Dublin 13.05 hrs. 15.40 hrs.
Price: €1,559.00 per person sharing
This price includes:
Return flights Dublin – Tel Aviv via Istanbul
Accommodation in 4 star hotels (twin sharing) – 5 nights Jerusalem/3 nights Tiberias
Dinner, bed and breakfast throughout
Services of an English speaking guide throughout the tour
Entrance fees where applicable
Porterage at airport and hotels
Extras:
Insurance: €38 per person (+ 66 years – double premium)
Sole occupancy supplement: €65.00 per night (limited availability)
Tips/gratuities for guide, driver and hotel staff: €40.00
How to reserve a place(s): a completed booking form with deposit of €250.00 per person (payment by cash/cheque /debit or credit card) should be sent directly to MAP Travel. The balance will be due 10 weeks prior to departure – payment by cash/cheque or debit card. A 2% surcharge applies only to balances paid by credit card.