Holy Land Pilgrimage – September 2012

10 September 2012 to 19 September 2012



About the Pilgrimage

Day 1: Arrival in Tel Aviv and Up to Galilee

Everyone arrived in great shape. Early arrival gave us time and leisure. Mass at a 1,000 year old Crusader’s Church. Great dinner. Evening Bible Study and early to bed early to rise …

Day 2: Transfiguration, Cana and Nazareth

After a good night’s sleep everyone was much refreshed and we had a great day at three Rosary sites. Everyone ended the day swimming in the Sea of Galilee (well not everyone, but most of the group).

Tomorrow I will be on the radio with Teresa Tomeo to discuss the Sorrows of Mary. We are walking through the places where Mary had her sorrows and we will discuss some of her sorrows that most people don’t even think about.

Day 3: Beatitudes, Golan Heights, Caesarea Philippi, Sea of Galilee, Auberge Shulamit

Part 1

Part 2

Day 4, Mass at Capernaum, Boat Ride on Galilee, Visitation, to Jerusalem, Visit the Bishop

Part 1

Part 2

Day 5: All Day in the Birth Town of our Lord, Bethlehem

Part 1

Part 2

Day Six Part 1: Jericho, Dead Sea, Camels & more

Day 6, Part 1 Breakfast and Mass at Notre Dame, then off to the Israel Museum to walk into first century Jerusalem at the Temple Model before seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book. Then a ride into the Judean Wilderness descending 4,250 feet down from Jerusalem, about 30 miles in distance.

We arrived at the exact place Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This is the lowest place on the face of the earth. We renewed our baptismal vows in the Jordan.

Next it was lunch in Jericho before seeing the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted by the Devil and a look at a sycamore tree like the one climbed by Zaccheaus (Luke 19:2-10). Blind Bartimaeus was also healed along the road we were driving on (Mark 10:46-52).

Day Six, Part 2: Off to Qumran where we learned about the Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls and the probably membership of John the Baptist and their familiarity with Jesus the Messiah. Floating in the Dead Sea is always a wonderful experience and so is riding a camel. We have lots of good videos and pictures of both. Enjoy.

Day 7: Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Mount Zion, Upper Room

Part 1

Part 2

Listen Now Listen to the Catholic Radio Interview of Steve Ray about Holy Land pilgrimages