If you desire to draw closer to Jesus of Nazareth, come, as we follow in His footsteps. Coined by Pope Paul VI as the "Fifth Gospel", this pilgrimage will allow you to  enter into biblical history, walking the land where Jesus walked. You will better understand the Bible, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and the human drama of God. You will be inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape and visit many of the places described in Sacred Scripture and the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Depart Chicago O’Hare Airport on a direct flight to Tel Aviv Airport.   Our flight is on United Airlines and is currently scheduled to depart at 9:30pm   You are responsible for arriving at the airport on your own unless Cor Jesu organizes bus transportation for the group.  We suggest you arrive 2.5 hours before departure.  Two meals (breakfast and lunch) will be served in flight.  

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Travel through customs and meet our tour guide-escort who will accompany you throughout your pilgrimage. Board your coach bus for the trip to your hotel in Tiberias. At the hotel we will check-in, celebrate Holy Mass and enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.

We start by celebrating Holy Mass at Cana, the site of Jesus' first miracle. Here couples may renew their wedding vows and certificate of renewal can be requested from the church. We then go to Nazareth where we visit The Basilica of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Church, Mary’s Well and the old market. We also visit Mount Tabor, scene of the Transfiguration. Return to Tiberias for dinner at the hotel. 

We go to visit Mount of Beatitudes (the location of Sermon on the Mount). Tabgha, the site where the miracle of the multiplication of fish and bread took place. Close by, is the Church of Peter’s Primacy the location of the Miraculous Fishing. Continue to Capernaum where Jesus lived and started his ministry. In the afternoon, Mass will be celebrated on the Boat, on the Sea of Galilee, as was done in the time of Jesus.  Return to Tiberias for dinner at the hotel.   

We drive to Haifa and visit Mt. Carmel where the Carmelites established their monastery 900 years ago.  You will have a panoramic view of Haifa and the beautiful Baha'i Gardens.  We continue heading south along the Mediterranean Sea and stop at Caesarea Maritime where Peter baptized Cornelius and St Paul was a prisoner for two years.  We'll also see the original Roman Aqueduct that brought water to the city, explore a Roman theater, and the ancient ruins of Herod's palace.  After a full day we continue south to Bethlehem to check-in, refresh and enjoy dinner.

In Bethlehem, we visit the Shepherd's Fields, celebrate Mass here. We also visit the Church of the Nativity that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. In the afternoon, we go to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and to the Church of the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat.’ 

We visit Bethany, site where Lazarus lived with his sisters Martha and Maria. After visiting Lazarus church, continue to the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows. Drive down the Jordan Valley and stop at the oasis town of Jericho. This day we will have Mass either in Bethany or in Jericho. We will continue our visit to the excavations of the oldest city in the world. We view the Mt. of Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. On the way back, there is time for a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. Return to Bethlehem. 

We visit the Mt. of Olives and The Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. We walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see The Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest. Mass will be here at the Church of all Nations. We make a stop at the Chapel of the Ascension, located on the site where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. This afternoon, we drive to the hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. It is dominated by the Church of the Dormition. The location is identified in Christian tradition as the place where the Virgin Mary died or “fell asleep”, as the name suggests. End our day at St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied our Lord thrice. 

We retrace the last steps of Jesus, as we walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross. We reflect on the greatness of his sacrifice. Finally, we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass. At St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne, we’ll stop for a short prayer. We pass the Ecce Home where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then on to the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for the Jews. The rest of the day is open for visits to other Holy Sites, resting / packing.  In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner before transferring to the airport for our return flight to Chicago.