An
Invitation from Fr. Fennessy
Dear
Friends,
I
invite you to join me and others on this wonderful trip to the
Holy Land in November 2008.
I
have always felt there was a special connection between the
Holy Land and the Jesuits and their friends. Upon his conversion
and immediately after offering his life to God at the Monastery
of Montserrat, Ignatius of Loyola intended to go to the Holy
Land and to spend his life there. When the first companions
of Ignatius pronounced their vows at Montmartre in 1534, they
vowed poverty, chastity and a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It
was undoubtedly tied to their personal devotion to Christ, and
the desire to walk on the very ground where he was born, lived,
suffered, died, and rose again. It is, of course, a reason that
moves not Jesuits alone, but very many Christians over the last
two millennia.
The year 2008 will be our
time. Won't you join me? We have tentatively scheduled an 11-day
trip beginning around November 3rd or 4th, and hope it will
cost about $2399, plus the usual taxes, fees and tips. While
we are working out the details, I'm putting our preliminary
plans out here for your long range consideration. Do let me
know if you are interested and I'll send you a brochure when
it is finalized
Sincerely,
Rev. Peter Fennessy, SJ.
YOUR
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER - ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Begin your exciting journey as you depart the United States
on board your overnight transatlantic flight to the Holy Land.
WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER - ARRIVE TEL AVIV
Arrive Tel Aviv today where you will be met and escorted to
your waiting motorcoach for the transfer to your hotel in the
Tel Aviv area. Your exciting journey to the Land of the Bible
begins. (D)
THURSDAY
6 NOVEMBER - TEL AVIV / CAESAREA / HAIFA / TIBERIAS
Drive north today to Caesarea to view the ruins of the Crusader's
fortress (left) and moat and sit in the great Roman amphitheater.
Continuing along the coast, you will see the aqueduct that carried
water from Mt. Carmel to Caesarea. On to Megiddo located on
the Plain of Esdraelon. Visit the museum, ruins of the city
and Solomon's Stables. Continue to Haifa where you will ascend
Mt. Carmel for a magnificent view of the sea and harbor. See
the Carmelite Monastery and Elijah's Cave as well as the Bahai
Temple with its lovely Persian Gardens. Proceed to Tiberias
for the night. (B,D)
FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER - TIBERIAS
Today, cross the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, center of Jesus'
Ministry in the Galilee. Visit the ruins of the Second Century
Synagogue. Continue to Tabgha (right), site of the Miracle of
the Loaves and Fishes. Then on to the Mount of Beatitudes where
Jesus preached the famous Sermon on the Mount and chose the
Twelve Apostles. Drive north via Hazur and view Mt. Hermon.
Return to Tiberias for the night. (B,D)
SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER - TIBERIAS
Today drive to Mount Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration. Then
visit a kibbutz in the area. A kibbutz is a communal settlement
in which its members share all responsibilities and work. They
were originally farming communities but many are now increasingly
industrial. The afternoon is free for independent activities
in Tiberias. (B,D)
SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER - TIBERIAS / CANA / NAZARETH
/ JERUSALEM
Depart today via Tabgha and Magdala to Cana, site of Jesus'
first miracle of turning water into wine. Proceed to Nazareth,
the boyhood home of Jesus. Here you will visit the Church of
the Annunciation and the winding streets of the old city. Proceed
via the Jordan Valley and Beit Shean to Jerusalem and your hotel.
(B,D)
MONDAY
10 NOVEMBER - JERUSALEM
Drive to the top of the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view
of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of the Ascension and the Church
of Pater Noster. Descend the Mt. of Olives to the Garden of
Gethsemane and walk along the ancient olive trees, viewing the
Kidron Valley. Visit the Church of All Nations on the Rock of
Agony. Ascend Mount Zion to see the Upper Room, traditional
site of the Last Supper. Drive to Bethlehem. Stop at Rachel's
Tomb. Visit the Church of the Nativity (left). See the Manger
where Jesus was born and Shepherd's Field. Time to shop for
wood carvings before returning to Jerusalem. (B,D)This morning
proceed on a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. (B,
D)
TUESDAY
11 NOVEMBER - JERUSALEM
This morning we drive to Bethany to visit Lazarus' Tomb and
the village of Mary and Martha. Then on to Biblical Jericho,
believed to be the oldest city in the world. View Elisha's Spring
and the Mount of Temptations. Continue to the Dead Sea, 1288
feet below sea level, site of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah. Stop
at the Caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
and visit the excavations. On the east side of the Dead Sea
are the Moab Mountains and Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised
Land. Continue to the citadel stronghold of Masada (right).
Ascend by cable car to the fortress where 967 Zealots made their
last stand against Rome in 73 AD. (B,D)
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER - JERUSALEM
This morning proceed on a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Enter St. Stephen's Gate. Visit St. Anne's Church and the Pool
of Bethesda where Jesus healed the crippled man.
Continue
to the Temple Area. See the Dome of the Rock (left), the El
Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall. Exit via the Dung Gate to
St. Peter's in Gallicantu. View the Valley of Gehenna and the
Pool of Siloam.
This afternoon enter Herod's Gate to the Roman
Praetorium, beneath the Sisters of Zion Convent, and the Ecce
Homo Arch. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus as you walk the
Via Dolorosa, the traditional way of the Cross to the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher. Leave the Old City through the Damascus
Gate. End your inspiring visit at the Garden Tomb, believed
by many to be Golgotha. (B,D)
THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER - JERUSALEM
Today the day is at leisure for shopping and exploring the city
on your own. (B,D)
FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER - JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / U.S.A.
Your exciting adventure in the Holy Land is over as you transfer
to the airport to board your flight back to the United States,
arriving the same day. (B)
B- Breakfast, D-Dinner
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a copy of the brochure for this trip with all the details, please
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