Walking with Mary & Jesus in the Holy Land with Dr. Edward Sri

ITINERARY

Day 1: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 - Depart USA

Depart USA on overnight flight for Tel Aviv.

*Schedule your flight to arrive at Tel Aviv airport before 10:00 AM on November 4th.

Day 2: Wednesday, November 4, 2026 - Mt. Carmel & Jezreel Valley View | Cana 

Meet the group in the morning at Tel Aviv airport. Board our motorcoach for our first views of Israel. Head to Mt. Carmel, the traditional site where Elijah defeated the false prophets of Ba’al (1 Kings 18). The panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley reminds us of Elisha & Elijah’s ministries. Celebrate Mass at Mt. Carmel before driving to Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle. Explore the Biblical account of this scene and have opportunity to renew wedding vows there. Check in to our hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee, have dinner and get a good night’s rest.

Day 3: Thursday, November 5, 2026 - Mount Tabor | Nazareth | Magdala Excavations

Drive to Mt. Tabor, site of the transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-8). After Mass there, enter the Biblical scene in quiet prayer and take in the breathtaking views from this high mountain set apart. Travel to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, built over the childhood home where Gabriel appeared to Mary. Also option to see traditional site of St. Joseph’s workshop. Travel from Nazareth to visit the excavations at Magdala (Mary Magdalene’s town with synagogue from Jesus’ day).

Day 4: Friday, November 6, 2026 - Capernaum | Boat Ride on Sea of Galilee | Mount of Beatitudes | Tabgha | St. Peter Primacy Church

Start the day in Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 4, 8-9). Visit the remains of the 1st century synagogue where Jesus gave the “Bread of Life” discourse about the Eucharist (John 6). Mass there. Then we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee after a “St. Peter Fish Lunch” on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Then visit Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. Visit the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy, commemorating Peter’s unique role among the twelve apostles and visit Tabgha, the site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. After dinner, we gather for our last night in Galilee with a wrap-up talk & confession available on the shore of the sea of Galilee.

Day 5: Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Judean Desert, Jordan River | Ein Kerem: Church of the Visitation

Check-out of our lodging and travel to Judea. On the way, renew our baptismal promises at the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. Visit Jericho for lunch and drive through the Judean desert on our way up to Jerusalem. Visit Ein Kerem, birthplace of John the Baptist and where Mary visited Elizabeth (Luke 1:46-55). After a Biblical teaching on the Visitation, pray the Magnificat in this place where Our Lady first recited it and have Mass there. Check-in to hotel followed by dinner.

Day 6: Sunday, November 8, 2026 - Mount of Olives | Dominus Flevit | Gethsemane | Basilica of the Agony (Agony in Garden) | Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity, Shepherds’ Fields

On Mt. of Olives, we remember where Jesus ascended to heaven. Walk down the mount as Jesus did on Palm Sunday. Visit Dominus Flevit, the traditional site where “Jesus Wept” before entering the city (Luke 19:41, 44). Enter the Garden of Gethsemane to contemplate the first sorrowful mystery right where it took place. Travel to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus was born. At the Shepherds’ Fields, ponder the Gospel accounts of the Nativity amid caves similar to one in which Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-19). Mass in Bethlehem.

Day 7: Monday, November 9, 2026 - Via Dolorosa | Church of the Holy Sepulcher | Mt. Zion & the Upper Room | Dormition Abbey (Mary’s Assumption & Coronation) | St. Peter Galicantu

Early rise to walk through the 14 stations of the Via Dolorosa, Christ’s route to Calvary, meditating at each station, culminating at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built over Calvary and Christ’s tomb. Like Mary on Good Friday, we go to the foot of the cross. Visit the Upper Room commemorating the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26) and Pentecost. Visit Dormition Abbey, where Mary ended her earthly life. End day by visiting St. Peter Galicantu, the house of Caiaphas and where Jesus was imprisoned Holy Thursday night. Celebrate Mass there.

Day 8: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 - Temple Mount: Southern Steps & Western Wall | Pool of Bethesda, Church of St. Anne (Mary’s Birthplace)

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and visit the archeological site of where the Temple once stood. Sit on the Southern Steps that led to the Jerusalem Temple, where Simeon prophesied that “a sword” would pierce Mary’s soul in the Presentation scene (Luke 2:35) and where the 12-yearold Jesus was lost (Luke 2:41-51). After a Scriptural teaching on these dramatic events in Mary’s life, pray at the Western Wall. Visit Church of St. Anne where Mary was born. Mass there. Visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralyzed man (John 5:1-8), and then set our final views on Jerusalem. After a closing dinner, drive to Tel Aviv airport for our late evening overnight flight back to USA. Plan a flight departure from Tel Aviv no earlier than 10:00 PM on November 10th. There are usually many overnight flights departing Tel Aviv to cities in USA that depart in the late evening/early morning hours (between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM).

Day 9: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - Return to USA

Arrive home after a transformative pilgrimage in the footsteps of Jesus and Mary!

Itinerary subject to change