About the Retreat and Pilgrimage
Travel406 and Behold your Mother invites you to join us on a retreat and pilgrimage to the HolyLand. We will visit and pray at locations associated with our Lord Jesus Christ in the HolyLand. Highlights include – visiting Galilee and sail on the boat as the disciples did in the Sea of Galilee, visit Capernaum, the “Town of Jesus”, the Mount of Beatitudes and contemplate Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount. Travel to the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, renew baptismal vows. Experience Jerusalem – Shining City on a Hill…the City of God. Prayerfully walk the Via Dolorosa, stand at the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended into heaven and much more.
Preparation for the pilgrimage
We prepare for our pilgrimage with a retreat based on the popular book by Fr. Michael Gaitely, MIC: 33 Days to Greater Glory – Total Consecration to the Father Through Jesus Based on the Gospel of John. The retreat will be given by Catholic Priests supplemented with audio-visual materials by Fr. Michael Gaitely, MIC.
The retreat will be largely virtual. We consecrate ourselves to God the Father through Jesus on Saturday, 12 November in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we will also celebrate the Holy Eucharist. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre houses the traditional site of two of the holiest sites in Christianity – “Golgotha” or “Calvary” and Jesus Christ’s empty tomb.
The Itinerary
Day 1, Friday 11 November 2022 Arrival, Emmaus, Bethlehem
Pilgrims travelling from the United Kingdom gather at London Luton Airport for a morning flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. Pilgrims travelling from elsewhere will be welcomed on arrival at BenGurion International Airport, Tel-Aviv by our guide and transferred to the Hotel in Bethlehem where we will be based for the first five days of our Holy Land retreat and pilgrimage.
In the afternoon, we will drive to Emmaus, where the disciples recognised the risen Christ at the breaking of bread (Luke 24:13 – 45). We celebrate the Holy Eucharist at Emmaus. We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 2, Saturday 12 November 2022 Jerusalem (Old City and Mt. Zion)
Early departure to the Old City of Jerusalem. Proceed to the Pool of Bethesda and St Anne’s Church (the birthplace of Our Lady). Continue on to visit the site of Pilate’s Court, Churches of the Flagellation and the Crowning with Thorns followed by the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa following the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday and ending in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – the holiest place on earth for all Christians. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Resurrection, St Mary Magdalene’s Shrine, and the Grotto of the True Cross.
We walk to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (Last Supper), King David’s Tomb and the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven.
We visit St Peter’s in Gallicantu – a truly incredible Shrine and visit the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night.
We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 3, Sunday 13 November 2022 Bethlehem, Shepherds’ Field
Depart for Manger Square. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in St Joseph’s Grotto – Franciscan Church of the Nativity followed by tour of the Basilica and the Nativity – where Jesus was born. Afterwards proceed to the Milk Grotto and visit the Museum of the Miracles.
We travel through “Boaz’s Field” to Shepherds’ Field, where we will have lunch.
We visit Grottos there and the Chapel where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. We sing Christmas Carols here. We have our first retreat session here – Take Nothing For The Journey. We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 4, Monday 14 November 2022 Jerusalem
We travel to the summit of the Mt of Olives, Jerusalem. We visit Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Grotto where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. We then walk to Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem). We proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and Basilica view the Rock of the Agony. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Basilica of the Agony (Church of All Nations). We visit the Grotto of Gethsemane and the Tomb of Mary.
We travel into the “hill country of Judea” to the city of Ein Karem visiting Mary’s Well, The Visitation Church – Shrine of Our Lady to St Elizabeth while praying the Holy Rosary then move on to visit the Birthplace of St John the Baptist. We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 5, Tuesday 15 November 2022 Jerusalem/Bethany/Dead Sea
We visit the Western Wall (Waling Wall) which is part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in AD70. This is the holiest place for Jews.
We travel to Bethany and visit the House and Church of St Lazarus, Al-Eizariya and the Tomb of Lazarus. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Church of St. Lazarus.
We visit Jericho and view Zacchaeus’s Sycamore Tree. We take a cable car ride to visit Mt of Temptation where Jesus spent forty days and forty nights fasting (Mat. 4:1-11) (*).
We proceed to the Dead Sea and where we will experience floating in the sea.
We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 6, Wednesday 16 November 2022 Tiberias/River Jordan/Tabgha
We leave Bethlehem and drive to the River Jordan for the renewal of Baptismal Vows, then on to Mt of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place.
We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Church of the Beatitudes.
We visit St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection and the church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, Tabgha. We break for lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Savour “St. Peter’s Fish”.
We sail on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum – the town of Jesus, where we visit The Pilgrimage Church of St Peter in Capernaum. We view the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which Jesus used to teach. We have our second retreat – Put out into the deep (Lk. 5:4), as we sail to Capernaum.
We check-in to our hotel in Tiberias for 2 nights.
Day 7, Thursday 17 November 2022 Mt Tabor/Nazareth/Cana,
We travel to the foot of Mt Tabor. We go up to the summit of Mt Tabor by taxis to the Church of Transfiguration and tour here.
We then drive to Nazareth and visit the Basilica on of the Annunciation (a magnificent Basilica that dominates the skyline of Nazareth). We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Basilica of the Annunciation. We visit the Grotto of the Annunciation, where the Annunciation took place and St Joseph’s Grotto.
We visit the Synagogue of Capernaum (Mk.1:21-28) and Mary’s Well, where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. We proceed to Cana where married couples will have the opportunity to renew their Marriage Vows in The Wedding Church. We return to the hotel for the evening.
Day 8, Friday 18 November 2022 Mt Carmel/Haifa/ Airport,
We check out of our hotel and drive to Mt Carmel, Haifa and visit Stella Maris Church – Carmelite Headquarters. Visit the Grotto or Cave of the Prophet Elijah. We celebrate the Holy Eucharist in Stella Maris Church.
Time permitting, we visit Jaffa and proceed to Ben-Gurion International Airport for our flight back to our home destinations.
HOW TO BOOK
- Download booking form
- Request booking form by email: info@travel406.co.uk
- Complete the form and return to: info@travel406.co.uk
Payments (Europe & Elsewhere)
- £350 (Europe), US$300 (Elsewhere) by 31 Jan 2022;
- £430 (Europe), US$300 (Elsewhere) by 31 Jun 2022;
- £400 (Europe), US$250 (Elsewhere) by 30 Oct 2022
Prices are for 2 people sharing a room.
- Single room – $300
PRICES INCLUDES
- Round trip airfare from London Luton Airport to TelAviv;
- Airport taxes and fuel surcharges;
- Accommodation:
- 5 x overnight in 4* Hotel in Jerusalem;
- 2 x overnight in 4* Hotel in Nazareth;
- Buffet breakfast and Dinner
- Hotel/Airport coach transfers per the itinerary;
- Catholic English speaking Tour Guide;
- All admission charges as per the itinerary;
- Checked-in luggage;
- Behold Your Mother (Jn 19:27) – Travel406 luggage label and badge;
- Daily celebration of Holy Eucharist and spiritual activities;
- Daily Mass Booklet;
- Behold Your Mother (Jn19:27)-Travel406 Carry bag;
- Behold Your Mother (Jn19:27)-Travel406 T-Shirt;
NOT INCLUDED
- Lunches;
- Insurance;
- Offertory during Mass;
- Anything not mentioned in above inclusions;
BAGGAGE CHARGES NOT INCLUDED
- Baggage handling at train stations, and airports;
- Check with your airline for baggage fees and restrictions;
- Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or portage charges;
About Behold Your Mother (Jn 19:27)
Behold Your Mother (Jn 19:27) is a charitable organisation registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, (Charity number 1186775). Our Catholic Christian faith is integral to what we do and who we are. Inspired by our faith, we provide humanitarian aid and assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable girls and boys, families and communities in Zimbabwe. Current projects and related activities include:
- Child Sponsorship – Supporting the education and welfare of 100 vulnerable girls and boys in Zimbabwe;
- Care & Support for Orphans – Supporting the welfare of 30 orphans who live in an orphanage, with the youngest being only 6 months old;
- Care & Support for the Elderly – Supporting the welfare of 60 elderly people living at an Elderly People’s Home and maintenance of their housing facility;
- Religious Events – Organising faith based Retreats, Celebration of the Eucharist, Conferences and Pilgrimages aimed at deepening spirituality, community building and enhancement of our Catholic Christian faith and ultimately, the furtherance of our charitable activities.
100% of the net proceeds from our fundraising activities go directly to support our charitable activities. With your support, we can together reach more vulnerable girls and boys, orphans and the elderly in Zimbabwe and equip them with a secure home, formal education, a sure foundation for their future social and economic wellbeing and that of their society.
Behold Your Mother (Jn 19:27) is registered with the Fundraising Regulator (FR) and committed to good fundraising practice.
Please visit our website for more information at: www.beholdyourmother.org