Pilgrimage to Holy land 2019

ISRAEL:

This trip is all about our religious retreat to the Holy Land with Amazing Catholic journey.

Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv

We arrived earlier than the group. Stayed in Tel Aviv 3 nights prior to the start of the tour. We explored Tel Aviv by ourselves, visiting the old town of Jaffa, the old market, some shopping, and just chill out by the Mediterranean coast.

Had a chance to witness this fisherman’s boat with lots of fish caught in the Sea of Galilee.

The first day of the tour was more of orientation and traveling to the northern part of Israel.
The second day of the tour was the Sea of Galilee where Jesus did miracles like throwing the net on the other side of the boat and catching lots of fish with the apostles, Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee, calming down the storm, and etc. We took a boat and sail in the Sea of Galilee, meditating and reliving the miracles/life of Jesus Christ.

Celebrated mass at the outdoor of “Church of Peter” with foreground view of the Sea of Galilee

The Catholic brethren in our group had a chance to renew their baptismal vows in Jordan River where Jesus Christ was baptized by St John the Baptist.
Visited Capernaum, where Peter lived and where Jesus began his public ministry.

Jordan River where Jesus was baptized St John the Baptist.

Visited Tabgha where Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and 2 fish.

Tabgha, site where Jesus fed 5000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.

On our last day in Israel. Reminiscing back from when we first arrived here, absorbing lots of information, so many interesting things seen and learned that I have to reflect as a pilgrim here in the Holy land. Catholic, Lutheran, Russian and Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and other non-denominational Christians all meeting in this place.

Jerusalem

Familiar phrases, Christian hymns, the visit to the birthplace of Jesus Christ that brought back memories growing up as Christian with my mother’s constant lectures and reminders of verses in the Bible, summer schools, Sunday school and services, after church gatherings with pot-luck lunches and sometimes celebrations and parties in our house with other brethren.

Church of Nativity on the left with Mosque on the other side of the street...interesting

The 14 stations of the cross in Via Dolorosa, moments, and Christ life mentioned in the Bible. I feel blessed to see and experience these important events as a Christian in this Holy land. We were able to visit Calvary where Jesus Christ was crucified, the tomb were He was buried and rose up after 3 days. Our Catholic pilgrims held their mass in His tomb - which was quite an achievement by our team leader and guide considering His tomb is the busiest and the Holiest site in Christendom that lies at the heart of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It took them over a year to reserve the Mass with the Holy Church of Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

One of the 14 stations of the Cross in the Holy church of the Sepulcher in Jerusalem

srael, in retrospect, I think is the most expensive Country I’ve visited. Food and cost of living is very expensive specially in Tel Aviv.

Next stop is Jordan

Sweet dessert in Carmel market in Tel Aviv

Overlooking the city of Haifa

Tel Aviv coast at night

Baptism of Jesus Christ by St John the Baptist in Jordan River

Old train station in Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Theatre of Caesarea Maritima, an ancient center of Roman governors including Pontius Pilate.

Western wailing wall where Jewish people pray to the wall, Jerusalem

Bethlehem

Beautiful Ceiling of the church of Calvary

Church of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, Jerusalem

Sunset in Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv

Mount Beatitudes where our Catholic pilgrims celebrated Mass

Carmel market in Tel Aviv

Tree with thorns, same tree they made the crown of thorns for Jesus

Stone of anointing, Jesus body was anointed here with oil and spice before burial. We were here at around 4:00 am and not packed with pilgrims and tourists.

Church of Annunciation in Nazareth where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of God.

Sunset by the Sea of Galilee....it’s actually a huge Lake

Shepherds fields in Bethlehem

Bronze statue of Jesus made from the hologram of the Shroud of Turin. Jesus was 5’ 10” tall.

Baptismal renewal vows with father Carmelo Diola from Cebu

Sea of Galilee

Boat in Sea of Galilee

Group picture

Our group who had their baptismal vows renewed

Masada, the cave in the middle of the group is where they found the Dead Sea scrolls hidden inside jars.

Group picture in Church of Transfiguration in mount Tabor, Nazareth where Jesus revealed His Divine Glory to the apostles.

Church of Cana in Nazareth

Sea of Galilee

Church of Peter by the Sea of Galilee

Touching the water of the Sea of Galilee

Aileen’s renewal of baptism vow with father Carmelo

With Fr. carmelo Diola from Cebu in Jordan River


Caesarea national park

Church of mount of the Beatitudes by the Sea of Galilee

Capernaum, ruins of old house where Peter lived. Jesus teaching in the synagogue, cured a leper, healed a Centurion’s servant, and cast a demon.

With Santa Clause in old town of Jesrulem

Jordan River with other people having their baptismal vows renewed

Mural n Old town if Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Old clock tower in Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Church of Annunciation in Nazareth where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of God.

Pilgrims young and old, sick and disabled, kissing, praying, having rosaries blessed in this spot where Jesus was born ( Church of Nativity).

Mass with Father Carmelo Diola inside the cave of St Joseph and St Jerome in Bethlehem

Ladies posing with veils in front of the Holy Tomb.

Inside the Church of nativity where Jesus was born.

Inside boat in Sea of Galilee

Church of Nativity. To the right and going down is the place where Jesus was born. A very crowded, Long line to get in.

Very salty water in the Dead Sea. Just float...You can’t sink

Sea of Galilee

Holy Tomb where Jesus body was buried

After Jesus was born, He was moved to this Manger in the church of Nativity.

Nice wall decoration

This is the Tomb where Jesus was buried. We were so lucky to celebrate Mass here.

Sunset in Sea of Galilee. We boarded our boat in this pier

Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv

Church of Transfiguration In mount Tabor, Nazareth where Jesus revealed His Divine Glory to the apostles.

The Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea

Aileen placing all the rosaries blessed in the Holy Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Sepulcher, Jerusalem

Nice, peaceful alley at 3:30 am in the old city of Jerusalem going to the 14 stations of the cross, Via Dolorosa

View of the entrance of our fancy hotel, Notre Dame hotel, Jerusalem