Day 1: DEPARTURE DAY — (H) Dinner, breakfast and lunch are served on your trans-Atlantic flight to the Holy Land

Day 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV — On arrival in Tel Aviv you will be met by the CPC Tours staff and transferred to your hotel. Tonight get to know the other group members at dinner. - (D)

Day 3: CAESAREA - MT. CARMEL - NAZARETH — Start the morning with a visit to Caesarea, the capitol of King Herod, where St. Paul was help in extended custody. See the Roman aquaduct and theatre, which still is in use to this day. Continue north through the plain of Sharon to Haifa. Enjoy spectacular views of Haifa Harbor and the golden-domed Baha'i Temple during the ascent of Mt. Carmel. Celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Monastery which contains the Chapel of the Holy Family and Elijah's Cave. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. - (B, D)

Day 4: NAZARETH (EXCURSION TO SEA OF GALILEE - CAPERNAUM - MT OF BEATITUDES - JORDAN RIVER - CANA) — Drive to Capernaum on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, site of the money-changers episode, and the House of Peter. At the Mt. of Beatitudes, see the site of the Sermon on the Mount and the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Board a boat to sail the Sea of Galilee. The crew will demonstrate fishing net casting as practiced at the time of St. Peter. After a St. Peter's fish lunch ashore, stop at the Jordan River to commemorate the baptism of Jesus. Then to Cana, site of Jesus' first miracle and an opportunity to renew your marriage vows. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. - (B, L, D)

Day 5: NAZARETH - MT. TABOR - JERICHO - BETHANY - JERUSALEM. — Start the day with Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, decorated with gifts from the faithful of many nations. The basilica also contains the House of Mary and Joseph, Joseph's carpentry shop and nearby Mary's Well. Later drive past Nain, where Jesus raised the widow's son, and ascend to the top of Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration. Continue south along the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth and see the excavation of the ancient walls going back 8000 years. On the way to Jerusalem we stop at the Samaritan Inn and the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany. - (B, D)

Day 6: JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM / MOUNT OF OLIVES — Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. Also view Shepherd’s Field and shop for hand-carved, native olive wood rosaries and artifacts before returning to Jerusalem. On the Mount of Olives visit the Ascension Chapel, the Pater Noster Church and the Garden of Gethsemane. Conclude with a visit to Mary’s tomb and the place of her Assumption. - (B,D)

Day 7: IN JERUSALEM — Ascend Mount Zion and enjoy a panoramic view over ancient Jerusalem. Visit the Room of the Last Supper, King David’s tomb and St. Peter in Gallicantu, where the crowing rooster made the Apostle Also see the stairs, tradition says, Jesus ascended after his capture. Enter the Old City through the Damascus Gate and follow the footsteps of Jesus along Via Dolorosa. Stop at St. Anne’s Church, Ecce Homo Arch, the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, and the Flagellation Chapel, before reaching the final destination, the Holy Sepulcher, site of Our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. - (B,D)

Day 8: IN JERUSALEM — A free day for revisits, devotions and excursions (optional) to places of special interest such as Masada. - (B,D)

Day 9: JERUSALEM - ROME — Depar Jerusalem to the Tel Aviv Airport for a flight across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. - (B,D)

Day 10: ROME / VATICAN — A day devoted to sightseeing in Rome and the Vatican, the center of Catholic Christendom. After a visit of St. Peter's Basilica and Square, explore the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel, site of the recent election of our new Holy Father Benedict XVI and Michelangelo's celebrated The Last Judgement. Afterwards, you have time for lunch and the opportunity to purchase relidious articles. Later visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran, the Holy Stairs and St. Paul Outside the Walls, the fourth major basilica which was erected over the apostle's tomb. - (B,D)

ROME / PAPAL AUDIENCE / CATACOMBS — This morning attend an Audience and Blessing by the Holy Father (if held). In the afternoon drive along the ancient Appian Way past the Chapel of “Domine Quo Vadis?” to the Catacombs, where the early Christians buried their dead. On return visit the Colosseum and view the Arch of Constantine and the Roman Forum, center of the Roman Empire. Time permitting, also visit the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps before returning to the hotel ... or remain at the center of Rome for an evening out and to return to the hotel by taxi later. - (B)

Day 12: RETURN FLIGHT — Transfer to the airport for the return flight home. Arrival later today. - (B)