From earliest times, Christians have yearned to visit the Sacred Shrine of the Holy Land – to see the place where Christ was born, where He lived and preached, suffered and died.” Although this was written in the 1939 Crusader’s Almanac, the newsletter for the Franciscan Monastery, it remains true today. Today, pilgrims don’t undergo a sea voyage, and the trip doesn’t take months, as it did when the first pilgrimage sponsored by the monastery in 1889 left its berth in New York with two bishops and 37 priests among the 100 pilgrims.
Today the Franciscan Monastery is again, offering pilgrimages to that most sacred place.
"A pilgrimage to the Holy Land provides a unique opportunity for the faithful to deepen their faith and love of our Lord by visiting and praying at the sites made sacred by His life and ministry,” said Father David Wathen, OFM, pilgrimage leader. “As organizers of pilgrimages to the Holy Land for more than 100 years we, the Franciscans of the Holy Land, are in a privileged position to assist in these pilgrimages."
"Bringing pilgrims to the Holy Land is one way, a very important way, in which we can give assistance to our Christian brothers and sisters living there and finding life increasingly difficult,” Father David said. “By utilizing their services in hotels, buses, travel agencies and restaurants, we give them hope and a reason to stay in the land where Christianity was born."
The Holy Land Franciscans are offering three pilgrimages to the Holy Land in 2008 – March 12 to 24 for $1,975, and May 12 to 21 for $2,270, and August 18 to 29 for $2,694. All trips include roundtrip airfare from New York JFK; air taxes; accommodation at first-class hotels and hotel taxes; breakfast and dinner daily; land transportation via deluxe motorcoach; all transfers and baggage handling; entrance fees; daily Mass.
Special guidance in the Holy Land will be provided by Father David, who is an expert in the Holy Land, having lived there for several years. Highlights include chances to renew wedding vows and baptismal promises.
In addition to the scheduled trips, Father David and Father Kevin are able to organize separate pilgrimages for groups.
For more information about the pilgrimages, please contact the pilgrimage office at the monastery at pilgrimages@myfranciscan.com or call 202-526-6800 ext. 490.
