Staff writer Annette Jimenez recently traveled to Israel with members of the Catholic Press Association for a six-day tour of the Holy Land sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism. She traveled throughout Israel to experience its history, culture, food and hospitality while seeing first-hand the foundations of the Catholic faith. The trip included stops in Jaffa, Haifa, Tiberias, Capernaum and Jerusalem.
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The Gate of Faith, located on a hill in the center of Old Jaffa depicts, Jewish history including the sacrifice of Isaac and the conquest of Jericho.
A tourist walks along the sea wall of the ancient ruins of Caesarea, originally built by King Herod the Great in 22 B.C.
A Mass takes place in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
View from the overlook at the Mount of Precipice, where Jesus was rejected and a mob tried to throw him from its cliff as recounted in Luke 4:16-30. In the distance is the Jezreel Valley and Mount Tabor, where the Transfiguration took place.
Overlooking the third-largest Israeli city of Haifa from Mount Carmel, below which sit the Bahai Shrine and Gardens.
The Church at the Mount of Beatitudes is located near Capernaum, where Jesus led his apostles in ministry.
Pilgrims immerse themselves in the Jordan River for baptism.
Visitors float in the Dead Sea, which many believe has healing power.
Pilgrims stop along the Via Dolorosa to pray the Stations of the Cross.
The roof top of Dormition of the Virgin Mary is seen through the passageway leading to the abbey, where it is believed Mary went to sleep and was assumed into heaven.
Hundreds of tourists and pilgrims flock to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
