Franciscan Tours of the Holy Land

Sea of Galilee casts its spell over the Holy Land.

Pope Clement IV created the Franciscan Custody in the Holy Land in 1342. The Holy Sepulchre Church had been destroyed in 970, followed by centuries of the Crusades. The Franciscans were then put in charge of preserving the important sites in the Holy Land, and their custodial care continues into the 21st century. Franciscan tours offer pilgrims daily Eucharist, prayer or Mass and transform the tourist experience into a spiritual journey.

Catholic Tour Companies

Though not a strictly Franciscan tour operator, Immanuel Tours organizes Catholic pilgrimages around the world and has led groups to the Holy Land since the 1970s. For groups traveling with their own priests, Immanuel makes arrangements for Masses at some of the holiest sites in Christianity. Accommodations are in standard hotels, but they can also house groups in Catholic guesthouses or convents. Immanuel can even plan for groups to spend a day at an archaeological dig. They will schedule an experienced Franciscan priest to lead pilgrims in a Friday procession of the Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem. Guiding Star Ltd., like Immanuel, is not a Franciscan pilgrimage operator but can arrange for a Franciscan tour leader. They offer Easter week pilgrimages annually.

Immanuel Tours
4 Ben Gurion St.
P.O.Box 468
Nes Ziona 70400
Israel
011-972-8-9405123
immanuel-tours.com/tours_catholic.aspx

Guiding Star Ltd.
P.O.Box 49327
Jerusalem 91491
Israel
[phone]
http://www.guidingstarltd.com

Pilgrimages to Benefit the Franciscan Foundation

The Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land is charged with safeguarding the Christian presence in the region. Tekton Ministries has had a formal relationship with the Franciscans since 1999, and several of their pilgrimages each year financially benefit the foundation and are led by a Franciscan priest. Tekton also has numerous other 10-day pilgrimages of the Holy Land and of Italy, too. The Franciscan Foundation offers "virtual pilgrimages" on its website, with maps, photos, and explanations of the Biblical sites.

Tekton Ministries Pilgrimage Office
9924 Cedar Ridge Drive
Carmel, IN 46032
866-905-3787
tektonministries.org

Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land
P.O. Box 29086
Washington, DC 20017-9086
866-905-3787
http://www.ffhl.org

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land

Franciscan Monastery has led Holy Land pilgrimages since the early 1900s. It is the Commissariat of the Holy Land in America, and the friars from its monastery live and work in Jerusalem. The monastery's priest-led tours last 12-days and visit Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. The organization can also customize trips for groups.

Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land
1400 Quincy St., NE
Washington, D.C. 20017
202-526-6800
holylandpilgrimages.org/

Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs

Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs organizes traditional pilgrimages for the public as well as tours for high school and college groups. The organization also organizes study tours and sabbaticals, which are extended pilgrimages allowing time for intellectual and spiritual pursuits. They customize tours for school groups, religious communities, parishes and Catholic organizations. Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs offers similar programs to Assisi and around Italy.

Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs
P.O. Box 321490
Franklin, WI 53132
414-427-0570
franciscanpilgrimages.com/09_PIL_HolyLand.html

The Way of the Cross

Jerusalem Jerusalem at night image by Yanir Taflev from Fotolia.com

Independent travelers to Jerusalem, people who are traveling with a secular tour or members of Catholic groups are all welcome to join the weekly procession along the Via Dolorosa. Every Friday throughout the year, the Franciscans lead worshippers through streets of Old Jerusalem to make the Stations of the Cross. The procession begins at Antonia Fortress and briefly stops to pray at each of the 14 stations. The procession ends at Calvary, inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Christian Information Centre
Jaffa Gate
P.O. Box 14308
Jerusalem, Israel 91142
011-972-2-6272692
christusrex.org/www1/ofm/cic/CICmainin.htm

References

• Zenit: Franciscans and the Holy Land
• Christian Information Centre
• Franciscan Monastery: Holy Land Franciscan Pilgrimage

Resources

• Portal of the Franciscans in the Holy Land