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The Dominican Friars are going to the Holy Land
December 13-23, 2021
We are excited to announce that three Dominican Friars will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (December 13-23, 2021). This Catholic pilgrimage is open to anyone, especially students, parents, staff, faculty, alumni, and benefactors of our Tulane and Texas Tech campus ministries and of the Province!
View Brochure and Sign Up
Your place on the pilgrimage trip is not confirmed until a $500.00 deposit and registration/consent form (per traveler) has been received by Select International Travel. Deposits must be received by Select International Tours by September 21, 2021. Final payments are due by October 14, 2021.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who's leading the trip?
Fr. Thomas Schaefgen, OP, will lead the trip, along with an in-country guide (only the best!), as well as, Fr. Carl Joseph Paustian, OP, vocations director, and Fr. Francis Orozco, OP, novice master for the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres.
Who can go?
Anyone is welcome to join us on this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage!
Will you be doing any non-religious or non-Christian sightseeing?
Not really. Unfortunately, due to the length of the trip, the itinerary does not include visits to many places of interest in Israel such as museums or holy sites of other religions. We do make a visit to the Dead Sea and to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This is a Catholic pilgrimage led by three priests and intended for Catholic Christians. While you do not have to be Catholic or Christian to participate, you should know that we spend the majority of our time each day at Christian holy sites and the trip includes Mass each day (i.e., locations like the Mount of the Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, The Church of the Annunciation, etc.).
So, what's the trip like?
We spend (about) 3 days in Galilee, 2 days in Bethlehem, and 3 days in Jerusalem and the surrounding area. During the day we visit all of the great Holy Sites such as: sailing on the Sea of Galilee, Mass at the Mount of the Beatitudes, renewal of wedding vows at Cana, Nazareth, Capernaum, Magdala, Jericho, the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, the Garden of Gethsemane, Shepherd's Field and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the sites of Jesus death, Resurrection and Ascension, and many others. We celebrate Mass daily, pray together, encourage fellowship and fun, have evening meals in some of the best restaurants in Israel, and hear from the very best in-country guide.
Will I get to meet locals?
One of our favorite nights is "Sharing the Bread." When we visit Bethlehem, you'll have the opportunity to have dinner with Christian families in their homes and hear about their lives (yes, they speak English). You'll have a free night in Jerusalem where you will be able to dine where you like and see Jerusalem by night. You'll also be able to shop at a co-op in Bethlehem that supports local Christian artisans. Many of the establishments we patronize are Christian-owned, as we want to support the small and economically vulnerable local Christian population that has lived there since ancient times.
Can we adjust the itinerary?
The itinerary is already set and has been carefully chosen with the utmost concern for, the full experience of religious pilgrimage, the comfort and well-being of the pilgrims, and the encouragement of fellowship among the pilgrims participating.
Can I take a friend?
We recommend it! Traveling solo is OK with us, but a single room will cost an additional $895. Double (1 bed, two people) or Twin (2 beds, two people) rooms are available, as well as triples.
Are you staying in budget hotels and eating at buffets?
No. Our approach to this trip is that it should be an all-around full experience that includes the best that the Holy Land has to offer. That means we go out to several restaurants in the evening to enjoy the local food and culture and it means we stay in the best hotels available.
I've heard it's dangerous over there. Do you ever feel unsafe?
No. Fr. Thomas and Fr. Francis have been on 4 pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Select International Tours has organized countless pilgrimages just like ours. We've never heard a pilgrim say, "I didn't feel safe." In fact, even those who were worried before the trip come back saying how they were never concerned about their safety. To find out more, check out this article: Is it Safe?
But what about what's going on in Gaza? (updated 7-12-2021)
Contacts in the Holy Land are reporting that life is normal and "business as usual" in Israel. Our trip does not include travel to or near Gaza.
What about Coronavirus? (updated 8-30-2021)
Israel is currently requiring travellers to quarantine for 7 days. This is expected to be lifted in October. So long as Israel is open to visitors (without quarantine requirements) in December, the pilgrimage will proceed as planned.
What if I need to arrive a day late or leave a day early / or stay longer, or come earlier?
It may be possible for you to do this. We encourage you to reach out to Jane Alison (see below for contact information) to work this out. You would be responsible for any additional travel costs and arrangements so that you are able to meet up with the rest of the group.
Who can I contact for more information?
You can reach out to Fr. Thomas (cschaefgen@opsouth.org) for general questions about the trip. For information about registration, payments, deadlines, airline ticketing, or other logistics, please contact Jane Alison at Select International Tours 800-842-4842 jane@select-intl.com
What else can you tell me?
Check this page out, offered by our tour organizer: "What should I know?"
I'm in! What's next?
Great! Be sure to sign up (submit the registration form on the back of the brochure) and send in your $500.00 deposit (per person) as soon as possible to reserve your spot. Go here and print out the brochure and send it in, or sign up online (additional fees apply for online registration, save money by mailing in your registration and deposit!)