“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.'” – Matthew 2:1–2
Just as the Three Wise Men journeyed in search of the newborn King, come and celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Savior. Guiding you through this sacred journey is Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB.
Francis Gustilo, SDB, is a Salesian priest, theologian, and educator serving as Professor of Dogmatic/Systematic Theology and President of the Don Bosco School of Theology. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology with a major in Salesian Spirituality from the Salesian Pontifical University, and is a member of the International Theological Commission of the Holy See. Having lived in the Holy Land for ten months and led numerous pilgrimages there, Fr. Gustilo brings a wealth of spiritual insight and pastoral experience — making him an inspiring and profoundly reflective Pilgrimage Chaplain.
This December 20–30, 2026, let the journey begin.
Begin your pilgrimage in Nazareth, the place where Jesus spent His childhood. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, built upon the sacred site where the Angel Gabriel proclaimed to Mary that she would conceive and become the Mother of God. Nearby stands the Church of St. Joseph, traditionally believed to be the site of St. Joseph’s carpentry workshop — the humble place where Jesus may have worked beside him. Continue on to Magdala, the ancient city along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, venerated as the hometown of Mary Magdalene, a faithful disciple and witness to the Resurrection.
Proceed to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus declared, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church,” entrusting authority to Simon, whom He renamed Peter. Continue to Capernaum, known as Jesus’ “own city,” where He lived and carried out much of His public ministry. Visit the Church of St. Peter, built over the ruins traditionally believed to be the house of St. Peter. Then enjoy a peaceful boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, recalling the moment when Jesus walked upon its waters. Afterward, ascend Mount Tabor to visit the Church of the Transfiguration, one of the most beautiful and significant churches in the Holy Land.
In Cana, married couples will have the grace-filled opportunity to renew their wedding vows at the Church of the First Miracle, commemorating where Jesus turned water into wine. Take in the breathtaking panoramic view from the Mount of Beatitudes, the hillside where Jesus proclaimed the Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Primacy of Peter, marking the place where the Risen Lord prepared breakfast for His disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, at the revered Mensa Christi. Nearby stands the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, built over the sacred site where Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish.
At the Jordan River, pilgrims will have the blessed opportunity to renew their baptismal vows at the very place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. From there, visit the charming village of Ein Karem, hometown of Zechariah and Elizabeth and the sacred site of the Visitation. Here, pilgrims are welcomed by Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), the hymn of praise she proclaimed upon meeting Elizabeth, now beautifully displayed in 47 languages along the church walls.
Continue on to the Golden City of Jerusalem and attend the solemn Christmas Eve Mass at the Grand Chapelle of the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. On Christmas Day, spend this most holy feast in Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Savior. Visit Shepherds’ Field, revered since ancient times as the place where the shepherds beheld the Star of the Nativity, then walk to the Basilica of the Nativity, home to the Grotto of the Nativity and the Altar of Christ’s Birth, where you may touch the silver star marking the very spot where Jesus was born.
Jerusalem, sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is truly the heart of the Holy Land. Begin on the Mount of Olives with a visit to the Church of the Pater Noster, where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer in the cave that lies beneath the church. Continue to the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of the Agony, built over the very rock where Jesus prayed in anguish on the night before His crucifixion. In the nearby Garden of Gethsemane, ancient olive trees — some hundreds of years old — stand as silent witnesses to the place where He was arrested.
A profound highlight of the pilgrimage is entering the Old City of Jerusalem. There, you will prayerfully walk the Via Dolorosa, retracing the steps of Christ’s Passion as you pray the Stations of the Cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Visit also the Coenaculum, or Upper Room, where Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples and instituted the Holy Eucharist — the very place where the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, fifty days after the Resurrection.
Finally, journey to Emmaus, where the Risen Lord revealed Himself in the breaking of the bread to two disciples, opening their eyes and setting their hearts ablaze.
God gave His greatest gift to us on that first Christmas day. This December, join a Christmas in the Holy Land pilgrimage with Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB, from December 20–30, 2026, and experience the joy of celebrating Christmas where Jesus was born. May this journey make your Christmas truly meaningful, as you spend it in the presence of our Savior, in the land of His birth.
