With a Pilgrimage Chaplain
December 20, 2025
Holy Land
“Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” Luke 2: 13-16
Like the shepherds that hurried off to find Him on whom God’s favor rests, celebrate this Christmas in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, on a special 10-day Christmas Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a Pilgrimage Chaplain leaving from December 20-30, 2025.
Begin your pilgrimage in the holy town of Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus. Admire the magnificent Basilica of the Annunciation, which was built on the site of Mary and Joseph’s home. This is also where the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be the Mother of God soon. Next stop is Mount Tabor to visit the Church of the Transfiguration, one of the most beautiful churches in the Holy Land. Not to be missed is a relaxing boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus miraculously walked on water.
The next stop is Cana, where married couples will have the option to renew their marriage vows at the Wedding Church in Cana. Head to Capernaum, Jesus’ hometown and the birthplace of his first apostles, Peter, James, Andrew, John, and Matthew. Celebrate Mass at St. Peter’s Church, which was erected on the ruins of St. Peter’s residence. View the stunning panoramic view from the summit of the hill where Jesus presented the Sermon on the Mount on the Mount of Beatitudes. Visit the Church of Peter’s Primacy in Tabgha, where Jesus offered a meal to His followers on the Mensa Christi. In the Jordan River, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, renew your baptismal vows.
Proceed to Bethlehem, where you will spend two nights. Attend the Christmas Eve Mass at the Altar of the Manger, which is located close to the Grotto of the Nativity, where Mary gave birth and lovingly cradled the newborn Jesus, at the Basilica of the Nativity. A silver star marks the exact spot of Jesus’ birth. Spend the entire day in Bethlehem on Christmas Day. Shepherd’s Field is a place where shepherds used to keep an eye on their sheep. According to Luke’s Gospel, an angel announced Jesus’ birth here.
Jerusalem, a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is the next stop. The site where Jesus was crucified and rose again lies in the heart of the Holy Land. To commemorate Jesus’ passion and death, take a thoughtful walk through the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows). The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem’s holiest site, is said to have been built on the location of Jesus’ crucifixion, Golgotha or Calvary.
The Church of the Visitation, located in the picturesque hillside village of Ein Karem, is where Mary visited Elizabeth and blessed her. In Christian liturgy, the benediction is known as “The Magnificat.” Ein Karem is also renowned as the birthplace of John the Baptist. Inside the Church of St. John the Baptist, beneath the main altar, a plaque marks the legendary birthplace of John the Baptist.
Cap off your pilgrimage in Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to two of His disciples following His resurrection.
Christmas in the Holy Land is unlike Christmas anywhere else in the world. Walk the ancient streets of Jerusalem and participate in the numerous festivities of the Season. Join a Christmas Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a Pilgrimage Chaplain from December 20-30, 2025. May this pilgrimage be a meaningful journey to encounter Jesus and to celebrate this joyous occasion in the land of His birth.
Take a dip in the Dead Sea with your fellow pilgrims. Find out for yourself how easy it is to float without really trying.
Renew your baptismal vows at the River Jordan and marriage vows in Cana.
Touch the Stone of Anointing inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a slab of reddish stone reputed to be the place where Jesus was laid when he was being prepared for burial.
Look for the Filipino translations of the “Our Father” at the Church of the Pater Noster in Tagalog, Pampango, Cebuano and Ilonggo.
Burn prayer petitions written down on pieces of paper at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Spiritually-focused journeys
Insightful pilgrimage chaplains
Quality accommodations
Expertly-crafted itineraries
Friendly and bonded groups
Senior citizen friendly
The whole pilgrimage is a new and fulfilling moment in my life. It’s a nice feeling being with the Lord in His important day. And also, gaining new friends and becoming my new extended family is something I will treasure. I hope that this is just the beginning and we’ll continue to get in touch with one another despite the distance.
Brenda
Hello Co-Pilgrims,
It was indeed a wonderful Pilgrimage: very rich in history, a thanksgiving of blessings, a spiritual renewal and nourishment, and finally ending in a test of Faith.
Thank you so much Pilgrim Leader, Ging Igual, for standing beside us up to the last stretch of our 13-day journey - more particularly in the handling of an unexpected situation (cancelled flight in Mexico and re-direction of flights to make sure the 38 Pilgrims reach LA for their respective flight bookings). Ging, you were an angel to us so blessed with energy, passion, love and Milagrosa. We really felt the presence of Our Lady of Guadalupe fielding angels every step of the way.
The Pilgrimage to California Mission Churches and Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me personal inspiration for the work and activities of the next chapter of my lifetime: farming with promotion of agriculture for millennials (inspired by the scenic view of farms in California), tourism (which is a major industry in all places we visited), and support for a favourite major seminary in Tagaytay and a scholarship fund for deserving individuals (thru a non stock non profit institution).
Thank you to my Co-Pilgrims and prayer partners for the prayer support, sharing of life experiences and friendships; Fr. Tony, thank you for your spiritual reflections and service; Fr. Jerry Orbos for an overflowing spiritual reflections and enabling us to have the needed personal encounter with Jesus and Mama Mary (it was like a 12-day Holy Retreat); and the Executive Resources for making a very nice pilgrimage package a part of our lifetime.
Ms. Emma
Lord, we cannot find words enough to say how grateful we are to You. Our pilgrimage made us realize that Your love for us is more than what we deserve.
To all our co-pilgrims, thank you for making us feel we belong to this new family. To Fr. Dante, thanks for your prayers and pieces of advice for our spiritual nourishment. To Sis Lea, for taking care of each one of us. To Sis Joy, thanks for the contagious joys and laughters.
To our prayer partners, Sis Maribel, Melvy and Didick and Bro Mon and Sis Jot, thank you for your prayers. We will pray for you, too!
To The Pilgrim’s Center - Executive Resources, thank you for accommodating us in this Eastern Europe Pilgrimage.
God bless us all always!
Albert and Adee
Dear Pilgrims' Center:
My husband Aldo & I would like to praise & commend our Pilgrim Chaplain Fr. Dante Venus & our Tour Leader Bro. Monty for the very successful & memorable pilgrimage to Italy & the Holy Land we were very fortunate to join on March 26-April 8, 2018.
It was very hectic to be sure, but still they managed our time very well that we were able to visit more places than was promised in the itinerary, and we are very appreciative of that. Likewise, the solemnity of the whole pilgrimage experience was still observed despite many of us in the group, myself included, often forgetting that we were pilgrims & not tourists 😉😉, taking photos, selfies, etc. instead of, or before focusing on what the local guide was explaining or on the scripture readings. I cannot fault us pilgrims on this because for many of us seniors, and I speak for my husband & I, that trip might be our first & last time to visit those places, so we made sure they were properly documented. Nonetheless, it was a truly spiritually uplifting & life-changing experience for us. We continue to thank our Lord for making that experience of a lifetime possible. Indeed, nothing is impossible for God! Thank you very much to Fr. Dante, Bro. Monty & to each of us pilgrims in the group for the prayers, love, care & concern shown to each other. Let us continue to pray for and with each other. It is my hope that we meet each other again soon, to strengthen our bonds of friendships.
Most sincerely, Leclec Cabusora
Leclec Cabusora
My husband and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Israel - with Franciscan Fr Reu Galoy. Thank you Pilgrim Center for the arrangements. We are so happy and satisfied with all that you have done for us. Kudos to Yanyan and Monty from Pilgrim Center, and Fr Reu and Ronin for your caring services. It was a spiritual journey and we felt the abiding presence of the Lord all throughout.
Ann Arguelles Cortes
Our pilgrimage was worth all the hardships (I was having leg pains). We had an excellent leader in the person of Adrian, two priests Fathers Val and Ron, who gave us very nice pieces of advice and homilies, and of course the members of the group who were all very nice. Looking forward to join another pilgrimage.
Emily Bautista
It was the most profound experience I had in my whole life....Walking with the Footsteps where Jesus walked made my life more grateful and humble....My faith become stronger as I express it...A growing faith is a sharing faith....TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! SHALOM!
Carmen Nierra
Vir & I would like to express our gratitude for a wonderful pilgrimage we had from Sept 5-18. From checking-in last Sept 5 & all during the tour, we felt the care from a family. No words can ever describe how thankful we are.
I almost cried last Sept 8, (my birthday) when we (2 of us have the same birthday) were given a surprise mini celebration when after our dinner, we were given a cake. I really felt the love of a family then.
All these things made possible because of your capable coordinator Ms. Ging Igual. She's such a wonderful leader. Kudos to her.
Rest assured that i will refer your company to all my friends who are planning to go on pilgrimage .
Good day & may God always guide & protect all of you in the Pilgrims' Center/ Executive Resources, Inc.
Cora and Vir Franca
I am honored to be included in this pilgrimage. The Pilgrims' Center has very good itineraries worth remembering. No hours wasted. They took very good care of us in spite of our big number of 47 people. The daily mass and homilies of Fr. Manny Cruz held in different shrines and churches were very inspirational and transforming. Accommodations were nice most especially the one on top of the Mountain with an awesome view built in 1909. It's like travelling back in time. I definitely would want to do it again with Pilgrim Center.
Peter Joseph Mapua
The Pilgrims' Center always gives you the best. They let you feel like an Executive in terms of personal service & attention especially during pilgrimage. Their choices of pilgrimages and pilgrim chaplains are outstanding. You go back home very fulfilled and immersed...
Marlene Silvestre
with Fr. Allan Morris Abuan
READ MORE +No visa is required to go to the Holy Land for Philippine passport holders.
1) US$ 1,000.00 non-refundable deposit is required upon
reservations together with a recent passport-size photo,
photocopy of passport (valid for 6 months from date of
departure) and Pilgrim’s Profile.
2) Full payment in U.S. dollars is required before ticketing
but in no case shall it be later than 90 before
departure date.
3) The following cancellation charges will apply:
> 90 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
> 60 days before departure date – Full tour cost will be forfeited.
BASIC TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Airline taxes, visa fees and documentation expenses, insurance, hospitalization and other medical expenses, tours and transportation during free periods, porterage of extra pieces of luggage in excess of maximum allocation, drinks and beverages taken during meals, items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, tips for drivers, guides, tour escorts, and other expenses not mentioned in the itinerary terms and conditions.
EXECUTIVE RESOURCES, INC. has arranged for the various tour services to be performed under the responsibility of various contractors. Executive Resources, Inc., its employees or its subagents therefore only act as agents for the contractors providing the various services described in the tour and accept no responsibility or liability in connection with losses or accidental expenses due to delays of schedule, overbooking, defaults or “force majeure.” All tours and arrangements are subject to the
general conditions specified by each contractor. Tour itineraries and prices are subject to change without prior notice. When making a tour booking, the passenger acknowledges and accepts the foregoing conditions.
*** RATES AND SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE! ***
