Fr. Rusty Dizon
May 23, 2023
Holy Land
Fr. Rusty Dizon, SDB, is currently a professor of Theology at the Don Bosco School of Theology in Paranaque. This was an assignment given to him after studying for five years in Rome at the Universita Pontificia Salesiana. Endowed with the gift of preaching, Fr. Rusty is often invited to give talks to prayer groups and Catholic Charismatic communities.
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land allows you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and brings the Bible to life. From the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb, up to the tomb where He was laid to rest in Jerusalem, you will visit, pray at, and experience every location of all the significant events in Jesus’ life. Embark on this unforgettable journey of faith. Join a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Rusty Dizon on May 23 – June 1, 2023.
Begin your pilgrimage in Magdala, a first-century city where the Jewish residents gathered in a synagogue where Jesus visited and taught. Magdala is also believed to be the home of Mary Magdalene.
Next stop is Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Visit the grandiose Basilica of the Annunciation, which stands over the cave where the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she would become the mother of the Son of God. Make your way to Mount Tabor, the site of the transfiguration of Jesus. Visit the awe-inspiring Church of the Transfiguration, one of the Holy Land’s most stunning churches. Not to be missed is an enjoyable boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus performed numerous miracles.
At the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist, pilgrims will renew their baptismal vows. While in Cana, married couples will renew their marriage vows at the Wedding Church. The next stop is at the Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be the setting for Jesus’s most famous discourse, the Sermon of the Mount. It is also one of the most beautiful and serene places in the Holy Land. Proceed to Capernaum, described as Jesus’ “own city” and a place where He lived. Visit the Church of St. Peter, built over the ruins of the house of St. Peter.
The next stop is Tabgha, where you will visit the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, which commemorates the miraculous event. The Mensa Christi, a rock believed to be the table where Jesus set out a breakfast of fish and bread for the Apostles, is also located at the nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter.
Continue your pilgrimage to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Visit the Basilica of the Nativity, which houses the Grotto of the Nativity and the Altar of Christ’s Birth. A silver star marks the exact place where Jesus was born.
Jerusalem, a holy city to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is the next stop. This place in the heart of the Holy Land is the place where Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again. In the Old City of Jerusalem, reflect on each station of the cross along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) as you follow our Lord’s footsteps to Calvary. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is Jerusalem’s holiest site and is said to have been built on Golgotha, or Calvary, the site where Jesus was crucified.
The charming, picturesque village of Ein Karem is the home town of Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, and the place of the Visitation. You will be greeted by one of the church’s most beloved hymns, Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), which she prayed when she met Elizabeth and which is now written in no less than 47 languages on the wall facing the church.
Cap off your pilgrimage in Emmaus, the setting for one of the most touching of Christ’s post-Resurrection appearances. There, in the breaking of the bread, the risen Jesus made himself known to the two disciples with whom he had walked from Jerusalem.
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land never really ends. It is just the beginning of your true journey because you will revisit the Holy Land at every Mass, whenever you read the Bible or pray the rosary. Deepen your faith and enrich your spirit. Join a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Rusty Dizon on May 23 – June 1, 2023. Pray hard and open your heart. For sure, you will have an amazing experience that will touch your life forever.
with Fr. Laurence Freeman, OSB
READ MORE +No Visa is required for Filipino citizens going to the Holy Land.
A Passport with 6-month validity is required.
1) US$ 500.00 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 one month before departure date.
3) The following cancellation charges will apply:
>60 days before departure date – US$ 300.00
>45 days before departure date – 50% of the Tour Cost
>30 days prior to 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, 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. ***