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Jerusalem sunset_edited.jpg

8th gaming Israel 
pilgrimage

oct 6-14 


Fr. Anthony Ariniello,

Community of the Beatitudes 

beatitudesinfo@gmail.com

 

Lekh-lekha! Go! Lay all aside to walk with Christ, to pray fervently, to live simply, and to shine his light in encounters with the Jewish and Eastern roots of our faith, and with the variety of persons we’ll meet along the way. $925+airfare.

 

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apply
Apply anytime and quickly! We only have room for 42, and last year 75 applied. Late fee of $25 for apps received after June 22 or for deposits ($50) received after July 1.
 
Info zooms
Come to at least one session: 

  • Wed 6/14, 2:30p Eastern,

    • Hebrew lesson

    • talk: Sabbath, God's Dwelling in Time

  • Sat 6/24, 10:30a Eastern
    • Hebrew lesson
    • talk: Spiritual Geography of the Holy Land
    • trip info and Q&A
  • ​Sat 7/1,10:30a Eastern
    • Hebrew lesson
    • talk: Sources of Charismatic life in Jerusalem and the Eastern Rites
    • guidance to prepare this summer with readings, Scripture meditation, movies, music, etc.

    • trip info and Q&A

  • Mon 7/3, 3:30p Eastern​

    • Intro to the Community of the Beatitudes
    • info for 10-day or other travel to our houses in Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Lisieux
  • Sun 8/13, 2:30pm Eastern
 
 
 
Itinerary overview

Photos and descriptions of a previous Gaming trip

  • Flights

    • Fri Oct 6: 6:15a Ryan Air from Vienna, arrival 10:40a

    • Sat Oct 14: 14:10p Ryan Air from Tel Aviv, arrive Vienna 17:00p

  • Basics we’d never miss: 

    • Nazareth: Incarnation 

      • Fiat mihi

      • Dwelling in Him, and He in all things

    • Sea of Galilee: camping the shore with Jesus

      • Beatitudes: Face of Christ

      • Bread of Life, Trust in Providence

      • Follow Me/Do you love me?

    • Jordan Valley

      • Elijah, Elisha: Poverty of Prophecy, Discipleship

      • Baptismal renewal immersing in the Jordan: Repentance and Abandonment

      • Jericho: Zacchaeus, Walls

      • Floating in the Dead Sea

    • Bethlehem: enough said!

    • Jerusalem

      • Lodging at site of "Peter the Cock-crowing"

      • Jewish Western Wall, Temple

      • Divine Liturgy in Byzantine Melkite Cathedral

      • Mount of Olives, Gethsemane

      • Way of the Cross, Holy Sepulchre

      • Cenacle: Welcoming a New Pentecost

    • Road to Emmaus: Reflection, Transformation, Mission

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  • Minor sites we’ll miss: Visitation, Tabor, Bethany, Caesarea, Jaffa, Hebron, Negev, Pig Cliff –you’ll have to come again!!!

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  • Special this time: Jacob’s Well

    • If you knew the gift of God

    • Joseph’s Tomb

    • Joshua and the Covenant

    • Mission to tiny Christian minority in city of 300,000 Muslims

    • Evening with youth of St. Justin Martyr Parish

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  • Challenges

    • 4 nights sleeping on thin mats

    • Discipline of quiet from ~9:30p to ~7a

    • Limited “free time”: there is quiet personal time in the morning and evening, but only an hour or two every couple days when you are just "free"

    • Service: each day, each person, a couple small moments of service, e.g., cooking, serving, dishes, song practice, carrying supplies, media (?)​​

 

Costs and Timeline

  • $925+airfare. For students older than 26 or for non-students, e.g., sisters, professors, res assistants: $1800

  • Within a week we will send you an email accepting you or putting you on the waiting list

  • Once accepted, reserve your spot with an initial non-refundable fee/deposit of $50, within one week of your acceptance

  • $500 more due by August 1, and the final payment due in cash the day of arrival in Israel (euros or dollars). 

  • Payments can be made through Venmo (preferable), Paypal, or check…see here. Also, here is our refund policy.

  • Cost covers most all meals. You will have one meal to purchase during free time in Jerusalem, and chances to purchase extra snacks and drinks. You cover any food during your travel to/from Israel, except we’ll send you home with a picnic. 

  • We suggest bringing $100-150 in euros or dollars for souvenirs and food. We’ll limit souvenir shopping, but bring you to the two lowest-cost shops run by Egyptian monks and nuns  

 

The Community of the Beatitudes 

Born of the Charismatic renewal in France, Fr. Jacques Philippe was our first priest, but our founders were married couples! The Community of the Beatitudes founded houses in Jerusalem in ‘75 and Denver in ‘99. Our priests and nuns at Emmaus will welcome us, equip us, and help us judge and respond to any emergency situations. 

 

Spiritual Commitment

  • Ascent preparation reading and prayer.

  • Daily Mass, morning offering, and night reflection or blessing

  • 30-60 minutes daily for personal prayer

  • Confession or spiritual direction available

  • Quiet time after night blessing

  • Keep the schedule and to communicate personal needs 

  • Media fast: keep your phone your pocket!

  • Dating fast: avoid pairing off. Those already dating see with the director 

 

Travel

  • We meet and drop off pilgrims at the airport

  • Spirit of pilgrimage, ready for difficulties and cultural encounters, sensitive to group needs and limits

  • Most outings will be required 

  • For long distances, we use a charter bus several times

  • Lots of walking

 

Formation

Prepare here. Once in Israel, the pilgrimage is an encounter with Jesus, his People of the Jewish faith, the ancient eastern Christian traditions, and Muslim realities. Much of the Biblical teaching you will receive is in the context of question-and-answer and by engaging in the living reality of the Holy Land. Along the way, we take time to practice a bit of Hebrew language, as well as some Jewish and Byzantine music. It is a spiritual, human, and intellectual discipleship aimed at taking steps of discernment and preparation for the student’s unique call and path to a total self-gift to God and neighbor. The pilgrimage is experienced in a formative context of liturgical worship, community life, service, and cultural/ecumenical encounter. 

 

Lodging

  • Nazareth: mats on floor of Anglican parish hall next to basilica of the Annunciation

  • Sea of Galilee: Capernaum beach camping

  • Jerusalem: Holy Site were Peter denied Jesu, bunkbeds in dormitories

  • Community of the Beatitudes, Holy Site of Emmaus-Nicopolis, ​mats on floor inside the Community house 

 

Meals

  • I hope you like hummus! Sorry, not much meat.

  • Almost all meals are provided; we will do our best to meet dietary needs; some chances for a snack or a meal on your own budget. 

  • Breakfast is casual, but at lunch and dinner, we begin and end together with a blessing and thanksgiving. 

 

Emergency Contact 

Participants, parents, or other concerned parties can contact the following at any time:

 

Other

  • Safety

  • The itinerary is physically and psychologically challenging.

  • Packing list includes compact sleeping bag and backpack that is 45-55L. We have a few of the above to lend, but not for an entire group. A detailed packing list will be provided upon acceptance.  

  • In July, a mandatory preparation zoom, with a couple times

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"typical" day

  • 6:15 Wake up call, breakfast

  • 7:30 Morning offering, teaching at lookout

  • 8:30 Depart for Byzantine church

  • 9 Quiet half-hour in Byzantine Cathedral

  • 9:30 Byzantine Divine Liturgy

  • 11 Walk to Mount of Olives,

  • 12 Picnic at panorama, group photo

  • 14 Gethsemane, holy hour

  • 15 Free time or Hezekiah's Tunnel (40-min walk through cave in spring water half-way up your thighs)

  • 16:30 Dinner prep

  • 18:30 Praise and Dinner with Jewish musician

                   Eden Miqedem and his family

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If not Israel for the 10-day, then...

Spend half (or a couple days, or all) of your break with our communities in Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, or beyond (locations). We are a new community, often living in remodeled old monasteries. Each Beatitudes house has members who are pirests/brothers, consecrated sisters, and lay families and celibates.

 

Daily life includes chanted liturgies, adoration, and joyful meal times. I recommend offering $25/night for room and board, if you help a bit with chores. If they take you out for adventures, you might offer a little more. We love hospitality, and so do many other religious communities I'm happy to recommend. I also love giving other travel tips, just ask!

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You can get in touch with one of our houses directly, or even better, consider being the point person for Switzerland or Lisieux, and you could be the one to communicate with us on behalf of other students (e.g., a group of 6-8?). Let me know! anthony.beatitudes@gmail.com.

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-Switzerland

  • Gorgeous town on a mountain lake

  • A prayerful place with dynamic brothers and sisters who will take you hiking a couple times and maybe even to join a charismatic evening with Swiss young adults

  • Photos and contact

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-Lisieux

  • The brothers and sisters will orient you to visit the Basilica and other Thérèse sites on your own. They work in the Basilica sacristy and welcome tours at Thérèse's home.

  • Photos and contact

 

World youth day or France!

If you're coming to Europe early, join us in France and Portugal!!

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