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Jerusalem sunset_edited.jpg

7th gaming Israel 
pilgrimage

May 11-23 

Guide: Sr. Magdalit Bolduc, CB

Director: Fr. Anthony Ariniello,

Community of the Beatitudes 

anthony.beatitudes@gmail.com

 

Lekh-lekha! Go! Lay it all aside to walk together with Christ and to live simply. Shine his light on a path of encounters with the Jewish and Eastern roots of our faith, and with the variety of persons we’ll meet along the way. 

 

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Itinerary overview

Photos and descriptions of a previous Gaming trip

  • Flights: you book your own

    • Wed May 10: Packing Day at the Kartause

    • Thurs May 11: YOU BOOK Ryanair 2:35p from Vienna, arriving in Tel Aviv 7p, (currently under $90+baggage)

    • Tues May 23, depart anytime between 12:30p and 1a (Wed): Return from Tel Aviv to the USA (you store your bags at Emmaus upon arrival)

  • 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: Povery of Prophecy, Discipleship

      • Baptismal renewal immersing in the Jordan: Repentance and Abandonment

      • Jericho: Zachaeus, 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, Pig Cliff –you’ll have to come again!!!

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  • Special this time: begin the trip hiking and camping and meditating on the Old Testament in the Negev Desert

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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

  • $1025+airfare. For students older than 27 or for non-students, e.g., sisters, professors, res assistants: $1900 for a double room, $2000 for a single (except when we are camping).

  • Apply deadline extended to Feb 20. 

  • We will respond with acceptance or not within 10 days. 

  • Once accepted, reserve your spot with an initial non-refundable fee/deposit of $50. $500 more due by Mar 1, and the final $425 (or 475 for late sign-ups) due 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 except one in Israel; costs do not cover souvenirs or optional drinks, snacks and street food.

  • 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

  • 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 

  • Between airport, cities, and Emmaus, we use a charter bus

  • Lots of walking

 

Formation

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: Salesian convent, 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.  

  • 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 on foot in small groups

  • 9 Quiet half-hour in Cathedral

  • 9:30 Byzantine Divine Liturgy

  • 11 Walk to Mount of Olives,

  • 12 Picnic at panorama

  • 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

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While in Europe...

Spend Holy Week or a weekend with one of 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. We 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

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