Questions & Answers

What is the Holy Land Institute?

It is a ministry of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in San Francisco that responds to the exhortation of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to support Holy Land Christians and to that of Jesus when he told Peter, “Feed my sheep.”  We seek to encourage Christians in the Holy Land by educating adults and young people about the Bible and the land of the Bible, by organizing pilgrimages to the Holy Land, by patronizing Christian businesses in the Holy Land, by becoming acquainted with the ministries, outreach and interreligious activities of the Holy Land Christians, and by promoting encounters and dialogue.

Who is the travel agent?

Linsil Travel of San Francisco arranges the travel. Registration forms and payments go directly to Linsil Travel, CST # 2036096-40. Air travel is organized from a particular gate city, such as San Francisco, but flights from other cities can be arranged.

Who is leading the pilgrimage?

The spiritual director is Monsignor Labib Kobti, and the leader is Dr. Claudia Devaux who may be contacted at (805) 544-9088 or by email at info@HolyLandInstitute.org.

What can we expect in terms of visits to Biblical and archeological sites?

Pilgrims will be provided with readings associated with each site. Local English-speaking guides will provide commentary including Biblical context, archeology, history, and geography. Site visits require a considerable amount of walking.

What are the distinctive features of Holy Land Institute pilgrimages?

The number of pilgrims is limited to between 16 and 25. The program language is English; most of our liturgies will be in English, but some will be in Arabic. Our patronage of Christian guesthouses helps support Christians in the Holy Land and local ministries [e.g., programs for people with disabilities, schools, youth movements, orphanages]. Our program is not limited to holy site visits; we encounter Holy Land Christians in their homes and elsewhere to listen to their stories and learn firsthand of their challenges, joys, and dreams.

Where do we stay in the Holy Land?

East of the Jordan, we stay at Our Lady of Peace Center in Amman. Pope Benedict XVI visited this center in May 2009. West of the Jordan, we stay at a guesthouse in Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, and at hotels or guesthouses operated by Christians in Bethlehem where Ruth, the Moabite, settled with her mother-in-law Naomi, where her great grandson King David was born, and where the Lord Jesus, descended from the House of David, was born. Bethlehem, a city in the West Bank, used to be 90% Christian, but due to emigration, the Christian population has decreased to less than 35%.  With the visit of Pope John Paul II in 2000, many hotels and guesthouses were built. However, only recently has the town seen an increase in international visitors. Pilgrims from all over the world, including Spain, Italy. Poland, the Netherlands, France, England, Brazil, and India–make Bethlehem their base when visiting the Holy Land. We also stay in Christian guesthouses in other towns such as Nazareth and Taybeh.

What happens on a home visit?

We arrange for home visits to Christian families. Pilgrims join the host family for refreshments and conversation and perhaps a personal tour of the area. Ideas for gifts that pilgrims might offer their host families include books featuring pictures of scenery from the pilgrim’s hometown, chocolates, souvenir serving trays or coasters, and music CDs.

What is the price?

The price is indicated on the registration form. A land-only fee is available for those who wish to make their own air travel arrangements. Prices are subject to change if the group fails to get a minimum number of pilgrims or if operators increase their prices or if the US dollar is devalued significantly against other currencies or, for air travel, if there is a fuel surcharge.  Participants are required to purchase travel insurance or sign a waiver.

What is included in the price?

The price includes roundtrip air fare from a gateway city [arrangements can be made for connecting flights], transportation from the destination airport and to the departure airport, lodging based on double occupancy [a limited number of single rooms is available for a supplement], breakfast and dinner, and entry fees.

What is not included in the pilgrimage price?

Lunches, snacks, beverages, and personal expenses are not included in the price nor are the gratuities for the guides and drivers. If you wish to use a carriage at Petra instead of walking, you may do so for about $30 roundtrip. These buggies seat one driver and two passengers. You may also ride a camel at Petra for a fee.

What about shopping?

There will be plenty of opportunities to shop. We make a point to take you to “fair trade” shops that offer fair prices to shoppers and fair compensation to both shopkeepers and artisans. You will learn about the quality of olive wood carvings, taste wine and maybe even beer made in the Holy Land, admire exquisite embroidery work, sip mint tea and Arabic coffee, perhaps get a manicure or facial, and experience the luxury of mineral products from the Dead Sea. You will have free time to bargain with vendors in Jerusalem, and you will meet our artisans in Bethlehem and also in Jordan. If suddenly you need to replace a broken suitcase, get a shoe repaired, buy batteries for your camera, consult a pharmacist, or have a dental cavity filled, we will make sure you see the right person.

What is the electrical voltage?

On both sides of the Jordan, the voltage is 220.  Some devices are bi-voltage, but if you have an appliance that only accepts 110 volts, you will need a converter. To plug in your device, you will need a Middle East plug adapter which can be purchased online, in airports, at travel stores, and even at Target.

When do we go to the Holy Land?

When we get a group of 16 or more pilgrims, we will schedule a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We like to go in spring or fall to avoid the hot summer and the rainy winter. We do not go at Easter or Christmas for a couple of reasons. The more obvious reason is that we want to avoid the huge crowds. Another very important reason is that we want to leave the churches open to the local Christians for these holy days. We don't want them to miss worshipping in their own churches at Easter or Christmas due to our presence.

What about the weather?

The Mediterranean climate is similar to that of California. The average daily temperature in Jerusalem in both May and October is a high of 77 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of about 54 degrees.

How much money should I bring?

Concerning gratuities, we suggest that you plan on $10 a day for the guide and $5 a day for the driver. For those going to Jordan, there will be a new guide and driver. On the day we cross the border, we will have a separate guide and driver pair on each side of the border. In other words, count on tipping each pair for that day. You may encounter attendants at public restrooms; you can give them local money or a dollar bill. Lunches may run anywhere from about $10 to $20, and usually beverages are extra. The bus driver will provide bottled water, and so he must be reimbursed. Most pilgrims walk to Petra, but for no extra charge you may ride a horse for part of the route, or for an additional price [about $30 RT], two passengers may ride in a carriage. You may pay for many purchases with dollars, and you can get shekels for Israel/Palestine and dinars for Jordan at the airport or at local money changers. Credit cards are accepted at many shops.

How much luggage may I bring?

We recommend that you bring only one easy-to-pull bag on wheels as there will be limited space on the bus and we will be moving around. Yes, it's a good idea to bring a carry-on bag as well. Put any medications and maybe even a change of clothes in your carry-on bag. It is helpful to have an inflatable neck pillow for the long flight overseas. You may wish to pack your Bible.

 How do I sign up?

Complete the registration form and send it with your deposit to Linsil Travel. Payment in full must be received [usually] two months before the start of the pilgrimage.