Things to know
Presence of Jesus: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst” (Matthew 18:20).
Joseph as Guide: We pray to St. Joseph intensely before and during the pilgrimage. He has never let us down. As he led the Holy Family around the Holy Land, so he personally leads us with miracles of guidance along the way.
Never felt unsafe: In all of Fr. Alex’s pilgrimages, no one has ever felt unsafe in the Holy Land. To quote his friends, the Foxes, “We realize not everyone is able to go to the Holy Land, but do not let fear be an obstacle. We have been to the Holy Land every year for the last 20 years and just returned from leading a group and never felt a sense of danger.” Faith should eclipse our fear.
Travel as Guests of Local Christians: Pilgrims are guests of the local Christian community. There is also ongoing interaction with the local clergy and community including Masses and times of fellowship and fun. Pilgrims are always welcome in every church while visiting the towns and villages of the Holy Land.
International Visitors: The Holy Land is very safe for international visitors. Unlike other conflict zones, foreigners here are not intended targets of violence. Thousands of visitors from many countries continue to travel to the Holy Land every day without incident.
Local Travel Agency: Our travel agency is located in Jerusalem and is staffed by Christian supporters of our mission. Travel agency personnel take care of us from start to finish - we are never by ourselves.
Safe Places & Daily Updates: We only visit places where there are no problems. We do not take pilgrims to areas considered to be high-risk or dangerous. Also, crimes like robbery and theft are very rare. Our guide can receive daily updates about each place we go - everyone has cell phones to facilitate instant communication as needed. We always use a private motor coach instead of any public transportation as a basic precaution.
Christian Tour Guide: We only use an experienced Christian tour guide who lives in the Holy Land, is a member of a local parish, and who knows the area, the places, and the people well.
Christian Institutions: We use Christian-owned hotels and patronize Christian restaurants and shops.
Recent Pilgrimages: Recent pilgrimages were all successful and without incident. In response to a survey taken after each trip, pilgrims consistently said they never felt afraid or in danger.
Arab Hospitality: The generous hospitality of the area will ensure we are not only taken care of, but even spoiled.
Recent Political Events: Pilgrims continue to visit the Holy Land without incident. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land assure us that it is safe for pilgrims.