5th Gospel Retreats
Pilgrimages to the Holy Land
Our mission is to bring pilgrims to the Holy Land to encounter Jesus, follow his ministry and support the Christians of the Middle East. We set up 5th Gospel Retreats in 2006 and join with people of all faiths praying and working for justice and peace in the Holy Land.
Image: Evening in Bethlehem
The Holy Land - come with 5th Gospel
Come with us if you want a pilgrimage tailor-made for your parish
Personal attention from initial preparation to the flight home
Groups of around 25 pilgrims
Inclusive prices (no hidden extras)
Catholic and warmly Ecumenical
Steadily-paced itineraries, giving time to reflect and pray
Since we began sixteen years ago, parishes, seminaries and young adult groups in the UK have asked us to organise pilgrimages, and they will happily share their experience with you. We are known through personal recommendation.
Please contact us for details ⟶
Image: Sea of Galilee from Tabgha
A pilgrimage with 5th Gospel in the Holy Land
It was all a long time ago – and it is all now… we offer the opportunity to experience the Holy Land calmly, exploring the truth of our faith and the relevance of Christ’s message to the world. Bringing understanding to scripture by being where it happened, and engaging with the Christians of the Holy Land, the “Living Stones” (1 Peter 2:4-9).
We focus on modern Israel, Palestine and Jordan from a Christian perspective, engaging with our Judaic spiritual roots and introducing the cultural and archaeological diversity of our 2,000 year old Church.
BELOW - THREE TEMPLATES OF PILGRIMAGES WE CUSTOMISE FOR EACH GROUP
Pilgrimage to Palestine and Israel
This pilgrimage is for 10 days and covers the story of Jesus in the land where he lived. We spend five days in the south focussed on Bethlehem and Jerusalem and visit the holy sites of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. We then travel north via Nazareth and an overnight stay in the hills.
Finally we stay 3 or 4 nights on the shore of the Sea of Galilee reflecting on Jesus’ life, ministry and miracles in the north.
Pilgrimage to Jordan
(the early years)
This pilgrimage for 7-8 days covers the early years of Salvation History, following the Israelites through the desert, valleys and mountains of the Exodus route to see the “Promised Land”.
Beginning in the city of Petra, then into the silence, peace and pure air of the wilderness before continuing north to the plains of Moab. We renew our promises at the Baptism site of Jesus. Pilgrims can also opt to spend extra days at the sites of Jesus’ miracles and the Early Church and to meet Jordanian and Iraqi Christian refugees.
Pilgrimage to Jordan, Palestine and Israel
This pilgrimage outlines 3,000 years of Salvation History over 16 days. Beginning with the Exodus journey of the Israelites and leading to Jesus and the birth of the Church.
After Petra and two days in the wilderness, the Exodus journey ends at Mount Nebo before crossing the R. Jordan into Israel and Palestine. We spend days in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, before travelling to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee for 3 days. Finally, we cross back over the R. Jordan into the green hills of north Jordan, the sites of Jesus’ miracles, and the national shrine of Our Lady of the Mount.
A Retreat with 5th Gospel in the Holy Land
Each year we hold a retreat in the Holy Land for 10-12 days. The retreats started after listening to many pilgrims who wished to return to the Holy Land to spend more time in one place, and to have peace and spiritual direction to go deeper into appreciating the Gospel in the land where Jesus lived. A retreat typically opens with two or three days of orientation and a gentle winding down, followed by five days of silence which form the core of the retreat. Each silent day there is a Conference, liturgy of the Office, Mass and Adoration. Personal one-to-one spiritual direction is available each afternoon. We come out of silence to enjoy the final days in one of the other lovely places in the Holy Land.
We began in 2014. The pattern has developed to alternate the main location and orientation between a) the north at the Sea of Galilee and the sacred sites of Nazareth and Jesus’ ministry and b) the south in the hills of Judaea, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We have been delayed in 2020 and 2021 but hope in 2022 to introduce a desert element as well, and will finish with 3 nights at the Sea of Galilee.
“Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books, and one you will find in the land they call holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.”
– Bargil Pixner OSB, Jerusalem 1992. Attributed to St Gerasimus of the Jordan (died 5 March 475 AD)
Also sometimes to St Geronimus (died 30 September 420 AD)