Living in the Holy Land
Description
The Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies offers two Living in the Holy Land programs annually: one during Christmas and the other during Holy Week/Easter. The two enrichment programs have been designed for those who are committed to Christian ministries, whether in church structures or in secular employment or in both. The programs focus on the events and the message of the Incarnation and Redemption of Jesus Christ, in the land where God chose to reveal these central mysteries of Christian faith.
These three-week sessions are for those members of all churches who are not interested in a short pilgrimage with quick visits to a large number of holy sites, but who prefer a longer, slower paced personal and communal prayerful experience. Such an experience could deepen one's commitment to Christian ministry by a better biblical understanding of the salvific Event of Jesus Christ and His first community of disciples. The context is the Holy Land—"the fifth gospel.”
In addition to seminars, bible studies with group discussions, and ample free time, there will be guided excursions to the principal sites of Jesus' life in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Samaria and the Galilee.
The group will participate in the worship of local Christians – "the living stones" of the Western and Eastern churches in Israel and Palestine. This will include local church and inter-church events: the Western Christmas/Epiphany in Bethlehem; the Holy Week in Jerusalem. The group will also experience Jewish Sabbaths and holy days - another outgrowth of the worship setting of Jesus and the first Christians.
Background
TThe concept of the Living in the Holy Land programs originated from a few Tantur lay alumni(ae) in Great Britain who are involved in the education and formation of lay ministers in the British churches. Directly helping in the design are Tantur alumnae, Donata Coleman, widow of deceased Anglican Bishop Peter Coleman, and Kathleen O'Gorman, one of Cardinal Hume's adult education teachers in the archdiocese of Westminster.
Costs
All inclusive $2600 ($2900 in 2011): full board and lodging at Tantur and three nights on the Lake of Galilee, tuition, bus trips, and entrance fees. The modified Christmas option (December 17, 2010 to January 2, 2011) is $2000 and includes everything listed above. We will try to accommodate all single participants in single rooms with shared bath. Couples have a private bath. The Galilee lodgings are mostly double rooms with bath; only a few single rooms are available.
To reserve a place in one of our programs, please mail your completed application form with the application fee of $100, by personal check, money order or travelers check, payable to the ‘University of Notre Dame,’ which is the name on our bank account. Credit cards are not accepted.
Dates
The upcoming Living in the Holy Land programs are:
Sessions in 2010 – 2011:
Christmas 2010:
Option 1: December 17, 2010, to January 7, 2011 ($2600)
Option 2: December 17, 2010 to January 2, 2011 ($2000)
Easter 2011: April 14 - May 5, 2011 ($2900)
Middle East situation
In general, the Holy Land, Jerusalem and Tantur is far safer than media portrayals of occasional localized events, if one follows the experienced guidance of the Tantur staff. Except for the Persian Gulf War in 1991, we have never cancelled our programs. See also Safety at Tantur page.
More and updated information
For more detailed and updated information and application forms, please mail, fax or e-mail, with your exact mailing address, email address and/or fax number to:
Tantur Living in the Holy Land
Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies
P.O. Box 19556
IL-91194 Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Tel: 972-2-676 09 11
Fax: 972-2-676 09 14
E-mail: tantur@netvision.net.il
