Corona Virus COVID-19: Our pilgrimages

Image: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Message from Della Shenton 

I am sure you are wondering what will happen if the pilgrimage has to be postponed or cancelled because of the Corona virus COVID-19.  Our pilgrimages are later this year – they begin with the Retreat in August followed by two pilgrimages in September and one in October.  We are travelling by air from Heathrow and flying with major scheduled airlines, British Airways or El Al, into Tel Aviv in Israel or Amman in Jordan.  The flights are booked and deposits paid.

We are hoping and praying, and expecting from current predictions, that the virus will have cleared through by mid-summer and the pilgrimages will go ahead as planned.  Our contingency plans are built into our arrangements for all our pilgrimages because we deal with the Holy Land and live all the time with the unexpected.  Our commitment to you is always to provide you with the best and safest possible pilgrimage.  

We are continuing with everything as usual.  However, this virus has unknown global consequences and we hope the information below will give you the security you are looking for right now, so that you know that we are carefully monitoring developments and will keep you informed.  Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more information or are worried about something we haven’t mentioned. Please look again at the Memorandum of Understanding we have all signed, which gives our basic protection – particularly the following clauses:

Memorandum of Understanding

Before leaving the UK, 5GR will register the pilgrimage with the British Consulate in Jerusalem, and the Embassy in Amman, giving details of the itinerary, so that the Consulate and Embassy know who we are and where we are at all times. Pilgrims are asked to familiarise themselves with the website and advice given by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) www.fco.gov.uk for travellers to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan.  Please keep yourselves informed.  We would never travel against FCO or another national Govt’s advice.

The organisers will cancel if hostilities, civil unrest, natural disaster or other circumstances amounting to force majeure affect the Holy Land and the UK when we are due to go.  In this case monies paid in advance will be repaid less the deposit and any non-recoverable costs already paid on their behalf.  An alternative pilgrimage date for 2021 will also be agreed and offered.

In order to secure the maximum benefit from the Pilgrimage, pilgrims will need a level of fitness allowing them to walk (or be on their feet) for up to an hour at a time - several times a day, on most days.  However, 5GR will do the utmost to cater for any special requirements and we are aware that several pilgrims are in the “vulnerable age group” for the virus and we will look after them with great care in case they have been affected and weakened in some way.

Pilgrims must have travel insurance to cover medical treatment, repatriation, lost property and cancellation charges. Failure to have personal insurance covering the trip will lead to cancellation of the pilgrim’s participation. Please check your own insurance policy and make certain you are adequately covered in this Corona virus scenario by your insurer.

Additional Note

We will carry on as planned, probably we won’t be able to get together for meetings, but we will cover them with the handouts just the same, and either have talks on video, or conference meetings online in which we can all join. We will keep you posted with the plans. And in due course publish materials and resources on the website for you.

Please join our prayers for all those overcome by the virus and for those looking after them.

God Bless
Della Shenton