Dear Friends of Magdala,
As I sit down to write to you today, my heart is filled with gratitude and joy. This past month, we witnessed the vibrant life of Magdala unfold in new and profound ways, especially through our 2024 Encounter Magdala. How could I ever fully describe the blessings that God bestowed upon us through this gathering of young people and those young at heart from across the globe? The energy, the passion, and the deep hunger for Christ that they brought with them were nothing short of inspiring.
Encounter Magdala 2024: A Journey of Faith and Community
As many of you may know this year, due to the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land, we hosted Encounter Magdala 2024, in my hometown of Puebla, Mexico, I can assure you that the Holy Spirit was palpably present. We were graced with over 1340 pilgrims who came from various parts of the world to experience a unique encounter with the living Christ. These days were filled with vibrant worship, powerful moments of adoration, insightful talks, and pilgrimages through the “New Jerusalem” as Puebla is known for due to the city's inspiration in urban planning from Jerusalem, including a Via Crucis – Way of the Cross- modeled from Jerusalem´s own.
One particular highlight for me was the Eucharistic Adoration which we hosted with our theme “Touching Jesus' Hem” where participants approached our Lord in reverence and sought to touch his hem. We regularly host this form of adoration in Magdala with a replica-inspired cloth portrayed in our Encounter Chapel mural that aims to help transport pilgrims and their prayer to Jesus' time.
Seeing these young, and young at heart, souls walk in prayerful silence, united in their love for Christ and His Church, brought tears to my eyes. In these moments, I felt the richness of Magdala—the sacred ground that we are honored to protect and cultivate—come alive in the hearts of a new generation. I cannot help but feel that the future of the Church is bright, and Magdala is being called to play a vital role in shaping it.
Introducing the Magdala Family
Our work is expanding in new and exciting ways. In this spirit of growth, I am thrilled to announce the upcoming and expanded presentation of the Magdala Family. Our renewed initiative, initially launched in 2020, seeks to bring together a worldwide community inspired by the spirituality of Magdala (Holy Land) and with the profound desire to continue expanding the Kingdom of God in today´s world.
Through the Magdala Family, already counting over 6000 members, we aim to foster spiritual growth, a community of shared Christian values, and a commitment to preserving and promoting Magdala, the Holy Land and its Holy Sites. This community will offer unique opportunities for formation, prayer, and service, rooted in the spirituality of Mary Magdalene—the Apostle to the Apostles. More details will be shared in the coming weeks, and I encourage all of you to prayerfully consider how you might become a part of this growing family.
New Media Program: The Gospel of Luke
As we look ahead to the final months of the year, I am delighted to share with you an exciting new project that will kick off in December 2024. This year, instead of our annual virtual pilgrimage, we will launch a different format of pilgrimage focusing on the Gospels. We will begin with a focus on the Gospel of Luke.
This program will offer weekly reflections on the Gospel taking us chapter by chapter into the heart of Christ’s ministry and message and helping us more fully prepare for Sunday mass. Our program will premiere every Tuesday and will follow the liturgical year.
Luke’s Gospel is often called the “Gospel of Mercy,” and it holds a timely message for us in this season of renewal and as we prepare our journey to become Pilgrims of Hope in 2025. We will explore the stories of healing, forgiveness, and transformation that defined Jesus’ mission, with insights into how these accounts can deepen our personal faith and draw us closer to God.
I cannot wait to embark on this journey with you, bringing the beauty and power of the Scriptures into our homes and hearts. Stay tuned as we will launch our initial preview on October 18, 2024.
A Call to Support Magdala
As we rejoice in these blessings, I must also share with you the challenges we are facing. The ongoing conflict in the Holy Land has begun to affect our financial stability. With the decline in pilgrimages and other sources of support, we begin to find ourselves in a precarious position. Yet, we trust in God’s providence and the generosity of our community.
In these challenging times, we have opened our doors to refugees from the north of Israel. Witnessing their suffering and the effects of the conflict on their daily lives has been both heart-wrenching and humbling. It has reminded us of our calling not only to preserve this sacred site but also to be a place of refuge and hope for those in need.
It is in these times that we humbly ask you to consider supporting Magdala with a monthly donation. Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly help us continue spreading the Gospel from the Holy Land, providing sanctuary to those in distress, and preserving this sacred site. Your support will ensure that Magdala remains a place of encounter, prayer, and peace, even in these difficult times.
I also ask that you keep these refugees in your prayers. As part of our Magdala Family, your prayers are a vital source of strength and comfort for them during these turbulent days.
To make a monthly donation, please visit our website or contact us directly. Together, we can sustain the work of Magdala and keep this holy ground alive for future generations.
For donation, please click here.
Final Thoughts
As always, I am deeply grateful for your support and prayers. Whether you have been with us here in Magdala in person or are accompanying us from afar, please know that you are an integral part of this project. Together, we are building something truly special—a place where the Gospel comes alive in profound and life-changing ways.
Let us continue to walk forward in faith, trusting in the Lord’s providence. I invite you to stay connected with us, whether through upcoming pilgrimages, our new Magdala Family initiative, or our media programs.
Fraternally yours,
Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C.
