Dear Friends of Magdala,

Greetings from the Holy Land. It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today. As many of you are aware, the situation in the northern part of Israel has become increasingly tense in recent weeks, and we are feeling the weight of the conflict here in Galilee. The beautiful land where Jesus once walked is further overshadowed by uncertainty, and we are urgently asking for your prayers—prayers for peace, for safety, and for an end to the conflict that is affecting so many lives.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily moved our volunteers, team members, priest, and consecrated to the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center as the situation continues to evolve. Despite these necessary precautions, I want to reassure you that Magdala is safe and our team with the right prudence and judgment will continue to maintain its online programming, ensuring that we can bring the richness of the Holy Land to each member of the Magdala Family in your own homes.  

Magdala remains a place of hope and spiritual renewal, even in the midst of these trials. Our mission is to continue being a light for the world, offering a space for encounter and reconciliation, where the message of the Gospel can touch hearts and lives. But as you can imagine, these are challenging times for us. The ongoing conflict has made it more difficult for us to welcome pilgrims, and we are beginning to face even greater obstacles to sustain the operations and development of Magdala.

How You Can Help—Small Drops, Big Impact

We humbly invite you to consider joining us as a recurring donor. Even the smallest contributions, like the drops of water used in Israel’s own invention of drip irrigation, can nourish a thriving community when carefully stewarded. Just as drops of water accumulate to quench the desert and bring life to barren lands, your ongoing support—small or large—helps us grow and sustain our work. Together, these small “drops” will make an ocean of impact, ensuring that Magdala continues to be a source of spiritual renewal for the world.

How Your Support Will Make an Impact

Now more than ever, we need the support of our friends and benefactors. Your recurring donations will help in several key areas:

• Maintaining our sacred spaces: Your support will allow us to continue preserving Duc In Altum, where thousands of pilgrims have experienced moments of deep prayer and encounter with Christ.  
• Supporting the Magdala team: With visitors at an all-time low, your contributions help us retain our dedicated team of employees, who are committed to keeping the spirit of Magdala alive and serving future pilgrims.
• Continuing archaeological efforts: Even in these difficult times, we remain committed to preserving and researching the rich history of Magdala, revealing more of the world Jesus lived in, and offering these discoveries to the global community.
• Sustaining outreach and formation: Your gifts allow us to provide digital content, such as our weekly formation series and the newly launched virtual pilgrimage, to those who cannot visit in person, spreading the message of hope beyond our borders.   ‍

Stay Engaged with Formation and Virtual Pilgrimage

I encourage you to stay tuned to our upcoming media programming to stay connected to the Holy Land while it is more challenging to visit it. In the coming months Kathleen Nichols will be preparing our annual virtual Advent Pilgrimage, and for our Spanish language programming I am thrilled to introduce our new virtual pilgrimage based on the Gospel of Luke, “Walking the Holy Land by the Hand of St. Luke” This journey will allow you to walk in the footsteps of Jesus from your home, discovering anew His message of hope and salvation based on the gospel of St. Luke.

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Dear friends, I ask for your prayers, your support, and your participation as we face these uncertain times. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, and may the Lord continue to bless and protect each one of you.

With gratitude and prayerful best wishes,

Fr. Juan María Solana, LC

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