Dear Friends and Family of Magdala,  

I have just returned from Miami and Mexico, where I traveled for various reasons, and I would like to share them with you in this newsletter.  

But first, I want to assure you of our prayers. Our Lenten journey continues, and Easter is drawing near—a powerful encounter with the Risen Christ, with the Church, and with our brothers and sisters, as the disciples of Emmaus will especially remind us. Let us pray for one another in this Holy Year and unite ourselves with Pope Francis, who is recovering from an illness that brought him to the brink of death. Let us continue along the synodal path that the Lord is calling us to walk together so that we may all share in the joy of hope in this Holy Year and this time of grace.  

I recently had the opportunity to participate in several events. First, I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the Congress on St. Joseph, held at St. Benedict's Parish in Miami, where I was honored to participate. Those were days filled with God's blessings. The figure of St. Joseph, masterfully presented by the speakers, renewed our understanding of something as essential as masculinity in service to God's plan—something entirely contrary to the narcissistic machismo often portrayed in today's world, which ultimately degrades and tramples upon human dignity, as we sadly see all too often in the media and on social networks, with only rare and precious exceptions. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who made this congress possible, those who attended, and those who shared their wisdom and prayerfulness. I am also profoundly grateful to the archbishop for granting me the faculties to participate.  

During these days, I was also blessed to witness the launch and premiere of a new film that will soon be released in theaters: Rabbuní, Magdala's Prayer Workshops. I can only express my gratitude and appreciation to those who organized this simple yet meaningful event, where this providential film was unveiled. I am confident it will touch the hearts of all who watch it. Rabbuní, Magdala's Prayer Workshops is set to premiere in theaters this summer, at least in Spanish, and we hope it will soon be available in English, either dubbed or subtitled.  

From Miami, I traveled to Mexico for family reasons, but while there, we also held two premieres of the film—one in León, Guanajuato, and another in Mexico City. The celebration of the Eucharist preceded both events and was beautifully organized with great love and attention to detail by those involved.  

To all of them, I extend my sincerest gratitude. The premieres were a success, with theaters filled with friends, acquaintances, and journalists eager to promote and announce the film's upcoming theatrical release.  

This newsletter reaches you on the anniversary of a moment that is simple yet deeply meaningful to me—the day I first discovered the site of Magdala. Easter in 2005 fell on 27 March. During the Easter week, I had the privilege of accompanying Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio at the time, on several formal visits to exchange Easter greetings with Christian religious leaders in Jerusalem. On Wednesday, 30 March, we visited the Franciscans, whose superior at the time was Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, now the Cardinal Patriarch of Jerusalem. At the end of that warm and intimate meeting, I approached him and mentioned that I had a vision for a project in Galilee. Without hesitation, he told me that a piece of land on the shores of the Sea of Galilee was for sale but that it was not of interest to them then. He directed me toward what was then known as "Hawaii Beach." On Thursday, March 31, the following day, I set out early to see it. The moment I arrived, I was captivated by the location—it seemed perfect for the project on my heart. From there, I traveled to Nazareth to entrust the matter to St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary. You already know the rest of the story.  

I give thanks to God for this. His plans are concrete, historical, and full of detail. "When God wills something, it happens." Period.  

As I write these lines, I am on a plane returning to Israel with a heavy heart. During my absence, conflicts and attacks have resumed. While we are safe and do not feel personally at risk, it pains us to see the Holy Land emptied of pilgrims and the entire tourism industry at a standstill—especially as it is so vital for the local Christian community. Let us pray that lasting peace may come soon, that peace may conquer hearts, and that the only actual weapon maybe love, forgiveness, and the desire to live as brothers and sisters, children of the one and only God.  

I also remind you that we have the Virtual Pilgrimage of Paul, Apostle of Hope this year. There is still time to join us! Click here to subscribe and follow along. Gather groups of friends, family, or colleagues and follow Saint Paul's footsteps as you discover new places. Dare to discover its beauty and make it the center of your week.  

I wish you all a very holy Holy Week from the depths of my heart.  

Fraternally,  

Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C. and the Magdala Team  

P.S. Many friends have already registered for Encounter Magdala 2025 in Madrid, from July 22–26. Sign up, invite your friends, and make this a grand celebration of our Faith and Hope!

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