By Rachel Leach It’s 5:30 am. I have just dragged myself into a rickety VW van with 8 other half-asleep volunteers on our way to Magdala to dig at the archaeological excavation. It’s already about 85 degrees. In 30 minutes I will be toting my buckets, pick, trowel, broom, and dustpan into the 2-meter by…
By Christiane Esser My father was my world; he was there for me whenever I needed him. Every evening I would wait for him to get home from work — I couldn’t fall asleep before he arrived home and gave me a kiss good night. My father worked long and hard, and I knew it…
Dear friends of Magdala: During this month of May many countries celebrate Mother´s Day. Over the past few days I have had the pleasure to greet and congratulate many moms — thanking them for: giving the gift of life to their children, maintaining the unity of their families, educating their children, and building society with…
A seed has been planted as the Magdalena Institute begins to take shape. As we welcome and witness the experiences of those who have visited Magdala, we pause to reflect on the importance of promoting the dignity of both men and women. As visitors enter the Duc In Altum worship center, they marvel at the…
May the month of Mothers! Mothers are very present in the Women’s Atrium of Duc In Altum at Magdala. They are remembered in the figures of Salome, Mary of Cleopas, the mother-in-law of Peter, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the countless mothers who have traced their names (with their fingers) on the column dedicated…
Throughout history women have been catalysts for positive change. Magdalena Institute held its second annual Women’s Symposium on March 10 in order to recognize this reality, inspiring and encouraging other women to reflect on the power of their “feminine genius’, which she shares with the world when she lovingly gives of herself. Approximately 90 women…
Six inches under. That was the distance between where we had been walking and where we found the 2,200 year old bronze shovel under our feet in February. It is also the figurative distance that marks the beginning of the “Magdala experience” and where the Holy Spirit touches the hearts of the thousands of pilgrims…
Yellow. Blue. White. Pink. Lavender. Red. I wasn’t just naming colors – but rather, marveling at the variety of small spring flowers that decorated both sides along the path I was walking this past Sunday. It’s true what they say – that for a short time Israel is as green as Ireland! The desert is…
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I spent the most amazing 5 days digging in a 1st Century Jewish neighborhood just north of Tiberias in Israel this fall. (If you are new, that’s okay! Just check out my Indiana Jones Adventure.) I learned about this dig through Fr.…
Meet Santiago and Margarita, two volunteers who have come to be part of the Magdala project as volunteers for more than 9 months. Hear about their story and how they got to leave their footprint in Magdala. Interview #1 – Santiago 1) Who are you? 2) Where are you from? 3) When did you come…
