Holy By Kathleen Nichols We shivered with cold and anticipation before dawn, gathered around the small rust-colored boat altar on the Magdala shoreline for a sunrise Mass. The crimson outlined clouds brightened as our voices proclaimed, ‘holy, holy, holy Lord!’. (Isaiah 6:3) They professed with us: ‘the Heavens and Earth are full of your glory,…
Antonio Castillo and Magdalo Castle By Fr. Cristobal Vilaroig Spanish pilgrims never stopped visiting the Holy Land. Shortly after the arrival of the Ottomans (1517), some famous Spaniards would visit Jerusalem: the poet Juan de la Encina, who would narrate his pilgrimage in verse (1519); saint Ignatius of Loyola (1523) and the music composer Francisco…
Dear Magdala Family, We want to begin by wishing you a good Lenten Season again this year. To help you with this, the entire Magdala team is putting their best effort into the preparation of our fifth Virtual Pilgrimage for Lent entitled “Exodus: Pilgrimage of Freedom, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ Mt 2,15.” …
A Franciscan Describing Towers By Fr. Cristobal Vilaroig In 1517 the Ottomans took control of Palestine, leaving a deep footprint there. Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem today can still contemplate the city walls that Suleiman the Magnificent restored around the Old City. At this time, pilgrimages were still rare, but the Franciscans, who lived there, wrote down…
Magdala Family, I hope that my first message in this New Year, 2023, gives you a great sense of hope. Every day is a gift from God. At the beginning of each year, we have to fix our eyes on the heavens and thank God for the gift of our life, of each sunrise, of…
Dearest Magdala Family, Since the pandemic began, we have been “together” for a few years. Through this time, we have tried to celebrate Christmas together, accompany one another, pray for each other and make our path to heaven together. As we approach Christmas, I want to offer a reflection from the prophet Isaiah, “The…
Fair As the Moon By Kathleen Nichols One early November evening at Magdala, the calm waters over the Sea of Galilee seduced me to venture out over them with my paddle board. The soft glowing twilight made visibility easy, though I knew darkness would quickly paint the waterscape dark grey. The nearly full moon rising…
The Magdalene’s Castle By Fr. Cristobal Vilaroig When the Mamluk ruled over Palestine, several travelers wrote down their testimonies about Magdala. We have talked about Burchard of Mount Sion, and Ricoldus de Monte Crucis, the last ones to talk about the church at Magdala. A few years later, Blessed Odoric of Pordenone (1300) and Nicholas…
Dear Magdala Family, We are close to celebrating Thanksgiving here at Magdala with our guests, pilgrims, and team members. As you know, this is a festivity allowing us to reflect on Divine goodness and be grateful for the blessings we receive. This year, 2022, we in Magdala have a lot to be thankful for, and…
Dear Magdala Family: October has us hooked on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. This month, the Church wants us to once more return to those mysteries that embody the life of Christ and for us to contemplate them by the hand of the Virgin Mary, the most important protagonist in salvation history. Last month you joined…
