The Sound of Rosh Hashanah

The Sound of Rosh Hashanah By Kathleen Nichols Since the beginning of September, I have seen many early risers from the Magdala Guest House approach the shores of the Sea of Galilee silently and with a tender step, priming their senses to experience the sunrise as Jesus had done so long ago, perhaps from this…

Letter from Fr. John (XLXI)

Dear Magdala family:  I just returned to Magdala from a family visit to Mexico. The reason, obviously, was that I had not visited them during the pandemic, but also the state of health of my older brothers. I greatly appreciate your expressions of affection and support for these reasons, but above all, I appreciate your…

The Pilgrim’s Stones

The Pilgrim’s Stones By Rosaura Sanz-Rincón The stone, a symbol of permanence through time, strength, and security, has been used by many cultures throughout history to highlight important places. In Buddhist and Taoist traditions, ephemeral stone accumulations represent balance. In recent years, we have seen that the creation of these burial mounds has become a…

Letter from Fr. John (XLX)

Dear Magdala Family, Greetings from Magdala, where in the middle of summer, we find ourselves sizzling with heat. The warm weather is accentuated as we find ourselves 211 meters below sea level. Nonetheless, even among this, we are working hard to prepare ourselves for a cooler autumn and one filled with many pilgrims wishing to…

Everyone Needs a Model

Everyone Needs a Model By Jennifer Ristine Everyone needs a model, someone whom you can look up to, with whom you feel a sense of solidarity. The sense that someone else has “been there and done that” makes your own journey less daunting. This July 22, Magdala looks to a woman, celebrating the ideal and…

Letter from Fr. John (XLIX)

Woman! (Jn 20, 11-31) On this occasion, I would like to return to a consideration offered by the Gospel of Saint John. That beautiful passage is the encounter of the Risen Jesus Christ with the Magdalene. I invite you to re-read it and savor it in a moment of silence and prayer, and I want…