By Fr. Cristóbal Vilarroig No written document mentions when Magdala was founded. However, archeologists have concluded that the city was established somewhere in the second half of the 2nd century B.C. In those days, the successors of the Maccabees reigned in the region. Antiochus Epiphanes, King of Syria (which at the time included the territory…
Dear Magdala Family, There is an idea that has been turning around in our hearts these past months: surprises. We are surprised by COVID-19: surprised by the drastic changes in our lives because of it, surprised by how we react to it, surprised by the absence of so many unnecessary things day-to-day because of the…
The long quiet time during weeks of isolation here in Magdala has allowed me to more attentively admire the incredible beauty of the Galilean countryside. The late spring flowers, seeds and trees, with deer, sheep and birds, the sunshine, winds and clouds, all proclaim the Gospel by their very existence. It is no wonder that…
By Fr. Cristobal Vilaroig LC There was a long-standing prohibition among Jews preventing from cutting acacia trees in the area of Magdala. This ban sought to honor an ancient tradition, according to which the Ark of the Conant was built with Magdala wood. According to the Midrash of the Song of Songs, as the patriarch…
My dear friends, This year, the radiant sun of the resurrection is clouded by the worry and pain that many families are now facing. My most sincere Easter greetings and the hope desire to send to all of you from Magdala, is that Mary Magdalene bring you close to the Risen Lord, so that with…
Being in self-isolation here at Magdala due to the current global health crisis, is a bit like being stranded in paradise. The beauty of the Galilean spring, with life waking up in an array of colors and birdsong, contrasts sharply with what all of us here carry to prayer and adoration daily in Duc In…
Dear friends, I would like my words to bring a sign of hope and consolation for each and every one of you. I must confess something which may evoke a bit of jealousy, but since the almost complete lockdown of Israel we have been enjoying the Galilee like never before. You can hear the constant…
MAGDALA IN HISTORY by Fr. Cristobal Villaroig Many years before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, there was a rich and happy man named Job. One day Satan, with God´s permission, put this holy man’s faith to the test. In a few days, Job lost all his riches, his children and finally his health. Amid…
by Nelcy Cárdenas I arrived in November to be the Resident Assistant for the volunteer house. It was a very hectic time with everyone working to get the guesthouse ready for the grand opening. At the volunteer house, as is tradition, each volunteer has a “welcome” in which they introduce themselves to the group and…
Magdala & Taricheae Magdala is a word of Aramaic origin meaning, “tower,” and most probably referring to a building or structure found on site. Furthermore, Magdala appears to be a name used commonly in antiquity in the region to the point where cities with this name would also have had a “last name.” This would…
