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…
Dear Friends, The Sea of Galilee is the remarkable stage in which Jesus chose to carry out many of his gospel teachings. The majority of them have one thing in common: Man’s capacity is limited and must turn to the power of God. We see this theme being taught clearly on the night of the…
It’s been three weeks since I arrived to Magdala and I can truly say it is hard to get used to seeing the Lake of Galilee every morning, to stand on the same shores where He called his first apostles, to walk where He walked, to pray in the land where He performed so many…
Dear Friends, Following the Magdala Guesthouse inauguration and our Christmas greeting, we find ourselves in the beginning of 2020. It may seem to be the beginning of another normal year, but for us it is not. It’s the beginning of a new phase for Magdala. Having achieved our goal of opening the guesthouse, we welcomed…
