My very dear friends and Magdala Family,

We have just finished unpacking our bags after the beautiful days we spent in Kraków for Rabbuní Magdala 2026 and, with some of the participants, on the pilgrimage that later took us all the way to Rome.

They were intense days, filled with prayer and friendship. Now, as we gradually return to ordinary life, I find myself asking a question that perhaps many of us are also carrying in our hearts: what remains after Rabbuní?

I believe much will stay with us: a deep sense of gratitude, the seeds of friendship and faith, and above all, the hope that God, in His own time, will bring to fruition all that we have shared. Places, conversations, and moments of prayer stay with us, perhaps alongside a new restlessness stirring in the heart. In the end, what endures is the desire to return home and ask ourselves: What does God want of me now?

Nearly 130 people from 15 countries gathered together in Kraków. From there, accompanied by our pilgrimage agency, New Gate Tours, we traveled to different places throughout Poland. What mattered most was not the places we visited, but the bonds formed among us. As we prayed, ate, traveled, and laughed together, we became a family.

One of the first surprises of Rabbuní felt truly providential. Just a few days before I left for Poland, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Kraków, visited Magdala. We had the opportunity to meet and speak just as we were preparing to travel to his diocese for Rabbuní. This providential encounter led to a special invitation: to celebrate Rabbuní’s closing Eucharist in the chapel of his residence—the very place where Karol Wojtyła was ordained a priest nearly eighty years ago.

It was a providential gift whose meaning became clearer as we looked back. We are deeply grateful to the Cardinal for his warm, fraternal welcome, for presiding at the Eucharist, and above all, for sharing words so deeply rooted in the Gospel.

Poland spoke to us in many ways.

In Kraków, we visited the shrines of Divine Mercy and Saint John Paul II, as well as the beautiful Old Town. In Czestochowa we encountered the Marian heart of Poland. In Wadowice, the birthplace of Saint John Paul II, we had the grace of celebrating the Eucharist in his parish church and renewing our baptismal promises beside the very font where he himself was baptized.

In Zakopane, we encountered a wonderfully human side of Karol Wojtyla: the priest and pastor who loved the mountains, friendship, and nature. We remembered those familiar images of him hiking, paddling a canoe, or simply sharing a meal outdoors with friends.

But there was also one place that compelled us to remain silent: Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The heart aches when we contemplate the depths of cruelty to which human beings can descend. There was little to say. All we could do was look, reflect, and pray, perhaps renewing within ourselves the conviction that every human person possesses a dignity that must never be violated.

Amid all of this, the conferences and moments of prayer helped us deepen our understanding of Rabbuní, Magdala’s spirituality, the Magdala Family, and the challenges that lie ahead of us.

For those who would like to revisit some of these moments or watch the talks, you can find them here: https://rabbuni.magdala.org/

And yes, we also had a wonderful time.

Even the weather helped us. Our local guides told us that we were enjoying exceptionally cool and pleasant days for that time of year.

There were also a few good-natured “complaints” because this time we did not bring the Magdala gift shop with us… We’ve taken note! Instead, we brought Fr. Timothy’s new book (A Walk Through Magdala) and the kits for our Touching the Mantle groups. It was a joy to see several people take them home with the desire to begin a group in their own cities.

For me, one of the most beautiful fruits of Rabbuní is the realization that what began in Kraków should continue long after we leave.

May what we experienced become prayer, new friendships, community, service, concrete initiatives, and a renewed desire to do something for the Kingdom of God wherever each of us has been called to live.

To simply say “thank you” does not seem enough.

Thank you to all the organizers, volunteers, professionals, and everyone who made these days possible. I would especially like to thank each of the participants: those who placed their trust in this experience, made the effort to travel to Kraków, and embraced with simplicity and openness the program we had prepared.

Everything unfolded smoothly because each person brought patience, flexibility, and a genuine openness to God and to one another—the true spirit of pilgrimage.

That spirit was perhaps one of the greatest gifts of these days. The messages we have received since returning have been deeply encouraging. I am certain that lifelong friendships were born and that many seeds have been planted whose fruits we may only discover with the passing of time.

As a small gift, I would like to share with you the recap video from these days: https://youtu.be/p8QJA0U-4FY

From Kraków to Rome

At the conclusion of Rabbuní, 70 of us continued a pilgrimage by road from Kraków to Rome, with special attention to Franciscan places during this year in which we commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

We traveled through Olomouc, Bratislava, Vienna, and Padua before reaching places that speak in a very special way of the life of Saint Francis: La Verna, where he received the stigmata; Assisi; and Greccio, where in 1223 he created the first Nativity scene.

These places helped us return to what is essential: simplicity, evangelical poverty, fraternity, and the joy of following Christ.

Finally, we arrived in Rome. We celebrated a beautiful Eucharist in Saint Peter’s Basilica and received the blessing of Pope Leo XIV during the Angelus in Saint Peter’s Square. We also visited the basilicas of Saint John Lateran and Saint Mary Major.

In true family spirit, we brought the day to a close with dinner near Piazza Navona. Some still had enough energy to wander through the streets of ancient Rome by night.

Throughout this extension, that same spirit of warmth and family remained with us. Italy was very hot; there is no denying that! Nevertheless, the journey was filled with precious moments of fellowship and grace.

I would also like to ask you for a special prayer for Bartolomé, one of our Polish guides, who became ill during our stay in Padua and had to be hospitalized. We entrust him with affection to the Lord.

There is much more I could share, but our story is still unfolding, and it is time to look ahead.

Next stop: Mexico

From September 3 to 27, I will be traveling throughout Mexico.

As soon as we have the complete schedule, we will gladly share it with you. I hope to have the opportunity to meet many members and friends of the Magdala Family during those days.

In the meantime, from Magdala we continue to ask something that is essential to us: please do not stop praying for peace in the Holy Land.

The situation remains difficult, and very few pilgrims can visit. I am deeply grateful to all who are willing and able to support Magdala financially during this challenging time. Your generosity enables us to care for this sacred place, support those who serve here, and prepare for the day when we can once again welcome pilgrims from around the world.

Rabbuní has ended, but our journey continues. Perhaps its most important stage begins now: carrying into our daily lives all that we have received.

After these days in the homeland of Saint John Paul II, let us hold once more in our hearts the invitation he repeated so often: “Do not be afraid!”

Let us not be afraid to open wide the doors to Christ—to ask what He desires of us, to follow where He leads, and to live our faith with courage and joy.

May each of us return home—to our families, communities, and work—with renewed hearts and a deeper desire to serve. God will do the rest. ‍

Do not be afraid! The Lord walks with us.

With a very special blessing, Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C. and the Magdala team