Dear Friends and Magdala Family,

I am still savoring the interview Pope Leo gave to journalists on his return from Beirut to Rome a few days ago. In it, he mentioned that he would like to visit the Holy Land for the 2033 Jubilee. This is the first time I have heard the Holy Father speak about this, and I can’t contain my joy. With that intention in mind, three years ago we began Encounter Magdala: a spiritual journey designed to help us grow in faith as we prepare for 2033. That year, the great Jubilee of Redemption will be celebrated, marking 2,000 years since the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For us, this is a tremendous confirmation of our annual project for the Magdala Family gathering, which we hope to resume once again in the Holy Land.

As a Christmas reflection, I would like to share with you that this year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. This was the main reason for the Pope’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon. In that context, the Creed—born from this Council—has been highlighted once again as the expression of the faith that saves us. It should not be a tired formula we repeat out of religious ignorance each Sunday, without really knowing what we are saying. It is a beautiful summary of God’s great work of love: to save us, to give Himself to us, and to draw us back into the original plan He lovingly designed when He created us in His image and likeness.

At the heart of the Creed we find the words: “For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man…” What a wonder that this Christmas we are invited to approach the manger and contemplate the One who “became man” out of love for us—out of solidarity and the desire to redeem our wounded human nature, broken by original sin. The Creed expresses our salvation, the love, and the mercy of God. Let us delight in it, go deeper into it, and love it.

I would also like to remind you that Encounter Magdala will now be called Rabbuní, to avoid confusion with other organizations. “Rabbuní!”—meaning “My Teacher!”—is the word Mary Magdalene used when she encountered the risen Jesus on Easter morning. We are already working so that Rabbuní 2026 may take place in the Holy Land and in Magdala from July 17–27.

For now, we are sharing this “Save the Date.” We also encourage you to begin preparing your travel savings so you can join us for those days of pilgrimage—a time to live together, share, sing, and walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Conditions here have improved significantly; thanks be to God. As Patriarch Pizzaballa recently said in a message inviting pilgrims to return to the Holy Land: “The conflict has not ended, but the war is over.” This allows us to renew our desire to hold our annual gathering—our fourth—here once again. We will soon share more details, including cost and registration information.

We are also pleased to inform you that construction work has resumed on the Magdala restaurant and the priests’ residence for our community. Both have had a rather complicated history for various reasons, the most recent being the war. We are deeply grateful to all those who have supported us and who wish to continue helping us bring these two projects to completion. We estimate that the work will take about one more year.

At the conclusion of the 2025 Encounter in Madrid, we presented a beautiful proposal: that the Magdala Family undertake a project to produce and send rosaries from Bethlehem to the young people attending World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027. After several months of discussions with the organizers, it was ultimately decided—for various reasons—that this project would not proceed.

One of the purposes of this initiative was to provide employment opportunities for Christian artisans in Bethlehem, who, due to the war, had very limited employment options. This need still remains. For this reason, we wholeheartedly encourage you to support them by purchasing olive wood items from our store, including rosaries, images of Our Lady, crosses, Nativity sets, and more. Through this effort, we can help ensure dignified work for these artisans—our brothers and sisters—who continue to suffer economically, even indirectly. We thank all of you who showed enthusiasm and generosity for the original proposal. We now ask that we channel our efforts into promoting and purchasing these handmade items to sustain their livelihood.

With all my heart, I wish you a very blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with Christ’s peace.