Dear Magdala Family, Happy New Year 2026!

We still carry in our minds and hearts the twelve bells that welcomed a new year, a new opportunity, and a grace from God that we are called to receive with an open heart.

I once read that time is like a vine climbing up the trunk of God. I think that is how we all live. We hold firmly to time, not wanting to lose it or waste it, yet careful not to lose sight of God, the Lord of life and of history. Blessings for this new beginning!

Two pieces of news from our month of December

First, our community of priests had our annual retreat of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. These days of silence and prayer always do us great good, and help us focus again on what is essential.

Saint Ignatius spoke of the magis, a word that means “the more,” not in the sense of doing more things, but of seeking what gives greater glory to God and choosing what is more loving, more generous, and more faithful to His will. In our “Magdala language,” we could say something very similar: Duc in Altum.
To put out into the deep and cast the nets once more, trusting the Master and allowing Him to lead us beyond what is comfortable, into what bears greater fruit.

We also usually take a short trip somewhere nearby in the Middle East region. This time we went to northern Greece: Thessaloniki, Philippi, and the surrounding area, following the footsteps of Saint Paul.

For me, one of the most moving moments was visiting the river where Paul met Lydia, the first person in Europe to receive Christian baptism. That the first baptized Christian in Europe was a woman is deeply meaningful. It reminds us of how often God entrusts His greatest beginnings to women, as He did with Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the Resurrection, and with so many women who quietly carry the faith from one generation to the next.

We then returned to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas, and we were able to share with you a few messages and the Masses celebrated in the Shepherds’ Field and throughout the Bethlehem area.

A new year, a precious time

Now we begin a new year, a precious time to grow as human beings, as Christians, and as the Magdala Family. I would like to briefly recall the path we have been walking together, so that we remain focused:

The Magdala Family is a community inspired by the experience of the Holy Land and Magdala, which leads us to encounter God and commits us to extending His Kingdom in the world.

We live this mission through three main channels:

1) Prayer

For this, the “Touching the Mantle” prayer groups were formed. Today there are already 180 groups in 23 countries. We have also lived the Virtual Pilgrimage of Saint Luke, and now that of Saint Matthew, helping us go deeper into the greatest prayer of all: the Sunday Mass.

We also regularly have Adoration from Magdala, retreats, and other moments of spiritual life.

2) Formation

Magdala has wanted to offer you spaces of formation through the Virtual Pilgrimages, which remain available on our website‍, and on our English YouTube channel.
It is essential for our Christian life to continue growing in faith and formation.

We also offer you our daily livestreamed Masses with Fr. Eamon Kelly, the “Magdala to Your Home” videos with Fr. Timothy, and other resources. From time to time, we also send complementary materials which are very worthwhile to read, reflect upon, and pray with.

3) Volunteering

Commitment to extending the Kingdom of God in the world naturally leads to volunteering, inspired by Mary Magdalene and the group of Jesus’ followers, who loved Him and His Kingdom, and who accompanied Him and served Him with what they had.

To offer your time, your talents, your professional skills, your social position, for the good of others, even in a modest way, is something that belonging to the Magdala Family should awaken in each of us.

If each one of us gives just one small drop of water, we will form a stream, perhaps a small river, and perhaps we may reach the ocean of good works that so many generous people carry out every day in the world.

There is nothing left for me but to wish you, from the bottom of my heart, a beautiful beginning to this year 2026, filled with Jesus, and walking closely with Him each day.

Fraternally,  

Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C.

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