Dear Magdala Family,

I am writing these lines from Magdala, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, while we watch in the news the missiles being exchanged between Israel and Iran. The news reports can be extremely alarming. Here on the ground, however, I can tell you sincerely that we are calm and we continue our daily life trusting in God.

In recent days we have also experienced some very concrete moments that many of you have seen in the news: the missile alert sirens. When the siren sounds, everything stops. People walking, driving, working, everyone immediately knows what to do and heads to a protected space. It is a very particular sound, very penetrating, creating a moment of silence and tension as one wonders what might be happening outside.

These are difficult moments, moments of tension, but also moments when faith becomes more concrete and more real. When one experiences the fragility of life, one also discovers more clearly how important it is to hold on to hope. There may be war, tension, and uncertainty, and yet there is still an interior peace that comes from God. As the Lord says in the Gospel: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

Here in Magdala, our response as a community has been to intensify our prayers. We continue celebrating Mass every day and praying the Rosary especially for peace. The pilgrims who are here these days are living their experience of faith in a very intense way. Many tell us that they have never prayed with such depth before. Being in the holy places at a moment like this makes the Gospel feel even more real.

The Holy Land has always been marked by history, tensions, and conflicts. But it is also the place where God entered human history in a definitive way: here the Gospel was proclaimed, and here Christ died and rose again. For this reason, even in the midst of difficulties, this land remains a place of hope, because this is where the story of our redemption began.

During this month we are living the grace of the Lenten season, a time of spiritual journey, conversion, and renewal. In this season, the Church invites us to return to what truly matters and to strengthen our interior life. One of the pillars of the Magdala Family is Christian formation. We often say: “No one loves what they do not know.” Growing in our knowledge of faith helps us live with serenity even when the world around us feels uncertain.

For this reason, we continue offering opportunities to encounter God and deepen our faith: the virtual pilgrimages, moments of prayer, and the livestreams from the Holy Land. We are very encouraged to hear from so many of you who tell us that these programs have strengthened your faith and spiritual life.

In the coming weeks we will also be preparing to celebrate Holy Week, the heart of our faith. I encourage you to participate in the liturgies in your local parishes and to unite yourselves spiritually with the celebrations we share from Magdala.

For me personally, this time of year also carries a very special memory. On March 31, 2005, I made my first visit to this place, then known as Hawaii Beach. That day, while walking across what was still an empty piece of land, I felt strongly that God wanted something here. In a very simple gesture, I threw my rosary onto the ground and entrusted this project to Our Lady. Since then, we have seen how God has guided and protected this work step by step.

Providentially, this same March 31 we will hold a special time of Eucharistic Adoration from Magdala for the entire Magdala Family. It will be a moment to give thanks to God for everything He has done over these years and to entrust once again this project—and the peace of the Holy Land—to His hands. We invite you to unite your prayer with us that day, wherever you may be.

I would also like to ask something very simple of you: please pray for peace. Pray for all who live in this region, for families, for children, and for those who are afraid. Pray also for those who carry political and military responsibilities, that they may make decisions that truly lead to peace.

Here in Magdala we want to continue being a place of prayer for the whole world, a place where the Gospel is proclaimed and where many people find hope. In these difficult moments for the Holy Land, your closeness, your prayers, and your generosity are especially meaningful in sustaining this mission.

Thank you for walking with us as members of the Magdala Family. Your closeness, your prayers, and your support help ensure that this place continues to be a space of encounter with Christ and a place of prayer for the whole world.

May God bless you abundantly.

Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C. and the Magdala Team