Dear Magdala Family,
We want to begin by wishing you a good Lenten Season again this year. To help you with this, the entire Magdala team is putting their best effort into the preparation of our fifth Virtual Pilgrimage for Lent entitled “Exodus: Pilgrimage of Freedom, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ Mt 2,15.”
Sign up now and share the information with your friends, family, and acquaintances.
Since last year, we thought about this theme for our Lenten pilgrimage, but due to the CV19 Omicron variant, we had to make a last-minute change. Indeed, circumstances did not lend themselves to a journey through several countries and the prospect of being blocked there, unable to return to Israel. Instead, we decided to change the theme, and for Lent 2022, we completed our Pilgrimage of Grace.
For several months we have been working on our new “Exodus” pilgrimage. Our preparation was extensive as this time we had to journey to three countries in three separate phases. The first was our visit to Egypt, from November 6th to 20th, in which our team faced some unique adventures; the second phase in southern Israel from the 8th to the 15th of January, was also eventful, and the third and last in Jordan, from 1st to 9th of February, was valiantly braved by our media team who encountered some unexpected and surprising storms that transported us to the original Exodus journey. What an experience! Blessed be God!
I confess that sacred history has always been a fascination for me. I heard those stories when my mother was preparing my brother, Manuel, for his First Communion. I was 2 or 3 years old. I listened to them again for the preparation of my own First Communion, which I had the grace to receive at the age of 5, almost 6. Since then, those stories remained deeply engraved in my imagination and my memory. I love the figure of Moses; I love the stories of the passage through the Red Sea, of the Plagues of Egypt, and of the first Passover. It thrills me to think of Moses climbing Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the Law. I was horrified to hear the worship of the Golden Calf and the serpents biting the Israelite rebels who were always whining to God. And I sensed a lost opportunity when the explorers of the Holy Land came back with different narratives and confused people until they rebelled against God, leading Yahweh to punish them and make them wander in the desert for 40 years…
I feel that in every corner of this Exodus, the wisdom that our world so desperately needs is hidden: the basic concepts of upright, objective, mature human behavior. That is why we decided to embark on this adventure now.
I confess that every day has been a challenge. We have had to overcome many legal, climate, logistic, and medical obstacles among others, but it has been utterly worth it. Today, we are now ready to launch this great series of Exodus. Let us lead you through the Bible hand in hand with Moses to make your own personal covenant with God.
As you watch our virtual pilgrimage pick which point of view will attract you the most. Will it be from a cultural point of view as we travel and discover the cultures of the Ancient Middle East? Or enjoy it as a spiritual retreat, a perfect choice as we prepare during this Lent. Anyway, if you follow it we are excited to share with you the history, anecdotes, and spiritual relevance of these wonderful places. I assure you that you will not regret it.
When Easter comes, we will chat about what you enjoyed the most.
I have many more things to mention but I don’t want to overwhelm you. We will stay connected in the coming months. For now, I simply ask you to join this global pilgrimage with your prayer, with your participation, and by sharing it with your friends and family. May wonderful, positive, uplifting emotions resound in our hearts.
From now on, we wish you a great Lent and assure you of our unity in prayer.
Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C. and the Magdala team.
PS. As I write these lines, many of you will have heard of the dramatic news of the earthquake in Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. I ask for your prayers for all the victims and, if anyone would like to send help, we have coordinated our assistance through the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land who have many projects in that region and are aiding the local Christian communities and others in the affected areas.
If you wish to support them, please use as a reference in your donation: “Earthquake”
Pro Terra Santa | Aleppo Earhquake Emergency | DONANTE NOW
Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land | DONATE NOW
Custodia Terrae Sanctae | DONATE NOW
Donate by Bank Transfer | Bank Account number HERE