Dear Magdala Family,

In the midst of the whirlwind of events that surround us in this time and with the many “this never happened to me,” or “I had never done it like this…” and where our human organizations and institutions are attempting to re-invent themselves to pull ahead and through the obstacles that this pandemic has brough on us, Jesus´ words “Duc In Altum” (“Launch into the deep”) continue to enlighten us. He is telling us to trust and to continue ahead.

From Magdala we wish to bring you a great gift for the month of October, a virtual pilgrimage and retreat that we will showcase through the whole month. This pilgrimage/ retreat will follow what would be the ideal itinerary of the mysteries of the Rosary. In Pope St. John Paul´s II apostolic letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae,” the rosary of the Virgin Mary shows us the itinerary and fundamental goal of the Holy Rosary which is to, “contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ… and experience the depths of his love.” If we analyze the mysteries of the rosary, we will see that these are chronological itineraries of the mysteries of the life of Jesus, son of God. If we contemplate them in that order, visiting the places, knowing them in depth, meditating, celebrating daily the Eucharist in each one of them, we will, at the end of October have an iconic image of the Mystery of Christ as contemplated from the heart of the Virgin Mary.

I don’t pretend that everyone will enjoy praying the rosary as I do, or that you share the same faith that I have of the Virgin Mary. What I ask is that we each have some benevolence, openness of heart, mind and that you join us in this pilgrimage/retreat during the month of October. I think that as far as it is the month of the Rosary in the catholic faith, and given our special circumstances, God can outline in our hearts the Face of his Beloved Son, renewing our love, our faith and our adherence to his Most Holy Person.

This is the small contribution that we want to offer you as a thank you from our “trench”, since the government of Israel has just announced a new and more restricted lockdown measures.

Each day we will transmit in English, as in Spanish, a guided visit to the Holy Sites, together with the celebration of the Eucharist and a guided meditation. I hope that you enjoy these and they help you. We entrust these efforts in God´s hands so that he may light our hearts in the Divine and increase our faith.

We apologize in advance if, on any occasion, the confinement forces us to resort to a “virtual” visit of any of the places. Otherwise, we hope it is a real visit and that we can transmit it to you as authentic and personal as possible.

With our renewed prayer for each and every one of you, from Magdala we greet you with affection and gratitude,

Fr. Juan María Solana, LC and the Magdala Family

P.s. If you would like to join the pilgrimage you can do so here: https://bit.ly/2RLUsdF