Interview with Fr. Juan María Solana, L.C., about the spiritual and apostolic experience of Magdala Center, located in the Holy Land.
Where did the idea of Magdala Center originate?
It was when I was sent as the director of the guesthouse Notre Dame de Jerusalén…
Before going to the Holy Land, I was the director of the seminary in New York, but I was reassigned to a different apostolate. It was a significant change to become managing a guesthouse, and I found it hard to believe that Our Lord was leading me to His land; but I was always open to His will. One day, I accompanied Father Torrado, O.F.M., to Galilee and saw a sign that said “Magdala”. I asked the priest if that place had anything to do with Mary Magdalene, to which he nodded, telling me that it was, precisely, her hometown.
I was surprised that there was no church or anything in honor of her at that site. I have a strong devotion to this Saint because she deeply marked my mother during a spiritual retreat. She told me that story before I left for the minor seminary at age 13, so she was one of my devout saints.
With this in mind, and managing Notre Dame, I realized that there was a need for a pilgrim house in Galilee, and that’s how the idea was born.
What activities does Magdala carry out?
- Magdala (site)
Our mission is to be a catalyst for global reconciliation and renewal. In this way, we assist pilgrims coming from all over the world.
Additionally, at Magdala, we discover 1st-century archaeology, so Jesus most likely was there. Excavations took place from 2009 to 2014; and now we are in the phase of conservation, restoration, and research.
- New Gate Tours
We aim to offer a Christian spiritual experience through organizing pilgrimages to places considered sacred for Christians, taking them to destinations such as the Holy Land, Rome, among others.
- Itinerant spiritual exercises
The spiritual exercises are part of an ancient tradition of the Catholic Church. Their origin comes directly from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who developed a discursive-affective prayer method to facilitate everyone’s encounter with God. And what better place to do them than where everything happened!
- Volunteering
Being a volunteer at Magdala is an experience of service and spiritual enrichment, participating in activities such as attending to visitors, cleaning and maintaining the site, visiting biblical sites, and giving presentations on cultural topics. Volunteering fosters human and spiritual encounters in an atmosphere of respect, companionship, enthusiasm, service, and generosity. It is an experience that enriches understanding and deepens faith.
- Magdala Media Center
It started in 2020 during the pandemic. Its goal is to create audiovisual content from the Holy Land, such as the five virtual pilgrimages we have conducted.
- Priestly renewal courses
We support Logos and Sacerdos in the logistics of their priestly renewal course in the Holy Land
- YouthFest
It is our first Christian music festival, which will be launched this year.
- Magdalena Institute (Instituto Magdalena)
The Magdalena Institute maintains a vision of humanity rooted in the Scriptures and in dialogue with contemporary tradition and culture, highlighting the dignity of the human person, which arises from being created in the image and likeness of God. The Institute promotes equality in dignity between men and women, respecting their differences and complementary qualities.
- International Women’s Meeting
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Magdalena Institute will host the ninth annual women’s gathering. This year’s event is titled “Celebrating Female Identity: in a World Centered on Gender Ideology”; and will be led by an international group of women philosophers, educators, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, and artists. The event will span two and a half days of conferences, dialogue, music, activities, and prayer in the Judeo-Christian tradition, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
- apostolates of Regnum Christi
We also promote apostolates from the Regnum Christi movement. Currently, there is a lady from the movement conducting contemplative prayer workshops and coming with her group of women. Courses on the theology of the body have also been offered.
Where did the idea of organizing virtual pilgrimages come from?, what are their objectives?
Everything started during the pandemic when we asked ourselves: “How to bring the Holy Land to people, given that they cannot come as pilgrims in person?” That’s how the idea of virtual pilgrims was born! Our main goal today is to evangelize, educate people, and help them get to know Christ and the Church. During the pandemic, we also wanted to bring hope into homes.
What has been the experience with these pilgrimages?
The experience and the response from people have been incredible, but perhaps the healing pilgrimage showed us the most the effectiveness of these pilgrimages, as many people managed to heal wounds they had carried for a long time. It was beautiful. A free accompaniment center was created: www.conmagdala.org
How is a personal and spiritual experience lived virtually?, is it possible?
Of course it is possible, we have thousands of testimonies from people who have been touched and healed by Our Lord. Jesus knows no borders. He uses everything to knock on our door.
Some people have written to me saying that this virtual experience is the only way they managed to get to know the Holy Land. Others have told me they know it better virtually than on a pilgrimage.
Follow Magdala on social media:
- Facebook: Magdala Español/TerraSancta México
- YouTube: Experience Magdala
- YouTube: Terra Sancta México
- Instagram: experiencemagdala
- iPhone App: https://apps.apple.com/es/app/magdala/id1551425581?l=en
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details
