Regnum Christi

Main Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu

June 20, 2024

Magdala 1200 Masses in 10 years

12,000 Masses in 10 Years: The Magdala Center’s Chapel Celebrates a Decade with 1.3 Million Pilgrims

/ APP News Feed, Magdala, Regnum Christi News
Magdala is a place of pilgrimage and a visitor center on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Over the past ten years, the Duc in Altum Chapel has welcomed more than 1.3 million pilgrims, with 12,000 Masses celebrated as well as many weddings, baptisms, and confirmations.

May 28, 2024, marked the 10th anniversary of the Duc in Altum Chapel of the Magdala Center and of Magdala’s Archaeological Park. Magdala opened its doors a decade ago as a place of meeting and prayer. During the anniversary Mass, Father Juan Solana, LC, director and founder of the Magdala Project, spoke emotionally about the inauguration and dedication of the chapel, and the role of Duc in Altum in the life of the pilgrims that visit it. “Magdala has witnessed the healing of hearts, the awakening of vocations to the priestly and religious life, and the restoration of many souls’ dignity,” said Father Solana.

Father Solana expressed his profound gratitude to all those who have contributed to this project over the years, highlighting the collaboration of volunteers, benefactors, friends, artists, and architects. “Nothing would have been possible without the generous and professional participation of many people,” he added. Magdala is considered one of the ten top tourist attractions in the Middle East.

One of Magdala’s pillars is its volunteer program, a community that is instrumental in serving pilgrims and guests. It has been home to over 4,500 volunteers from more than 35 countries who have Christ and played a significant role in the success of Magdala.

In conclusion, Father Solana invited those present to renew their commitment to service and continue being channels of divine grace. “I hope this place will always be one where rivers of living water flow, and a place of thanksgiving.” 

Magdala 1200 masses in 10 years

ABOUT MAGDALA

Magdala is an archaeological and spiritual center  located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. It’s known for being the place of origin of Mary Magdalen, a prominent figure in the New Testament. Not only does this place have  great historical and religious importance, but it has also become a Center of pilgrimage and spiritual reflection.

Duc in Altum is Magdala’s spiritual center; its translation from Latin means “Go Out Into the Deep.” It’s inspired by Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel. Duc in Altum includes a Chapel with an impressive structure in the form of a boat, which symbolizes the Church’s evangelizing mission. It also has several chapels dedicated to different episodes of the life of Jesus and Mary Magdalen.

Translated from the original Spanish published by Zenit.

12,000 Masses in 10 Years: The Magdala Center’s Chapel Celebrates a Decade with 1.3 Million Pilgrims Read More »

June 20, 2024 – The School of Prayer

/ Daily Meditations

 

 

 

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

 

 

Matthew 6:7-15

 

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

 

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in you. I believe that you love me, that you are close by my side, and that you will be walking with me throughout this day. I trust in you, Lord. I trust you more than I trust myself because you are infinitely good and all-powerful. I love you, Jesus. I love you because you died on the cross for me, to save me.

 

Petition: Lord, teach me to pray.

 

  1. Absolute Trust in God’s Providence: “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Christ’s words are an inexhaustible source of consolation and hope as they encourage us to turn constantly to our Father in prayer. “True piety is not so much a matter of the amount of words as of the frequency and the love with which a Christian turns toward God in all the events, great or small, of his day” (St. Matthew, The Navarre Bible, p. 72). But if our Father already knows our needs, why should we even present them to him in prayer? St. Augustine assures us that while we pray, God is molding our heart and soul so that we will be prepared to receive the good things he desires to give us in answer to our prayers.

 

  1. The Perfect Prayer: St. Augustine affirms that the Lord’s Prayer is so perfect that it sums up in a few words everything man needs to ask God for (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2762). “It is usually seen as being made up of an invocation and seven petitions—three to do with praise of God and four with the needs of men” (St. Matthew, The Navarre Bible, p. 72). The first two petitions, that God’s name be sanctified among all people, and that his Kingdom may come, should touch us in the depth of our being. We are called to be apostles of that Kingdom, to spread love for Christ among our brothers and sisters. Our apostolic zeal should be enkindled each time we pronounce those words of the Lord’s Prayer. Asking for God’s will to be done means that we seek to conform ourselves with his will in all of our thoughts and actions.

 

  1. Our Spiritual and Human Needs: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Even though we work to earn our daily bread with the sweat of our brow, it is still a gift from God. We ask only for what we need each day. The Church Fathers also see in this petition a request for the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. We strive to live so as to be worthy to receive the Eucharist each day. Christ then instructs us that when we ask God for forgiveness, we, too, must be willing to forgive others in the same way we ourselves are forgiven by our Father. Do I live this teaching fully in my life as a follower of Christ? Finally, we ask to be freed from temptation that is beyond our strength, and to be delivered from evil—or the Evil One. The Father is much more powerful than any temptation the devil can send against us. With what confidence and trust does Christ ask us to conclude the Our Father!

 

Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Lord, for teaching us how to pray. Thank you for the confidence and trust in our Father that your words inspire. Help me, so that the words of your own prayer may always be on my lips and in my heart.

 

Resolution: I will pray the Our Father as a colloquy with God at different moments during the day.

June 20, 2024 – The School of Prayer Read More »

Scroll to Top

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!