“It is well known that this Congregation has the specific purpose of consolidating the kingdom of love of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the demands of justice and Christian charity.” With these words, Pope John Paul II entrusted two decades ago the care and management of the Pontifical Notre Dame of Jerusalem Institute.

On November 24th, the 20th anniversary of the presence of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi in the Holy Land was celebrated. That presence began with the trust placed by the Holy See in the Legion of Christ when assigning the administration of this important center.

In his Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio, Saint John Paul II indicated that:

To continue the valuable work carried out by Pope Paul VI, of venerable memory, in favor of the holy places, on December 13, 1978, I established in Jerusalem the Pontifical Institute “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center,” with a purpose of religious, cultural, charitable, and educational nature.

Since then, this pontifical institute has always been a significant expression of my concern and spiritual closeness to all ecclesial and human realities of the Holy Land, which has always been very dear to me, as it was to my predecessors.

In order to provide stability and continuity to the Pontifical Institute “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center,” I consider it appropriate to entrust its care and management to the congregation of the “Legionaries of Christ.”

Indeed, it is well known that this Congregation has the specific purpose of consolidating the kingdom of love of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the demands of justice and Christian charity.

The first director of Notre Dame was Father Juan Solana, L.C., who, on the occasion of this significant two-decade anniversary, said: “Leading the Notre Dame Center for 16 years has been a grace and an honor. First, to serve the Holy See; then, to accompany so many pilgrims on their journey to God; and also for the challenges we have encountered along the way. I deeply thank all the people who made this mission possible.”

A few months after the arrival of the legionaries, in December 2004, the first group of consecrated members of Regnum Christi also arrived. In May 2014, the Duc in Altum chapel of the Magdala Center and the Magdala Archaeological Park were established (cf. https://es.zenit.org/2024/06/04/12-mil-misas-en-10-anos-la-capilla-del-magdala-center/).

The celebration of the 20 years of pastoral service in the Holy Land was simple, as the wartime situation did not allow for anything more significant. Bishop Adolfo Tito, Apostolic Nuncio, presided over the Eucharist, followed by a meal. “Great moments are often simple, but leave a deep mark on the soul. On our part, the commitment to continue serving the Holy Father and the Church, with the hope that the seed of the Kingdom continues to grow in many hearts,” says a chronicle sent in the newsletter of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center.