Bulletin 179
Medjugorje, October 26th, 2002
"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. Little children, believe that by simple prayer miracles can be worked. Through your prayer you open your heart to God and He works miracles in your life. By looking at the fruits, your heart fills with joy and gratitude to God for everything He does in your life and, through you, also to others. Pray and believe little children, God gives you graces and you do not see them. Pray and you will see them. May your day be filled with prayer and thanksgiving for everything that God gives you. Thank you for having responded to my call." October 25, 2002
DEATH - A CLIMBING FROM THE NEST TO THE STARS
In these days, I believe that we have all visited the tombs of our dearest ones. We went intentionally to the places where rest our faithful departed. We encountered the memory covered by tombstones. Tombs are places where we also make the experience of the fragility of human existence. There, we can clearly feel our dependence on the Saviour. A cemetery is a place where even an unbeliever awakens to prayer. Cemeteries are places where the sinner beats his breast and asks forgiveness. The reality of the tomb is an appeal to each man to be converted and to believe in the Gospel. This visit propels the life that is within us - the life given by Jesus Christ - to speak in spite of our mortality. Tombs whisper and tell us not to fail to spot heaven, eternity. The cemetery is a place of great messages, of dialogue between heaven and earth, between what is eternal and what is passing, between today and tomorrow. It is, finally, a discourse between those who gave their lives for our freedom and us, who enjoy the fruits of the benefits irrigated by blood.
To stand near a tomb, without hoping for eternity and a new life through Jesus Christ, would imply great suffering, hopelessness, failure and anguish. But to stand near the tombs, with a Christian belief in the life without end through the Resurrection of Christ, awakens consolation, brings light and inspires thoughts of a reunion in the house of our Heavenly Father, where each tear will disappear from our eyes.
Truly, the history of humanity until the coming of Jesus was a reign of death. Through Christ, this reality is transformed into the reign of life. By his death he conquered death itself, this is why he could say after his resurrection: "Why are you seeking the living among the dead?" Humanity, however, continues to be mortal, but it dies with Christ to live eternally with him. After the tombstone was taken away, Christian cemeteries are no more cities of the dead, places of death and pain, but fields in which God sows the wheat from which, when winds finish to blow and when winters pass, a new life will sprout. Mak Dizdar, a poet, beautifully states: "Death is not the end. There is in fact no death. And there is no end. Death is the light that shines on our path from the nest to the stars." If God himself has walked on this path, of what should we be afraid? If pain, because of her Son, has pierced Our Lady's heart, why should we not irrigate with our tears the paths of our dearest ones who - according to the teaching of our faith - have abandoned us only temporarily?
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of September, 170,000 communions were distributed and 3,364 priests from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims were here from England, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Poland, Korea, the USA, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Romania, Portugal, Lebanon, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the Ukraine, Spain, Slovakia, Malta, Scotland, Russia, Belgium, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
ARCHDIOCESAN VICAR FROM VENEZUELA ON PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
In thanksgiving for 25 years of priesthood, Msgr. Ricardo Guerra, juridical Vicar of the Archdiocese of Valencia in Venezuela came to Medjugorje at the end of September 2002. A three-week long pilgrimage that he undertook with a group of 16 faithful includes Fatima, Santiago de Compostella, Lourdes, Medjugorje, Milan, Rome and Paris.
Msgr. Guerra has already been to Medjugorje. The experience that he had led him to found a Youth Prayer Group, which lives according to the spirituality of the messages of the Queen of Peace. When we asked him why he came again to Medjugorje and what attracts the faithful to Medjugorje, Msgr. Guerra answered: "I fell in love with Medjugorje! The motherly voice full of tenderness that resounds through Our Lady's messages leads the faithful to prayer and to Christ. Our Lady calls us "little children", and this word deeply touches the human heart. Bishops in Venezuela remain reserved towards the apparitions of Medjugorje, but the faithful feel that this call is authentic and they respond."
ON BICYCLE FROM MEDJUGORJE TO LOURDES
On Monday, September 30th, 2002, Mate Vodanovic from Makarska (Croatia) started his journey on bicycle from Medjugorje to Lourdes. Mate wants to create a link between the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. He will take 23 days, crossing daily about 100 km.
MSGR. GEORGE HAMILTON PEARCE, RETIRED ARCHBISHOP OF THE FIJI ISLANDS, IN MEDJUGORJE
Msgr. George Pearce, retired Archbishop of the Fiji Islands, came with a group of American pilgrims on a private visit to Medjugorje at the end of September / beginning of October 2002. Msgr. Pearce lives and serves now in the Archdiocese of Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
We shall write about his impressions in the next issue of the Bulletin.
LITURGY OF THE PASSING AWAY OF ST. FRANCIS
On October 3rd, the vigil of the feast of St. Francis, the Franciscan family all over the world celebrates the moment of their founder's passing away of from this world into eternity. In Medjugorje, this rite was celebrated immediately after the Evening Holy Mass. The Medjugorje Friars, the Franciscan sisters, the Franciscan Youth Fraternity (FRAMA), members of the Franciscan Third Order, as well as Msgr. John Ward, a Franciscan Capuchin, the retired Archbishop of Cardiff/Wales (Great Britain), took part this year in this celebration.
In this liturgy, the Franciscans and the faithful remember the last moments of the earthly life of St. Francis, in love with God and the whole creation, who considered even death as his sister, and thanked it, because it leads him to his Creator. This year's liturgy of the Transitus was presided by Fr. Branko Rados, pastor.
RADIO "MIR" MEDJUGORJE RECEIVED LONG-TERM AUTHORIZATION FOR BROADCASTING
Radio "Mir" Medjugorje received long-term authorization for programme broadcasting in some more regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina and enlarged so the circle of listeners. The demanding work of obtaining this authorization was led by Fr. Miljenko Stojic, the former long-standing director of the Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje, which includes the Radio "Mir" Medjugorje, and Nikica Dragoje, its technical director.
Radio "Mir" Medjugorje started to broadcast five years ago. Its contents are diverse, and improving every day in content and technically. Fr. Mario Knezovic, the present director of the Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje and the Editor-in-Chief of the Radio "Mir" Medjugorje announced a new display of the programme beginning with January 1st, 2003. Radio "Mir" Medjugorje is the first radio on Bosnia and Herzegovina that broadcasts the programme live on Internet, on the address: www.medjugorje.hr.
MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC UNION OF THE PRESS (UCIP) VISITED MEDJUGORJE
Seventeen journalists from the USA, Canada, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, the Sudan, Tanzania, India, Pakistan, Lithuania, Albania and Germany, members of the International Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP) with its headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland), came to Medjugorje and Mostar on October 9 and 10, 2002.
In Mostar, the group of journalists visited the Franciscan Provincial House and the old part of the city.
In Medjugorje, they were received by Fr. Branko Rados, pastor, and Fr. Mario Knezovic, Director of the Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje. Fr. Branko spoke to them about the pastoral activities of the parish and about the pilgrim movement, and Fr. Mario about the media activities of the Information Centre, underlining especially the importance of the Radio Station "Mir" Medjugorje for local population.
The journalists climbed Apparition Hill, where they spent some time in silent prayer, and they also participated in the Evening Prayer Programme and in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
This visit to Medjugorje is a part of a four-week programme of the UCIP Summer University, where the journalists from all parts of the world have the occasion to know the history, people, cultures, religion, society and life of the countries they are visiting. This year, the members of the Summer University 2002 visited Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia. The visit to Mostar and Medjugorje, and then to Tomislavgrad, is the final point of this journey organised by the Association of Catholic Journalists of Croatia.
A CANADIAN BISHOP IN MEDJUGORJE
Msgr. Pearse Lacey, the retired bishop of Toronto (Canada), was in Medjugorje from October 12 to 19, 2002, with a group of Canadian pilgrims. He once already came on pilgrimage to Medjugorje, in 1987. On Sunday, October 13th (the day of Our Lady of Fatima), he presided the English pilgrims Mass in concelebration with about 20 priests. Msgr. Lacey underlined that he believes that Medjugorje is a continuation of Fatima.
We shall write about his impressions in the next issue of the Bulletin.
HOLY MASS IN THANKSGIVING FOR THE FRUITS OF THE EARTH
On Sunday, October 13, 2002, a Holy Mass in thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth was celebrated in the parish of Medjugorje. Children of the parish participated in this celebration by reciting poems, saying prayers and presenting offertory gifts, and have expressed their gratitude to the Lord - in the name of the whole parish - for all the fruits of the earth.
SEMINARS AT "DOMUS PACIS"
During the last two months, three "Prayer and Fasting" seminars for Polish and French pilgrims took place in the house of prayer "Domus Pacis". One hundred and eight participants spent 6 days in prayer, fasting and silence, desiring to deepen their faith.
>From September 20 to 22, the Franciscan sisters led a seminar for 35 girls, and at the end of September, the Franciscan friars gathered 20 members of the Franciscan Youth Fraternity for a time of recollection.
Contact for "Prayer and Fasting" seminars: Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, Zupni ured Medjugorje, Gospin trg 1, 88266 Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Fax: 00 387 36 651 444)
Bulletin 178
"Dear children! Also in this peaceless time, I call you to prayer. Little children, pray for peace so that in the world every person would feel love towards peace. Only when the soul finds peace in God, it feels content and love will begin to flow in the world. And in a special way, little children, you are called to live and witness peace - peace in your hearts and families - and, through you, peace will also begin to flow in the world. Thank you for having responded to my call." September 25, 2002
ROSARY - THE POWER OF OUR LADY'S SCHOOL
We approach the month of October, the month consecrated to Our Lady and to the prayer of the Rosary.
In October 1978, on the thirteenth day after his election as a Pope, John Paul II called out prior to the prayer of the Angelus: "The Rosary is my preferred prayer. A beautiful, wonderful prayer. Beautiful in its simplicity! Beautiful in its deepness!" The Pope, a man of prayer and faithfully devoted to our Heavenly Mother, expressed not only his own deep personal truth, but also the truth of many others who see, in the Rosary, the expression of their prayer and of their spiritual state. The Rosary is certainly a simple prayer but, as such, it has conquered the hearts of Christians. It has - as the Pope says - its depth and its rich content. Many faithful have come to know precisely this depth and this content while praying the Rosary in Medjugorje.
With the rosary in hand, we can certainly become different creatures. Our Lady knows it, and this is why she invites us to practice this beautiful and sublime devotion. With the same motherly love, she invited us in Fatima, in Lourdes, in Medjugorje to pray the Rosary ... The Rosary is an invitation for us to walk through Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem... It is always a new lesson at Our Lady's school. Through the Rosary, we come to Jesus, we identify ourselves to the image of the Servant of the Lord and we enter into the space of the sacred. The Rosary is a powerful weapon in the hands of Christians. While saying the Hail Marys, while meditating on the mysteries, while pronouncing the prayer, we become people who can and who have the right to direct humanity towards the Creator of all.
Through the Rosary, a believer establishes a dialogue between heaven and earth. The Rosary is our best friend in loneliness, in illness, in sorrow, in anguish... Someone has once written: "Each one has means for its defence: for children, it is crying and shouting; for women, it is tenderness and tears; for men, it is strength and decision; and for us, Catholics, it is Christ and Mary, the Eucharist and the Rosary."
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
During the month of August, 213,000 communions were distributed and 4,155 priests from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims were here from Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Poland, Romania, Korea, Slovakia, Portugal, the USA, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Lebanon, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Belgium, the Ukraine, Spain, Malta, the Republic of South Africa, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A NEW INTERIOR LOOK FOR THE ADORATION CHAPEL
In July 2002, the Adoration Chapel received a new interior look. The space around the altar was modified, the orientation of the altar and of the tabernacle was changed, and the statue of the Holy Family was put up, as an invitation to families to find in Jesus the source of love and of unity.
Because of lack of other prayer spaces, the Adoration Chapel continues to serve as a place for Eucharistic celebrations in different languages for the pilgrims throughout the morning. In the afternoon, it is a place of adoration, of silent prayer and recollection.
A BISHOP FROM GABON IN VISIT TO MEDJUGORJE
Msgr. Jean-Vincent Ondo, Bishop of the Diocese of Oyem in Gabon, came on a private visit to Medjugorje during the International Youth Festival 2002. He told us about his impressions:
"When I came for the first time, when I was not a bishop yet, I came with a family. Today, I am here again with a family. It is a private visit. We came here because we want to pray and to live what Our Lady tells us. What is happening here happens in our dioceses: rosary, adoration prayer... What is especially beautiful is the great number of those who come here, while in our dioceses we have smaller groups.
Concerning the apparitions, the presence of Our Lady, I would say that it is difficult to give a precise opinion after only a few days that I have spent here. I did not have all the elements needed for discernment. What I can say is that something is happening here. I had the grace to meet the visionary Marija and to be present during her prayer. Something is happening that goes beyond my reasoning. An analytical intelligence always wants to explain everything, but I think that we simply have to admire all that is happening. Our Lady challenges us here. To those who doubt, She may shed some more light with time...
Our coming here is oriented towards the living of our faith and not towards seeking something unusual. I am enthusiastic to see Christians coming from all horizons and speaking one and the same language - the language of prayer.
The Holy Spirit is far beyond us. We are humans and have limited understanding. It is difficult to answer this question. It is like talking about a man who wants to empty the sea and put the water into a small hole.
This is not the first experience of this kind in the world. There were apparitions in Fatima and in Lourdes. Now everyone talks about Medjugorje. If these experiences existed in the past, they may exist in the present and in the future.
Here, Our Lady reveals herself as the Queen of Peace. God alone knows how many hearts are troubled. We seek that peace, which comes from God alone. I had the occasion to meet many pilgrims. I felt the distress of their hearts. They have come here to confide their sufferings to Mary in the hope of finding inner peace. I believe that those who come here are not tourists, but they come in the hope of finding rest in Mary.
There is nothing different here than what we can see and experience in our dioceses. What I can see is that young people in their parishes feel too much lukewarmness. When they come to these kinds of meetings, they discover a living, warm, awakened Church, and they are happy and joyful to be together. I believe that we have to be careful about how we receive these young people, these children, so that those who have experienced something here do not remain on the level of strong feelings. It should become a strong experience of faith, which will help them to continue to grow in faith when they leave Medjugorje."
FR. STANKO DODIG: 25 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD
On Sunday, August 18th, Fr. Stanko Dodig, a Franciscan Capuchin and parishioner of Medjugorje, celebrated 25 years of his priesthood in his native parish in a solemn Holy Mass. Fr. Stanko was born on July 10, 1949. He finished elementary school in Medjugorje and Citluk. In 1968, he went to the Franciscan classical middle school at Visoko. He received the Franciscan habit in Rijeka in 1974. He finished his theology studies in Zagreb, where he also made his solemn vows and was ordained a priest on June 26, 1977. His first solemn Mass as main celebrant was celebrated in Medjugorje on July 17, 1977, and the 25th Anniversary Mass in Rijeka (Croatia) on July 14th of this year. For 20 years now, he has lived in Rijeka where he fulfils different services: four times he was elected superior of his monastery, where he is still today superior today. He is also doyen of the cathedral, as well as an honourable citizen of Rijeka.
Fr. Stanko Dodig spends most of his holidays in Medjugorje at the service of parishioners and pilgrims.
JELENA VASILJ'S WEDDING
Jelena Vasilj from Medjugorje and Massimiliano Valente from Rome were married in Medjugorje on Saturday, August 24th 2002. in the presence of their numerous friends from the whole world, the solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over and the marriage vows were blessed by Fr. Dragan Ruzic, a Franciscan from Herzegovina studying in Rome. Jelena finished her studies of Theology, Church History and oriental languages, first in the US and then in Rome, where she is living today.
Jelena Vasilj and Marijana Vasilj-Juricic are known to all the pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje as the two girls who had the gift of inner locutions.
A NEW STUDIO AND SET-UP FOR THE RADIO STATION "MIR" MEDJUGORJE
On Monday, August 26th, 2002, a new studio and set-up for the Radio Station "Mir" Medjugorje were blessed in the quarters of the Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje. The rite of benediction was presided by Fr. Slavko Soldo, Provincial of the Herzegovinian Franciscan Province, in the presence of Fr. Branko Rados, pastor of Medjugorje, Fr. Miljenko Stojic, former director of the radio, Franciscan brothers, religious sisters, collaborators and co-workers of the Radio Station. They rejoiced in the development of their radio, because this acquisition facilitates and updates the quality of the work and of the programme. Radio "Mir" Medjugorje thus becomes one of the best equipped with electronic media in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Croatia. Fr. Mario Knezovic, Director of the Information Centre and Chief Redactor of Radio "Mir" Medjugorje, greeted the hosts.
THE "DAY OF THE RELIGIOUS" IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The Conference of Higher Religious Superiors in Bosnia and Herzegovina organised the third "Day of the Religious" on August 30 and 31, 2002. The meeting, which gathered 160 religious men and women, took place at St. Anthony's Franciscan monastery at Humac (Ljubuski) under the title, "The Response of the Religious to New Religious Movements in the Church".
Fr. Mijo Dzolan, President of the Conference and Franciscan Provincial of Bosnia, greeted the participants, while thanking the Lord for the gift of such a large presence of religious on this year's gathering. Msgr. Franjo Komarica, Bishop of Banja Luka, President of the Bishops Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and President of the Council for the Religious greeted the participants in the name of the Bishops Conference of B&H. He underlined the up-to-datedness of the theme, quoting the words of the Second Vatican Council: The Holy Spirit unites the Church in service, leads it through different hierarchical and charismatic gifts, and bestows on it its fruits.
Fr. Mario Knezovic, the Secretary of the Conference of Higher Religious Superiors, who also organised and led the programme of the "Day of the Religious", read the greeting letters from Msgr. Josip Bozanic, Archbishop of Zagreb (Croatia) and Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Sarajevo (B&H).
The Franciscans of Medjugorje also participated at this meeting. The participants of the meeting had a dinner in Medjugorje itself.
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
On the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated in Medjugorje on first Sunday after the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, about 40,000 local and foreign pilgrims gathered in the Shrine of the Queen of Peace. As every year, rivers of pilgrims arrived at Medjugorje already during the night. Many of them travelled hundreds of kilometres, some of them barefoot.
As a visible sign of the eternal light shining from the Cross, ten days before the feast, the cross on Križevac was illuminated, reminding us of its significance, and preparing parishioners and pilgrims for this feast.
Sixty priests concelebrated the solemn Holy Mass on Križevac, presided by Fr. Jure Brkic.
For those who could not climb Križevac, there was a solemn Holy Mass celebrated in the parish church at 12 am. It was presided by Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic. The evening Holy Mass, celebrated at the outside altar and concelebrated by 55 priests, was presided by Fr. Ivan Dugandzic, superior of the Franciscan monastery at Zagreb and professor at the Catholic Faculty of Theology.
This is an occasion to familiarise you with the history of Cross Mountain [Krizevac] and the cross erected on it. About one kilometre from the church of Medjugorje, as the crow flies, Cross Mountain rises up as a continuation of Crnica Hill, forming an angle with it. On its peak (520 meters above sea level) the pastor and people of Medjugorje at that time, in 1934, erected an 8.56-meter high, reinforced concrete cross. In it, they engraved the words, "To Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the human race, as a sign of their faith, love and hope, the pastor Bernadine Smoljan and the parish of Medjugorje". Relics received from Rome for the occasion are embedded in the cross bar itself. They are a piece of the cross venerated by Christians as the one on which Jesus Christ was crucified, the largest part of which is preserved in the Church of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem in Rome. The cross was completed on March 15, 1934. Later on, the custom was established of celebrating Holy Mass at the base of the cross on the first Sunday.
"ENCOUNTERS AND EXPERIENCES IN MEDJUGORJE" II AND III - TWO BOOKS OF INTERVIEWS LED BY FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
This year, the Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje edited two books containing interviews led by Fr. Slavko Barbaric between 1993 and 2000, under the title, "Encounters and Experiences in Medjugorje" II and III. These two books contain witnesses of pilgrims from different continents who have experienced a conversion, who have found faith or who were physically healed in Medjugorje, through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, but also conversations with scientists, artists, priests, bishops... The common idea of all the witnesses could be: "In Medjugorje, I have found faith, here I feel at home". These interviews help us to better understand the influence of Medjugorje on the spiritual transformation of men, of the Church and of humanity.
Translations in other languages are in preparation. You can find this book in the Souvenir shop of the Parish.
WINTER SCHEDULE OF THE PRAYER PROGRAMME AT THE SHRINE
On Monday, September 16th, 2002, the winter schedule of the prayer programme at the Shrine began. The prayer of the Rosary in the Parish church begins at 5pm, Holy Mass at 6pm, followed by the blessings and the third part of the rosary. Eucharistic adoration is on Thursday after the evening Mass and on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9pm. The Veneration of the Cross is on Friday after the Evening Mass.
He Rosary on the Apparition Hill and the Way of the Cross on Cross Mountain will begin at 2pm. The occasion for confessions is every evening during the evening prayer programme.
Bulletin 177
Medjugorje, August 26th, 2002
"Dear children! Also today I am with you in prayer so that God gives you an even stronger faith. Little children, your faith is small and you are not even aware how much, despite this, you are not ready to seek the gift of faith from God. That is why I am with you, little children, to help you comprehend my messages and put them into life. Pray, pray, pray and only in faith and through prayer your soul will find peace and the world will find joy to be with God. Thank you for having responded to my call." August 25, 2002
CHRISTIAN CHALLENGE OF THE CROSS
When - in 1933 - the parishioners of Medjugorje made a vow, and when - in 1934 - they constructed the large cross on the hill above the village, which, for this reason, later received the name of Cross Mountain, they did not think that this place would became a meeting point of pilgrims from the whole world. Today a prayerful procession takes place on this mountain in which pilgrims meditate on the passion and death of Jesus. Climbing the hill to reach the cross, the faithful conform their life and their pain, their cross and their suffering to the Cross of Christ. Here, a believer can feel the nearness of the love of God and of His intervention in our lives. God Himself takes upon Himself the shame of the cross and dies, out of love, for our new birth.
It is inconceivable to speak about Christianity, about following Christ, without embracing the cross. The Cross stands in front of us as a choice and as a reality of Christian belonging. Jesus says clearly to his disciples: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mt 16,24). This is Jesus' offer. Jesus offers to us the same as what His Father and our Heavenly Father offered Him. Jesus pushes us onwards, but with the weight of the cross. Nevertheless, we should not be afraid. The Cross is not a curse. The Cross is a blessing and the reality of the disciples of Jesus. On this way, we are neither alone nor abandoned. God knows our strength and our capacities, and this is why He repeats to us that His yoke is easy and His burden light.
Observing Medjugorje in the context of the Cross, we come to the conclusion that the Cross is at the very centre of Medjugorje, and that - at the same time - Medjugorje is a new cross. In Medjugorje, Our Lady offers us nothing alluring, and nothing passing. Our Lady, as God's ambassador, calls us always to Christ. Hence, we have seen what Christ offers: the Cross, renouncement and the dying out of love for others. It is therefore not surprising that, precisely at the school of Mary, the Cross becomes, in Medjugorje, a light burden and an acceptable choice. In Medjugorje, people leave their addictions and enslavements, which are a meaningless suffering, and through sacraments, they purify their souls and choose the Cross, which is for Christians the tree of life, giving a reason to the meaning of earthly existence.
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of July, 85,000 communions were distributed and 4436 priests from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims were here from Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Lebanon, Belgium, the USA, the Republic of South Africa, England, Germany, Madagascar, Indonesia, Egypt, Latvia, Korea, Japan, Yugoslavia, Romania, Portugal, Honduras, Slovenia, Ireland, France, Hungary, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
THE IMPRESSION OF PERUVIAN BISHOPS
As we have written in the Bulletin No 176, two Peruvian bishops, Msgr. Julio Ojeda Pascual, OFM, Bishop of San Ramon/Peru, and Msgr. Gerard Anton Zerdin, OFM, a missionary and Bishop-coadjutor of the same diocese, came on private pilgrimage to Medjugorje from July 4 to 6,
2002.
Msgr. Julio Ojeda Pascual told us about his impressions:
"I am happy and touched for having had the occasion to come to this country. I heard about the apparitions for the first time from the newspapers that were given to us by Fr. Gerard and other Franciscan priests living in Peru. For me, it meant nothing more than other strange names and I was sceptical, but I have noticed conversions and this is what impressed me most of all. I have come here thanks to the Franciscans from Zagreb (Croatia) who invited me to visit them. There was an occasion to come to Medjugorje and I did it. I see so many people coming here; people who want to come closer to Jesus through Mary. Let us thank God for having given us Mary, whom we venerate as Mother of God, and who always leads us to Jesus.
Nature is so beautiful here, vegetation and mountains, there are so many rocks; it is an impulse for a spiritual experience. It is like the image of the man, the sinner, who is maybe as hard as a stone, and from whom vegetation can germinate with the help of the grace of God. I believe in the grace of prayer for the spiritual path of man towards God. These pilgrimages can obtain the grace of more workers in God's harvest. The harvest is big but there are few labourers. Many people go to these places out of spiritual motives, others come out of curiosity. Instead of finding satisfaction for their curiosity, they find something else: they find an example. There are many conversions here, which can lead to spiritual vocations: a priestly vocation, a religious vocation, an active lay vocation...
When I come back home, I will tell what I have seen and experienced: People really come with the intention to make a pilgrimage. There is an atmosphere of pilgrimage, order and prayer. I do not see anything negative. I am positively impressed. We have seen people praying in deep recollection. The ambience is good.
May the Mother of God always be with us, and not only in exceptional days of pilgrimage. Let us be faithful in our daily life to all of that, faithful to what the Mother of God leads us."
MSGR. GERARD ANTON ZERDIN TOLD US:
"We read about the Medjugorje apparitions in newspapers, we received people who showed us some materials, and we were especially touched by the desire of people to come closer to God, to use every occasion to come closer to God. They have seen that a door towards God was open and they came closer, asking for grace, wanting to transform their lives. This is a great value. This is what we want: to always come closer to God through the sacraments, to be transformed, to become better, to be more Christian.
We have come to see, but even more to experience. Yesterday, we were at Holy Mass, today we went to the Apparition Hill to meditate on our vocation, on our missionary work; we went to ask God, to ask Our Lady to send us missionaries, labourers that we need, so that the Word of God may spread to the ends of the earth.
It is difficult to come from Peru, people have restricted possibilities for these kind of journeys. We have some shrines in Peru, especially pilgrimages to places where crosses are put up. The devotion to the Crucified Christ is very popular: on the picture, He is with Mary, and the Holy Trinity is present. The image itself is a matter for catechesis. People make large processions, which are occasions for us to preach the Word of God, to confess, to convert. Many popular folklore customs are also linked to these processions in Peru.
There is no tourism here. Through the pilgrimage, through prayer, people seek to come closer to God. The examples of others stimulate them to conversion."
CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF ST. JAMES
The feast of St. James the Apostle, the patron saint of the parish, was solemnly celebrated on July 25th. The Eucharistic celebration began and ended singing the litany of All the Saints and a procession with the statue of the Patron Saint, which was carried this year by men from Podbrdo. After the traditional procession with the statue of the saint from the parish church to the wood near the church, followed Holy Mass, presided by Fr. Mate Dragicevic, OFM, Pastor of the parish of Cerin, a native of Medjugorje, along with 29 priests, among whom was the Herzegovinian provincial Fr. Slavko Soldo, himself also a native of Medjugorje. The parishioners and their friends, who come for this special occasion to celebrate the patron saint of the parish of Medjugorje, were joined by a large number of foreign pilgrims, who also venerate St. James, who is also patron saint of pilgrims. As a reminder, let us say that the parish of Medjugorje was founded in 1892, and St. James has been as its patron saint since then.
THE 13TH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER MEETING
The 13th International Youth Prayer Meeting took place, again this year, from July 31st to August 6th in Medjugorje. About 15,000 young people from about 30 countries from all over the world gathered together. There were also about 250 priests, who accompanied their young parishioners to this meeting. The theme of the meeting was, "With Mary, Witness Peace and Joy". During the evening prayer programme, numerous other pilgrims joined young people.
Lecturers and witnesses invited young people to live in peace and joy, so that - according to the invitation of the Holy Father - they may become, with their intelligence and their feelings, a sure foundation of the future of humanity.
This meeting was another exceptional spiritual experience for all young people who participated. This is why we invite them to come next year again to Medjugorje and to renew their fidelity to God, to the Holy Father and to the Church.
The meeting was simultaneously translated into 16 languages.
THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY
Several thousands of local and foreign pilgrims came to Medjugorje for the feast of the Assumption of Mary. During the morning, Holy Masses were celebrated in several languages, and the solemn evening Mass, in concelebration with 60 priests, was presided by Fr. Stojan Zrno, a missionary in the Congo. This year again, already during the night, a large number of Croatian pilgrims came barefoot, after having walked many kilometres.
SEMINARS AT "DOMUS PACIS"
At the beginning of July, a seminar of contemplative prayer was held for 22 Franciscan sisters from Dubrovnik. The seminar was led by Sr. Franka Bagaric and Fr. Mladen Herceg.
A "Prayer and Fasting" seminar for a group of Croatian and Slovenian pilgrims was held at the end of July. Forty-three pilgrims spent 6 days in prayer, fasting and silence, desiring to deepen their faith and their abandonment to the Lord. The seminar was led by Sr. Ljilja Pehar and Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic.
Contact for "Prayer and Fasting" seminars: Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, Zupni ured Medjugorje, Gospin trg 1, 88266 Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Fax: 00 387 36 651 444)
THE BOOK "MEDJUGORJE IN THE CHURCH"
The book "Medjugorje in the Church" was published last year in the Croatian language. Many pilgrims who come or intend to come to Medjugorje often ask themselves: Is the official Church for or against Medjugorje? This book is an attempt to respond to this question. It contains declarations of Church dignitaries who have visited Medjugorje and expressed their impressions of this occasion, as well as of those who gave their opinion about the events of Medjugorje in other circumstances. Their declarations are ordained hierarchically and chronologically. The sources for this book are the materials printed and published in Croatian language.
"In Church matters, the opinion of Bishops is of special importance, because they are teachers of the People of God in matters of faith and morality. In the past twenty years, several hundreds of bishops from all over the world came to Medjugorje. Each one of them made his opinion about the reality known under the name of Medjugorje based on his personal insight and experience. This book collects the declarations of responsible people in the Church, which were not yet published, so that each and every reader may make his own judgment about what they say and think about Medjugorje, with the remark that this is private opinion of the bishops. While giving this book to the public, we have given the (at this moment only possible) answer to the question that is so often asked: "What does the Church say about Medjugorje?" (From the Foreword written by Fr. Leonard Orec)
Without anticipating the official position of the Catholic Church, whatever can be found on these pages gives a sufficiently clear answer to the question: Why this book?
This year, the book was published in English and in Italian, and soon the German translation will also be published. The book can be found in the Souvenir shop of the Parish of Medjugorje.
Medjugorje, September 26th, 2002
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS