News archive

14th International seminar for priests ended

14^th International seminar for priests that began in Medjugorje on the feast of Apostles’ leaders St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29^th, ended with the Holy Mass of gratitude on Saturday, July 4^th at 12 o’clock. Host families to all of the priests that participated in the seminar were present as well. Fr. Ante Vuckovic from Split led the seminar, while Fr. Miljenko Steko was the coordinator, and there were total of 343 priests, deacons and seminarians present from twenty-five countries.

ON THEIR KNEES TO THE TOP OF THE CROSS MOUNTAIN

Pilgrims from Korea, 29 of them, in the age from nine to seventy-eight, together with their priest Agnello W.Choi climbed the Cross Mountain on Saturday morning on their knees, in the honour of the 28^th Anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje. Father Agnello Choi has been in Medjugorje already on six occasions, and this, seventh time decided to come with the special prayer intention for the peace at Korean peninsula, that is going through difficult political troubles.

COMMUNITY MERCIFUL FATHER OPENS A NEW HOUSE

Community Merciful Father, that is part of Mother's Village in Bijakovici, which is specialized in recovering drug addicts, celebrated very important event on Saturday: opening of a new, fourth house in place Gomiljak close to Kiseljak, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (foto)

Statistics for June 2009

Holy Communions distributed: 159.000

Concelebrating priests: 4.411 (147/day)

14th INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR FOR PRIESTS BEGAN

On June 29^th, 2009, 14^th International seminar seminar for priests began in Medjugorje with the Prayer to the Holy Spirit and Holy Mass at 7 p.m. at the White Dome. Dr. Fr. Ivan Sesar was the main celebrant, and Dr. Fr. Miljenko Steko, the coordinator of the seminar, gave a sermon.

14th INTERNATIONAL PRIESTS SEMINAR

The 14th International Priests Seminar will be held in Međugorje from June 29 to July 4, 2009

on the theme of: «You are my friends... (John 15, 14)» The coordinator of the seminar is Fr. Miljenko Šteko. The lecturer is the friar Ante Vučković

We inform you that The International Priests Seminar (6.29. until 7.4.2009), as well as The International Youth Festival (8.1. until 8.6.2009) in Medjugorje, will be broadcasted live online, both audio and video.

The German Information center for Medjugorje (www.medjugorje.de) and Kath.net (www.kathtube.com), will provide live broadcast on their Internet pages in Croatia, German, English, Spanish and Italian language.

TWENTY- EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY'S APPARITIONS CELEBRATED IN MEĐUGORJE

Twenty-eighth anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions was celebrated in Međugorje on June 25th, 2009. Numerous pilgrims from all five continents, of different colours and customs, were united in prayer and language that everybody understands – the language of love through the Queen of Peace. Ever since the Wednesday evening many groups of pilgrims who came walking from Herzegovina, Bosnia, Republic of Croatia, as well as some individuals from Europe, started coming to Međugorje. (foto)

REGULAR ANNUAL APPARITION TO THE VISIONARY IVANKA

The visionary Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez had her regular annual apparition on June 25^th 2009.

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION – NOVENA

In this Novena, that started on June 15th, 2009, almost at all times, day and night, groups from all different parts of the world were climbing up the Apparition Hill. Every afternoon, despite the rain, Rosary was prayed at 4 p.m. Morning Holy Masses were celebrated in different languages, and evening prayer programme began at 6 p.m. with Rosary. Franciscans from Međugorje were main celebrants at the evening Holy Masses.

Statistics for May 2009

Holy Communions distributed: 141.000

Concelebrating priests: 3.254 (104/day)

Books for Mother'sVillage

A group of pilgrims from Zagreb led by Krešo William Bello and the writer Nevenka Vidak decided to help actively the children from Mother’s Village. They collected books and donated books edited by their own publishing houses, so that Mother’s Village library was enriched by different new books, mostly for children, as well as encyclopedias, tales, novels…

Mary is doing nothing exceptional, She is exceptional

Interview: Msgr. Leo Maasburg, national director of MISSIO Austria

Msgr. Leo Maasburg, National director of MISSIO Austria, was in Medjugorje in April 2009. During many years, he accompanied Mother Teresa on her journeys and at the occasion of the opening of new houses on different continents. He was preaching retreats for her sisters all over the world. When Mother Teresa opened her first houses in Moscow and in Armenia in 1988, Father Leo was spiritual counsellor of the sisters during several months, and thus the first „official” Catholic priest in the Soviet Union at that time. Afterwards, together with an Italian businessperson, he launched the largest Catholic Radio Family „Radio Maria”, which is present on all the continents today.

Mother’s Day in Mother’s Village

The Mother’s Day celebration took place on Friday, May 8, in St. Francis’ Garden in Mother’s Village. Children from the Elementary School Bijakovići and children from Mother’s Village with their teachers learned for that day several songs.

Flags 2 m x 1 m for the 20th International Youth Prayer Meeting

The parish Medjugorje is preparing for the 20^th International Youth Prayer Meeting – Mladifest, with the theme, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2,5) (see: Program)

First Holy Communion in the parish Medjugorje

On Sunday, May 3, 78 children from the Medjugorje parish received the First Holy Communion. Holy Mass at 10 AM was presided by Fr. Miljenko Šteko, and during Mass sung the children choir “Little doves of peace” under direction of Sister Slavica Kožul. The church was filled with children, their parents and numerous pilgrims.