News archive

Mons. Pavel Mária Hnilica, S.J. has died

Mons. Pavel Mária Hnilica, S.J., Titular Bishop of Rusado, died in the early morning of the 8^th of October 2006, in Novi Hrady in the Czech Republic. He will be buried on the 18^th of October in Trnava (Slovakia). Mons. Hnilica was ordained a priest on 29.09.1950, and consecrated bishop on 02.01.1951. He was appointed Titular Bishop of Rusado on 13.05.1964.

The Medjugorje Adoration in Voivodina

Approximately 2,000 people inhabit the Hungarian speaking rural parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, in the town Male Pijace in Voivodina (Serbia). They have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in their church every Thursday. They listen to the meditations from the church in Medjugorje thanks to “Radio Maria” from Novi Sad, which, in turn, relays the broadcasts from Radio “Mir” Medjugorje. Whenever translation into the Hungarian language is not possible in Medjugorje itself, the translation is done in the studio in Novi Sad.

The parish priest, Fr. József Széll, together with his parishioners, came to Medjugorje on a pilgrimage in October 2006, and he outlined how they pray for peace in his parish…

Mons. Luigi Bommarito and Mons. Harry Joseph Flynn visit Medjugorje for the feast of the Queen of the Holy Rosary

Two archbishops visited Medjugorje for the feast of the Queen of the Holy Rosary.

Mons. Luigi Bommarito, Archbishop Emeritus of Catania (Italy), was in Medjugorje from the 5^th to the 7^th of October 2006, together with a group of pilgrims from Italy. This was his second visit to Medjugorje.

Mons. Harry Joseph Flynn, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA), together with a group of pilgrims from Minnesota, visited Medjugorje for the first time from the 6^th to the 8^th of October 2006.(photos)

St. Francis’ “Transitus”

With a special liturgy, which is celebrated on October 3^rd, the vigil of St. Francis’ feast, the worldwide Franciscan family celebrates the “Transitus” – the moment of Saint Francis’ passing into eternity.

In St. James’ parish in Medjugorje, this rite was celebrated immediately after the evening Mass at the outside altar. The Medjugorje Friars, the Franciscan Sisters, Frama (the Franciscan Youth Fraternity) and members of the Franciscan Third Order took part in the celebration.

In the presence of many parishioners and pilgrims, this year’s liturgy of the Transitus was presided over by the Parish Priest, Dr. Fr. Ivan Sesar, and included the participation of the choir of the Franciscan Youth Fraternity and the “Little Doves of Peace” children’s choir.

Slovenian “Ognjišče“ in Medjugorje 

On Friday, September the 29^th 2006, a 600-strong group of the listenership of Radio “Ognjišče“, the Slovenian Catholic Radio Station, visited Medjugorje. They were accompanied by five priests.

This Radio “Ognjišče“ listenership group, together with chief editor and founder of the radio station Fr. Franc Trstenjak,have been spending holiday times together over the last four years. This year, they brought 10 busloads to Budva, and on their way back to Slovenia they included a one-day pilgrimage to Medjugorje. In the afternoon, they concelebrated Mass in Saint James’ Church, and then they individually chose to pray either on Cross Mountain or on Apparition Hill.

Radio “Ognjišče“ also broadcasts on satellite and can be heard in Europe, in the north of Africa and in the Middle East, and they may also be heard across the whole world via the Internet. (See: http://radio.ognjisce.si)

One hundred and twenty students from the Franciscan University in Steubenville make a pilgrimage to Medjugorje

At the end of September 2006, a group of 120 students from the Catholic Franciscan University in Steubenville (USA) made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, and were accompanied by Fr. Peter, a Third Order Franciscan.

Students from Steubenville spend one semester in a monastery in Austria, and during that semester, pilgrimages are organised to different shrines right across Europe.

On foot from Split to Medjugorje

Veterans of the recent war, Petar (35) and Vedran (30), walked from Split to Medjugorje, a pilgrimage they undertook to express their gratitude to Our Lady for having been with them in all the difficult moments of their lives.

Petar is also grateful to his own mother, because he is convinced that her prayers brought him back to the God to whom he knows he belongs. Vedran is also grateful to his mother for her prayers, which brought him back to the right path, a gratitude he also feels towards God and the Church.

Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – “Križevac“

In the Parish of Medjugorje, the Solemnity of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is called “Križevac” and is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday after the Feast of the Nativity of Mary. In honour of the Holy Year of Redemption 1933/34, and inspired by their pastor Fr. Bernardin Smoljan, the parishioners, despite their poverty, built a monumental cross, 8.5 m high and 3.5 m wide, on the hill above Medjugorje. (photos)

Mons. Robert W. Finn from the USA visits Medjugorje

Mons. Robert W. Finn D.D., Bishop of Kansas City-Saint Joseph, Missouri, USA, paid a private visit to Medjugorje, together with a group of pilgrims, from the 2^nd to the 5^th of September 2006. Each day he concelebrated the English Mass for the pilgrims in St. James’ church, and he concelebrated the evening Masses as well. He also heard confessions and visited the prayer places in Medjugorje together with other pilgrims.

The Prayer Programme Winter Schedule

The winter schedule of the prayer programme re-starts on Monday, September 11^th, 2006.

Praying of the Rosary in the Parish church will begin at 5.00pm, Holy Mass at 6.00pm, followed by the usual prayer programme according to the day of the week.

Eucharistic adoration on Wednesdays and Saturdays will begin at 9.00pm. Rosary on the Apparition Hill and the Way of the Cross on Cross Mountain will each begin at 2.00pm.

Statistics for July and August 2006

July 2006:

Holy Communions distributed: 115,600

Concelebrating priests: 3,771

August 2006:

Holy Communions distributed: 255,500

Concelebrating priests: 5,558

During July and August 2006, groups of pilgrims came from 53 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Congo, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Ethiopia, England, France, FR Reunion, FR Martinique, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia (Voivodina), Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the USA, Vietnam, Wales.

Mons. Antal Majnek, OFM, bishop of Mukachevo (Ukraine) visits Medjugorje

Mons. Antal Majnek, OFM, Roman Catholic bishop of Mukachevo (Ukraine) visited Medjugorje from the 7^th to the 10^th of August, 2006. He was ordained a bishop in 1996, and was appointed bishop of Mukachevo in 2002.

This was Mons. Majnek’s third visit to Medjugorje. He is open to the ongoing events here, while back in his own diocese, he supports the prayer movement which is greatly appreciated by the many pilgrims who come to Medjugorje from his diocese.

At the parish office, Mons. Majnek met with the Franciscans serving in Medjugorje parish. He spoke with them about life and their pastoral work in Medjugorje.

Interview: Mons. Joseph Vianney Fernando, President of the Bishop’s Conference of Sri Lanka

Mons. Joseph Vianney Fernando, Bishop of the Kandy diocese in Sri Lanka and president of the Bishop’s Conference of Sri Lanka came on a five-day pilgrimage to Medjugorje in July 2006. On Friday the 21^st of July, he celebrated Holy Mass in English and gave a homily. He met the Franciscans at the Parish Office and discussed the Medjugorje events with them. Before leaving, he gave an interview and spoke about his diocese, his country and his impressions of Medjugorje. (Interview: Lidija Paris)

The 17th International Youth Festival in Medjugorje

The 17^th International Youth Festival took place in Medjugorje from August 1 to 6, 2006. This year’s theme was, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119 [118]:105), in harmony with the theme, which the Holy Father Benedict XVI gave to the youth for this year’s World Youth Day that took place on Palm Sunday in local Churches. (photos)

The 17th International Youth Festival in Medjugorje

The 17^th International Youth Festival took place in Medjugorje from the 1^st to the 6^th of August, 2006. This year’s theme was, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119 [118]:105), in harmony with the theme which the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, gave to the youth for this year’s World Youth Day that took place on Palm Sunday in the local Churches. (photos)