date: 09.03.2016.
This Wednesday, March 16, there will be 82 years since cross on Cross Mountain was completed and blessed in the first Holy Mass held up on that mountain. The idea for that project came from Vatican. Holy Father of that time, Pius XI proposed that crosses are built at hills and mountains all over the world for the occasion of 1900th anniversary of Jesus' death on the cross. One of the priests who responded to that proposal was Fr. Bernardin Smoljan, parish priest from Medjugorje. He presented this idea to his parishioners in January 1934, and the parish of Medjugorje embraced it with all of their hearts. The parishioners carried heavy loads on their back and in their hands to the top of the hill called Sipovac and the construction of huge, cement cross was completed in less than two months. On March 16, 1934, the parish priest blessed the cross and the first Holy Mass was celebrated on the top of the hill called Cross Mountain ever since then. In the last three decades, this place became one of the places that pilgrims gladly visit while they are in Medjugorje. Every Friday afternoon prayer of the Way of the Cross is held there. Two years ago, when we celebrated 80th anniversary, the solemn academy was held and documentary movie about the construction of the cross was shown. Many pilgrims have climbed this mountain and discovered love of Jesus in His passion.
