Fr. Marinko Sakota on the Youth Festival: Holy Masses would be celebrated by Cardinal Sarah, Archbishops Wojda and Pezzuto, bishop Gallese...

This year’s 32nd Youth Festival in Medjugorje would be held from August 1 to 6, under the theme „What good must I do? (Mt 19, 16) Unlike last year, this year’s Youth Festival would be made of morning and afternoon programme (prayers, songs of the International Choir and Orchestra, catechesis, testimonies), and the evening prayer programme (Rosary, the Eucharist, Adoration, prayer with candles before the cross, Cenacolo community movie, etc.). Medjugorje parish priest, Fr. Marinko Sakota, confirmed us that also this year we expect a large number of the Church prelates. Holy Masses at the Youth Festival would be celebrated by: Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, bishop Guido Gallese and Fr. Miljenko teko, the Provincial of Herzegovinian Franciscan Province. “The fact that Cardinal Sarah, and all other archbishops and bishops would come to the Youth Festival is a great event and major joy for each of us. Youth are happy when they see their shepherds with them, and shepherds are happy to see so many youth at one place gathered in prayer and worship of the Lord”, said Fr. Marinko Sakota, who does not have any expectations regarding the number of those who would come, but said that all who decide to come are more than welcome. Medjugorje parish priest Fr. Marinko Sakota once again explained those most important elements of the Youth Festival. “The Youth Festival in Medjugorje is really special, it is indeed miraculous experience of faith and prayer. All that takes place at this event, starting with introduction of all nations, prayer of Rosary on Apparition Hill, morning prayers, catechesis, testimonies, choir and orchestra, volunteers, the evening prayer programme, the Rosary, the Eucharist, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayer with the candles, procession with the Statue of Our Lady, Cenacolo community performance, mission and farewell and final Holy Mass on top of Cross Mountain at 5 am in the morning – all these events are truly inflaming our soul and the spirit, feed us with healthy spiritual food, fill us with special and profound peace and joy, give strong encouragement so we may leave faith and prayer, walk with Gospa and Jesus in our daily life. It is indeed amazing how the seed of faith, love, goodness and life are awakened in many youth during the time of the Youth Festival, when one can see this mysterious peace entering in their hearts. The feeling when one looks on faces of the youth and notices the change in them when they feel love and acceptance, when we see how much they love God, Jesus and Mary, prayer, the eucharist, confession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – this is indeed something wonderous. It is hard to express in words the positive tension one feels in the air, that expectation and silence around the White Dome! Yet, the most beautiful and wonderous is to see how the youth love their Church! How they love priests, and all those priests feel loved and accepted!”, said Fr. Marinko Sakota and said that the Youth Festival is the encounter of persons in simplicity and openness of hearts. ''Such joy, kindness, love and peace! Such enormous happiness when so many come from all over the world, and yet nobody feels like a foreigner! So much unknown, yet all dear and close to us! Nobody is in the centre, yet everyone feels accepted and loved! It is warm, but nobody is bothered by that! Catechesis, testimonies, homilies and nobody is bored by that! The programme lasts for a long time, but nobody wants it over, we all feel like staying longer in hymns, dancing and worship!”, said Fr. Marinko Sakota, and we know that the first days of hot August have been reserved for the Youth Festival and Medjugorje to so many. See you soon!