date: 01.04.2005.
Franz Gollowitsch (Fragollo Reisen, Austria) organised his first pilgrimage to Medjugorje on July 8, 1985. During the past 20 years, he accompanied personally 365 pilgrimages, which means that he spent two years in the bus, and more than three years of his life in Medjugorje… He was not giving up during the war either, when – together with the pilgrims – he was tirelessly bringing humanitarian help and helping the orphans.
In the history of his pilgrimages, Franz remembers in a very special way his 250th pilgrimage and Holy Mass of thanksgiving, which was celebrated on November 24, 2000, by Fr. Slavko Barbaric: it was his last Mass and his last homily. Grateful for this gift of God, which he is receiving as a special encouragement, Franz remembers Fr. Slavko’s words:
“Today, I want to say a special Thanks to Mary for all those who, in their own way, have responded to her call. It is good for us to know that Mary is underlining how much we are important for her, and that she can do nothing without us. … God wanted each one of us in the time and in the surroundings in which we live. He wanted us and he gave us the graces, so that through them we may serve him. … If God has thought that we could serve him better in another time and in another place, he would have not placed us here but there. … Open your exes and your ears for the time and people with whom you live. This is your first duty; here, you are indispensable, here, God cannot do without you. … Often, we are tempted to complain about people and the time in which we live, but Mary is seeing what is good, although small, although not good enough. She sees it and she is grateful. Gratitude is the best method of education. … Read the messages, the messages are positive, the messages give home, the messages give encouragement. … If you decide to love God and people as you love yourself, and if many people do it, it means that the new spring has come, the new sprint that Our Lady is talking about.”
