date: 04.03.2016.
Gerard Batard, 55 years old organiser of pilgrimages to Medjugorje, participated at this year's 23rd International Meeting for Organisers of Pilgrimages to Medjugorje. He is the owner of the agency that organisers various pilgrimages, including those to Medjugorje. Gerard told us how Medjugorje changed his life: „I came privately for the first time in 1998, and before that time I never organised pilgrimages but field trips. When I came to Medjugorje for the first time, I experienced something magnificent that changed my life. I understood the purpose of Church, Gospel and sacraments. When I returned to France,I only thought about how to live those messages in France. I can say that before that trip, I did not have real faith, I was going to Holy Mass out of tradition. After my Medjugorje trip, I began to go to Holy Mass, not because I have to, but because I loved God. I began to pray the Rosary every day, I started to fast on bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays. I was called to do those things. Year and a half later, I felt I should give my experience to others through the travel agency I owned. Međugorje changed my life and I am really happy to be able to share it and bring it to others“, said Gerard and added that his first pilgrimage to Medjugorje was in 2000, and since that time he comes each year to this Meeting. „I find it very important to be able to hear what parish and Franciscans have to say and this connection with them is highly important to me.“
