date: 21.03.2023.
International Spiritual Retreat for organizers of pilgrimages, leaders of peace centers, prayer and charity groups related to Medjugorje, took place in Medjugorje for the 28th time. It was held from March 14 to 18, 2023.
The theme of the meeting is the same as for all other spiritual renewals this year in Medjugorje: "Here are my mother and my brothers!" (Mt 12, 49) In Our Lady's school.
There were more than 200 participants present at this spiritual renewal who came from New Zealand, USA, Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Hungary, Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Lithuania, Lebanon, Brazil, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The lecturer at the retreat was Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, parish priest of Medjugorje, who celebrated Holy Mass on the first day of this spiritual retreat. In his homily, Fr. Zvonimir recalled that "throughout Lent we have Jesus' teachings about fasting, about prayer, about acts of brotherly love" and spoke about today's Gospel passage on forgiveness.
"We reject everything that prevents us from giving our lives completely to God, and we accept everything that God places in front of us, that He gives us. Thus, Lent becomes a time of transformation - from the ashes of Holy Wednesday to the flames of Easter, from the death of sin to the life we have through the power of Christ's resurrection. May the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, help us on this path of transformation,'' said Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić.
The general manager of the Information Center Mir Medjugorje, Vedran Vidović addressed the participants of the spiritual renewal, and along with the lectures of Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, they also had chance to hear the provincial of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, Fr. Jozo Grbes. He invited all the participants to be the apostles.
"Many people changed their lives in Medjugorje, they were inspired by that encounter with the divine, they changed their lives both sacramentally and in their families, personally and spiritually... Listen, if 12 people could change the world 2000 years ago, why not us too, if 12 people come to Medjugorje, 12,000, 12,000,000, they can change everything. Let's go!" said Fr. Jozo Grbeš.
The participants of the spiritual retreat, in addition to listening to the homilies and participating in the evening prayer program, had daily Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and also prayed on Cross Mountain and Apparition Hill. On the last day of the spiritual retreat, the Holy Mass was celebrated by the Apostolic Visitor with a special role for the parish of Medjugorje, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli.
"Medjugorje is a place of grace and faith, a place of prayer, a place of conversion, a place of personal freedom in responding to the Lord. This is a place of contemplation,'' said Msgr. Cavalli.
The next spiritual renewal is the one for the priests and it will be held for the 26th time from July 3 to 7, 2023. (PHOTO)
