Palm Sunday in Medjugorje

date: 01.04.2007.

Holy Week, the highpoint of the Lenten preparation for Easter, begins with Palm (or Passion) Sunday. In Medjugorje, the liturgy of Passion Sunday begins with the reading of the Gospel and the blessing of the branches, and is followed by a procession from the site of the old parish church, culminating with the celebration of Holy Mass in the current Parish Church.

The liturgy was presided over by the Parish Priest, Fr. Ivan Sesar, assisted by Fr. Karlo Lovric and Fr. Boze Milic, and the parish choir, under the direction of Sr. Slavica Kozul, sang the Passion. Numerous pilgrims from the neighbouring areas, and from abroad, joined with the parishioners. About 4000 pilgrims came to Medjugorje for the Palm Sunday. Croatian pilgrims came from all parts of the country, and from abroad, the most numerous were Italians, Austrians, Germans and the Irish. Large groups came also from South Africa, Korea, the USA, Canada, France and Belgium. Every language group celebrated the Palm Sunday Liturgy in its own language.