date: 01.03.2016.
The 23rd International Meeting of Organisers of Pilgrimages, Leaders of Peace Centres and Leaders of Prayer and Charity Groups connected to Medjugorje began on February 29 and will last until March 4, 2016. There are 270 participants from 25 countries: Latvia, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, France, Spain, Guatemala, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Italy, Lithuania, the United States, Portugal, Canada, England, Ireland and Romania. This meeting is held with the theme of the Year of Mercy: „Be as merciful as your Heavenly Father is“. The coordinator of this seminar, parish priest of Medjugorje parish, Fr. Marinko Šakota, in the introductory speech emphasised some of the important messages of Our Lady: „I hope this year we will have good time here, just as Gospa wishes. Medjugorje is inviting us not to change others, but to change ourselves, to grow in love, forgiveness, to get to know ourselves and to get to know God. Medjugorje is a path towards peace, it is a hand turned towards our hearts. That is how one enters Our Lady’s school. Medjugorje is a blessing for Church, awakening of faith and conversion.“ Nikola Đukić, organiser of pilgrimages from Spain is here for the second time: „Gospa gave me second chance for my life here in Medjugorje. I came to Medjugorje in 2003, I was not religious and I entered community Cenacolo where I stayed for six years. It was then when Gospa entered into my life. Later on, I met my future wife; she is from Spain. Now we are organising pilgrimages from Spain to Medjugorje and that is something I never thought I would do. People who heard our story, how we met and how we converted, began to call us and ask of us to accompany them to Medjugorje. That is how it started; it was spontaneous. Medjugorje is my life, this is where I was reborn“, said Nikola and added: „It is very important for me to witness Medjugorje with my life. The most important part of this seminar is Fr. Marinko’s lecture, group work and exchange of experiences with other organisers, particularly from Spain.“ All participants are also taking part in the evening prayer programme and they will have prayers on Medjugorje hill.
