date: 06.08.2015.
The programme of the 26th International Youth Festival continued on Wednesday, August 6, 2015. The morning lectures began with prayer and continued with the catechesis of Fr. Marinko Sakota with the theme of forgiveness. Sr. Rastislava Ralbovsky, member of community of Merciful Sisters of St. Cross of the Croatian Province in Djakovo, spoke about the connection she and her mission has with Medjugorje. She initiated the pilgrimage for persons with disabilities that was held for the 4th time in Medjugorje this June. The end of the morning programme was concluded by the talk of Medjugorje visionary Mirjana Dragićević -Soldo. Mirjana invited all young people to open their hearts to the Queen of Peace, to start leaving Holy Mass and emphasised the importance of prayer with the heart and family prayer. Immaculée Ilibagiza gave her testimony of persecution during the genocide in Ruanda during 1994, just because she was the member of hated tribe Tutsi. More than million people were killed in only hundred days, including most of her family. It was in the midst of holocaust in Ruanda that she discovered God and was able to forgive her persecutors. The other testimony was from Terezija Gažiova who spoke about how prayer centre Svjetlo Marijino (Light of Mary) was created and how the message of Our Lady was spread to the countries of former Soviet Union. The evening prayer programme followed with the Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Marin Karacic, newly ordained priest of our Province, along with 528 priests concelebrating. Fr. Marinko Šakota, parish priest of Medjugorje parish gave the homily, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed immediately afterwards. The cloth with all prayer intentions and thanksgiving notes to Gospa was presented during the Holy Mass. The priests gave the blessing to all of the young people whose representatives from each country received symbolic gifts – a walking stick and rosary beads. They will all now have a mission upon return to their countries. After farewell in music and praise, the youth went up the Cross Mountain for the final Holy Mass celebrated at 5 a.m. at the top. That was the conclusion of the Youth festival at the same time. (slike)
