date: 04.08.2017.
The central part of this day was also Holy Mass, celebrated at 7 pm by Fr. Emanuel Josić, OFM, newly ordained priest of the Franciscan Province of Bosnia Argentum. Cardinal Ernest Simoni-Troshani from Albania gave a homily and there were 507 priests concelebrating. The evening prayer programme had 764 740 live-stream viewers.
After the evening Holy Mass, as well as in the previous years, there was a procession with the Statue of Our Lady at the area in front of the White Dome. After the statue was brought to the altar, the Eucharistic Adoration began. Many priests are available for confessions in these days.
The morning programme consisted of the prayer given by Fr. Marinko Sakota and catechesis of Fr. Jacqes Philippe from the Beatitudes Community, then Cardinal Ernest Simoni-Troshani from Albania spoke about the persecution of the Church there in the communism period and then Angela Hayes from Ireland spoke about the tragedy that affected their family and purpose of life they discovered in Medjugorje. Her son Alan is a member of the International Choir and at the end he sang a song devoted to his mom.
Cardinal Ernest Simoni suffered greatly during the time of the communist era in Albania. When Pope Francis visited Albania in September 2014, Fr. Simoni met with him and shared his life testimony on that occasion. It was one of the most moving encounters Pope Francis had during his pontificate and all world media reported about that. It was because of his life and suffering for Christ and the Church that pope Francis appointed him honorary Cardinal at their consistory held in Rome in November 2016.
Tim Guénard from Lourdes spoke in the afternoon part of the programme. (photos)
