Bulletin
182
Medjugorje,
January 26th, 2003
“Dear children! With this message I call you anew to pray for peace.
Particularly now when peace is in crisis, you be those who pray and bear
witness to peace. Little children, be peace in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
January 25, 2003
Where
Does God Live?
All human beings,
according to psychologists and theologians, are in quest of a certain higher
power. They direct their gaze towards heaven. We seek and permanently long for
the cause of our existence. This seeking and longing is natural in and of itself.
Our seeking is a human reality. We cannot live all alone, but the question is
how do we seek and whom, in fact, do we seek? Do we seek our Creator or an
illusory god made according to our fancies and our needs?
People, as God’s
creatures, should long for and seek God the Father who wanted us to exist as a
radiance of His own face. Any other seeking would mean going astray, and any
other longing would be an illusion. God of the Christians is a reality, he is
not an invented god but Emmanuel – God with us. He is present all around us.
Let us seek Him and long for His presence.
There is a beautiful image
in the Gospel according to John. Two disciples ask Jesus: “Rabbi, Master,
where dwellest thou?” He saith unto them, ‘Come and see.’” (Jn 1,38-39)
This short dialogue says and reveals so much! It reveals human longing for God
and God’s concrete invitation to an encounter with Him. What did Jesus mean
when he said: “Come and see”? Where should the disciples go to encounter
their Master? We maybe sometimes think that we should go from place to place to
encounter God. We seek Him without really knowing where He stays, which is His
address. It is important to know that God is not hidden. He revealed Himself to
us, He continuously talks to us, He gives Himself to us at every moment. He also
speaks to us in Medjugorje through Mary. He speaks to us in the silence of our
humble prayer, in every sigh, in the gift of time, in the life of the nature, of
people, of the sun…
God’s address is within
us, in your brother, your sister… We are temples of the Holy Spirit. God
dwells in us if we have not blocked the way through sin. God dwells in the heart
of your neighbour whom you have maybe despised and abandoned. God invites you to
come and visit Him on the address where people are ill, poor, rejected, hungry
and thirsty, handicapped and unemployed. This is God’s address. Jesus invites
us to seek Him there. Hence, let us allow him to lead us in his dwellings and
reveal us His home.
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of December, 50,000 communions were distributed and 916 priests from this
country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims
were here from Korea, Italy, Germany, Poland, Great Britain, Austria, France,
Slovakia, Czech Republic, the USA, Romania, Portugal, Slovenia, the Netherlands,
Lebanon, China, Latvia, Panama, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In
the year 2002, 1,138,000 Holy Communions were distributed and 27,377 priests
from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Annual
Meeting and Recollection for the Scholarship Recipients of the Fund “Fra
Slavko Barbariæ”
The
annual meeting of the Board of Directors and scholarship recipients of the Fund
“Fra Slavko Barbaric” took place on December 29, 2002.
The
President of the Fund, Dr. Fr. Ivan Sesar, greeted then the students and thanked
them for coming in such a large number. He underlined that this unconditional
gift of the Fund should be a motivation for them to continue to develop
diligently the gifts that God has given them. He also greeted Fr. Branko Rados,
pastor of Medjugorje, and thanked him for all that the Parish is doing for the
Fund. At this occasion, a Gold Medal of the Fund should have been given to Prof.
Dr. Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic, one of the biggest donors of the Fund, but he
unfortunately could not assist at this gathering. It will be given to him at
another occasion. The students and the Directors also visited the tomb of the
founder of the Fund, Fr. Slavko Barbaric, and then celebrated the Eucharist.
After Holy Mass there was a discussion group for the students under the theme
“Youth and Drug Addiction”. As guests were invited former drug addicts,
members of the “Cenacolo” community. The meeting ended with socialising and
sharing.
From
December 29, 2002 to January 1st, 2003, the Fund also organised a
seminar of spiritual recollection for students, led by Sr. Petra Bagaric, Sr.
Leopoldina Kovacevic and Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic.
Those
who wish to help in the realisation of the goals of this Fund may contact the
Fund on the following address: Fund “Fra Slavko Barbaric” – Medjugorje /
88266 Medjugorje / BiH / PP 29 / Tel/Fax: +387 36 651 549 / e-mail: studenti.talenti@tel.net.ba
New Year in Medjugorje
This
year, several thousands pilgrims from numerous countries and from all the
continents gathered together for the New Year’s Vigil. The Vigil was presided
by Fr. Mario Knezovic and Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic. One hundred priests concelebrated
Mass with them. Pilgrims and parishioners were accommodated also in the New Hall
and under the tent, where they could follow on a large screen whatever was
happening in the church. The vigil and Holy Mass lasted from 10 pm to 1 am, and
they were translated into several languages.
In
our restless world, where sometimes everything seems to be hopeless, this large
crowd of the faithful, especially of young people who represent the majority in
Medjugorje for the New Year, are a sign of hope for a better world.
Cardinal Schönborn,
Archbishop of Vienna (Austria), About Medjugorje
On December 1, 2002, in a
catechesis given in St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Cardinal Schönborn
said the following about Medjugorje:
“I do not wish to express an opinion on Medjugorje from the point of
view of a judgment of the Church. There is, however, one thing I can observe,
over and over again, namely, that this is a place
where an intensive mission-station of heaven obviously exists, where thousands
upon thousands of people find prayer, confession, conversion, reconciliation,
healing and deeper faith.”
Radio “Mir” Medjugorje Extends Its Programme
With the beginning of the New Year, Radio
“Mir” Medjugorje has extended the broadcasting time of its own programme.
Now, it broadcasts its own programme from 10 am to 10 pm. The programme is
enriched by new interesting rubrics from religious and social life. The rest of
the time, Radio “Mir” Medjugorje transmits the programme of the Croatian
Catholic Radio from Zagreb.
According to the decision of the CRA (Communication Regulatory Agency), Radio “Mir” Medjugorje put into functioning its eighth transmitter,
situated on Kozara near Banja Luka, transmitting on the frequency of 106.7 MHz.
Thus, since mid-December, the inhabitants of the region of Banja Luka, of Jajce
and of north Bosnia can also hear the programme of Radio “Mir” Medjugorje.
Religious and Humanitarian
Association “MEDJUGORJE-MIR”
The religious and
humanitarian association “Medjugorje-Mir” was founded in 1992. Its president
and spiritual leader was Fr. Leonard Orec, from the very beginning until his
death on January 21, 2002. The headquarters of the Association are in Split
(Croatia), in the Franciscan monastery in Poljud. The Association also has an
office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Parish office Medjugorje. The
Association gathers people of good will from all over the world who want to act
on humanitarian and charity level. Most of them are inspired by Our Lady’s
messages in Medjugorje.
The warfare in this
region provoked a genuine outpour of goodness in the hearts of pilgrims and
friends of Medjugorje. It is almost impossible to make an exhaustive list of all
the good that the friends of Medjugorje have done with the mediation of this
Association. During the years of war in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, about
46,000 tons of humanitarian help were gathered. This help reached not only the
deprived and the needy in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but also those in
Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia. Thanks to the Medjugorje benefactors,
through the mediation of this Association, help also reached Ecuador, Pakistan
and Afghanistan. Other activities of the Association are: help in rebuilding the
regions devastated by the war, care for the sick and the handicapped,
godparenthood for children in need, help for students, help for Kosovo, Albania
and Macedonia, projects of missionary evangelisation and special contributions
to the promotion of the culture of peace and solidarity.
In his very
fruitful Franciscan and humanitarian work, Fr. Leonard was diligently building
pathways that were binding people and promoting peace and solidarity. He helped
many pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje to do good all over the world. Together
with them, and with the help of the Queen of Peace, he was building the third
hill in Medjugorje – the Mount of Goodness. After Fr. Leonard’s death, Fr.
Ivan Landeka was chosen for the leader of the Association “Medjugorje-Mir”.
The Association continues to work and continues to be at the service of all
those who want to help, as well as of those who need help. Fr. Leonard’s
prayers and his intercession from heaven support the work of the Association now,
so that the little ones of this world may be seen and cared for.
All those who want
to continue to collaborate with the Association “Medjugorje-Mir”, and all
those who want to join us in the work for the welfare of the needy, may contact
us on the following address: “MEDJUGORJE–MIR”, Poljudsko setaliste 4,
21000 SPLIT, CROATIA / Tel: +385-21-381 322, Fax: +385-21-381 324, e-mail: medjugorje-split@st.hinet.hr
.
Fr. Leonard once
wrote: “A person in need is Our Lady’s concern. She sees the need with her
eyes and with her heart, as once in Cana of Galilee. She saw the exiled on the
Adriatic coast, the hungry in Bosnia, those who went back to Ilok. Her motherly
gaze skipped neither the Moslems in Kosovo, nor the hungry Orthodox in Macedonia.
She told Jesus: ‘They have no bread’, and Jesus commanded to his disciples,
‘Give them to eat’. This is how miracles happen also in our times. God is
doing them with the help of people.”
On January 21,
2003, the first anniversary of the death of Fr. Leonard Orec, Holy Masses will
be celebrated in his memory in St. James’ church in Medjugorje at 6 pm, in the
parish church in Posusje at 4 pm, in the Franciscan church in Zagreb/Dubrava at
7 pm, and on January 23 in the Franciscan church in Split/Poljud at 6 pm.
Eternal rest grant
unto him, O Lord!
3rd
International Seminar for Married Couples
The 3rd
International Seminar for Married Couples will take place in Medjugorje from
February 13 to 16, 2003. The theme of the seminar is: “Put God in the First
Place in Your Families”.
It is recommended
that you bring
1. a small FM radio
with headphones and
2. a Bible.
The seminar will
take place in the New Hall behind the Church. Participation fee per couple is 26
€. You may make reservations by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr,
or at the Information Office, by phone/fax: +387-36-651-988 (for Marija
Dugandzic). Number of participants is limited because of the limited space in
the Hall, so we ask you to send your registration as soon as possible, at the
latest by February 5, 2002. All the participants are to arrange for their
accommodation in Medjugorje.
You can find the
Program own for the Seminar on our web page www.medjugorje.hr.
The
10th International Meeting for Guides and Leaders of Peace Centres
and Medjugorje Prayer, Pilgrim and Charity groups
The 10th
International Meeting for Guides and Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje
Prayer, Pilgrim and Charity groups will take place in the New Hall in Medjugorje
from February 23 – 27, 2003. The theme is, “The Essentials of Medjugorje”.
The number of places is limited, and the number of participants is increasing
from year to year. This is why we ask you kindly to make your registration as
soon as possible, at the latest by February 10, 2002. You can make your
registrations by tel/fax + 387 36 651 988 (for Marija Dugandzic) or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr,
or personally at the Information Office. Simultaneous translation is available
for all language groups. The price of the seminar is 62 € per person. This
includes all the costs of organization and of functioning of the seminar (lecturers,
translations of texts, simultaneous translation and lunch the last day). When
you register and pay on the first day, you will receive a nametag, which will
allow you to participate in the seminar. We ask you to kindly arrange for your
own accommodation in Medjugorje. We believe that will not be a problem for you,
because you have been coming to Medjugorje for many years and have your friends
and acquaintances here. We ask you to kindly bring a small FM radio with
headphones.
We are looking
forward to your reservations and to welcoming you at this meeting!
You can find the
Program for this Seminar on our web page www.medjugorje.hr.