ADVENT
During the Holy Christmas Novena, we prayed the rosary on Apparition Hill. Four retreats of prayer and fasting were organized in the retreat house " Domus Pacis" . Through this prayer and fasting, 120 people from Croatia and abroad, wishing to prepare themselves more deeply for Christmas and to get closer to the mystery of God born on the earth, participated in them.
CHRISTMAS
Many pilgrims arrived in Medjugorje during the Christmas holidays. They came from Croatia, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and the United States.
Among many well known people and politicians, the Archbishop of Nigeria, Mons. Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka, visited Medjugorje also. He said ".... I believe in Medjugorje because of the fruits I have seen."......
The solemn mass of Christmas Eve was celebrated by Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic with 13 concelebrants in the presence of 1500 people. At the end of mass, the children of the parish, by singing, wished all pilgrims, all friends of Medjugorje in the world and all men of good will a Merry Christmas. The evening began at 10 pm with a vigil of prayer and adoration and it ended with the celebration of the Eucharist. 1000 people came to participate in this vigil.
Peace and solemnity characterized the day of Christmas. The Spanish U.N. peace keeping forces in Medjugorje also participated in solemn Mass along with the parishioners.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
As in previous years, the vigil of prayer for New Year's Eve was organized. It began at 10pm and it concluded with Midnight Mass. We began the New Year, above all, praying for Peace. The Youth, who again outnumbered all other people this year, came from all over the world for this occasion.
From December 28 through January 1, at the house "Domus Pacis", a retreat was organized for all young people wishing to begin the New Year in the joy of prayer. Forty youth coming from Croatia and abroad participated in it.
In Medjugorje, during the Christmas holidays, it was possible to donate blood for the need of our country's population. Around 70 Croatian and foreign pilgrims donated their blood. We wholeheartedly thank all those who helped the brothers in need through this human act of generosity.
Press Bulletin 4, January 18,
1995
FATHER JOZO ZOVKO'S MISSIONARY TRIP
Invited by pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje, Fr. Jozo Zovko visited nine Italian towns from the 11th to the 18th of December 1994. About 15,000 people participated in the meetings of prayer during which Fr. Jozo spoke about the message of peace of Medjugorje.
In Latina, during the meeting, Monsignor Domenico Peccile was the main celebrant of the Eucharist celebration. While visiting 3 other towns, the local bishops: Monsignor Garavaglia, Monsignor Cecchini and Monsignor Bonicelli met with Fr. Jozo to speak with him hoping to become more familiar with the message of Medjugorje and the situation of our mother country.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CELEBRANTS IN 1994
In 1994, in the parish of Medjugorje, 579,420 communions were distributed. This figure indicates that in 1994 pilgrims were more numerous than in 1993, when 369,300 communions were distributed. The number of communions indicates that the number of pilgrims in 1994 is the same as in 1986, a year of peace and tranquillity. In 1994, 12,201 priests celebrated the Holy Eucharist in Medjugorje.
SEMINAR FOR GUIDES
In the house of prayer 'Domus Pacis', from the 8th to the 11th of January, Father Slavko Barbaric lead a seminar of spirituality and information for the guides working with pilgrims in the sanctuary of Medjugorje. During the seminar, Fr. Ivan Landeka, Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic and Fr. Miljenko Stojic spoke with the 16 guides who renewed themselves through prayer. This was done in order to be able to continue with their work with pilgrims who come to Medjugorje to find their own path to God through the messages of peace.
LAST BOOK OF FATHER LJUDEVIT RUPCIC
At the end of the year, the last book written by Professor Doctorate Father Ljudevit Rupcic was presented. The title is "Sudbina istine" (The Destiny of Truth). Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic, now residing in Medjugorje as the franciscan sister's chaplain, is a renowned Croatian Theologian. Translator and expert of the Holy Scripture, as well as a professor and educator of the franciscan students of Theology in Sarajevo, he also wrote many books referring to the facts of Medjugorje.
SEMINAR OF SPIRITUALITY AND INFORMATION
The seminar of spirituality and information for the leaders of prayer groups, Caritas groups and pilgrimages to Medjugorje will be organized in the Alga Hotel in Tucepi, 3 km south of Makarska. It will begin on the 2nd of April 1995 at 7pm with the celebration of the Holy Mass. It will end with a pilgrimage to Medjugorje. It will be lead by the Provincial, Fr. Tomislav Pervan, Fr. Ivan Dugandzic and Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic, with the participation of the other franciscan priests of Medjugorje. All those who are interested should call Fr. Leonard Orec at the telephone /fax number 385-21-361354 for reservations. The cost of the Hotel is 150 DM.
To fully understand what the seminar of spirituality and information is, we published the declaration written by the participants of the last seminar , which took place in June of 1994:
Inspired by the messages of Our Lady in Medjugorje, the directors of the prayer groups and the Centers for Peace have gathered in Medjugorje from the 21 to the 24 of June for the 13th Anniversary of the apparitions. We thank God for His gift. We also thank all the friends in the world that accept, deepen, live and spread the messages of Our Lady. After having participated in the conferences: "Marian Times in the Light of the Papal Encyclicals", "Medjugorje in Today's Church" and "The Role of the Laity in the Medjugorje Movement"; we have become even more conscious of our own responsibilty forthe new evangelization. We have reflected on the diffusion of the messages of Our Lady in our ownsurroundings and we have paid attention to the difficulties we are facing. We wish to transmit the conclusions of our reflections to all our friends, our pilgrims and the parish of Medjugorje.
The messages of Our Lady do not bring any new revelation. All are based on that which is written in the Gospel: "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5) We wish to emphasize the need to transmit the messages in an authentic manner, looking for the translations to be in conformity to the original in the Croation language while at the same time respecting the spirit of each language.
There is no need to confuse the original spirituality of Medjugorje with any other phenomena or messages. We have made a collective decision to create in Medjugorje an information center that, being tied with all the centers of Medjugorje in the world, would send to them a monthly bulletin of the events related to Medjugorje.
We also wish that all responsible for the Medjugorje shrine or any other place in the world watch over the spiritual well being whether it be that of the pilgrims, or that of the parishioners of the parish of Medjugorje.
In the common interest of all venerators of the Queen of Peace, let all those who speak publicly on an official level on behalf of Medjugorje -- be it Priests, the visionaries, or the laity -- do it in accordance with the shrine.
We advise the groups and all those on their own to join as much as possible their own ecclesiastic community with full respect towards the local ecclesiastic authority.
We also wish to remind everyone that the messages of Medjugorje do not contain in them the fear of the apocalyptic times. Instead, it is a message of peace between man and God and peace between all people.
The shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje is a Marian shrine. According to Mary's example the village wishes to remain humble, obedient and simple.
We wish to continue with encounters of this kind and we wish to cherish them so that the bonds between us may remain as alive as possible.
A MOVIE CALLED "GOSPA"
Surely you have already heard that a movie called "Gospa" has been made. The croatian writer, Ivan Arali}a, wrote a "rich" story inspired by the events of Me|ugorje. The director is Jakov Sedlar. The main intention of the film is to show the spectator how the apparitions with Our Lady, Queen of Peace started. On the 24th of June, 1981, the final battle against evil began. It is led by her, of whom the Book of the Apocalypse speaks: "A woman clothed with the sun, with the crown of twelve stars around her head and the dragon at her feet" will conquer the evil one.
The whole power of hatred and violence was let loose against the parish priest at that time and the 6 visionaries who gave witness to the presence of the Queen of Peace. On one side were the military forces, helicopters, arms, false testimonies, screaming, noise, and threats. On the other side were repeated "Aves", an interior drama of the priest, Fr. Jozo Zovko and the visionaries. They, together with the people free themselves of free to give witness and in the end, they triumph.
The apparitions of Me|ugorje are the beginning of the end of a dark page in the history of the Croatian people. During WW II and some time afterward, 601 priests and numerous other victims were lost. This was from such a small nation as Croatia. The movie is dedicated to them.
Dear Friends! The time of Our Lady's coming is a prophetic intervention of God in our history. The movie will help all to understand more the profound powers of darkness which proved themselves to atheism. It also shows the inhumanity in a particular way during the Communist regime. It also projects the hope which God gives to those who believe and walk with Our Lady, Queen of Peace, toward a new world. We hope that you watch it and invite others to do the same.
The promotion of the movie will take place on April 10th, 1995, in the Radio Music Hall in New York City. Afterwards it will be presented in 450 cinemas all over the United States. The money made from the promotion will go towards the poor of New York and Croatia. Among the numerous prelates and important dignitaries, the mayor of New York will also attend.
THE SITUATION IN THE DIOCESE OF BANJA LUKA
The Bishop of Banja Luka, president of the Commission for the Events of Me|ugorje, Mons. Franjo Komarica, has hardly any faithful left. Catholics of Croatian ethnicity were systematically expelled from their homes by means of "ethnic cleansing". Three hundred seventy Croatians were killed, 140,000 are refugees, 1 priest died, one is missing and one died after spending some time in a Serbian camp. Because of the disastrous situation in his diocese, Mons. Franjo Komarica transformed the Chancery Office into a center for Charity activities. The numbers who daily knock at his door seeking help due to the scarcity of medicine, food, electricity and gas are countless. Factories are closed and the people find help in public kitchens. The situation is truly disastrous and therefore the Bishop continues to ask for help of all kinds for his suffering and forgotten people. Help reaches Banja Luka via Zagreb.
IVAN'S PRAYER GROUP
The prayer group guided by Ivan Dragi~evi} meets twice a week. During those encounters, OurLady sometimes gives a message through Ivan which is only for the group.
On the 25th of every month, Our Lady gives her message of Peace to the world through the visionary, Marija Pavlovi}-Lunetii.
POLISH TELEVISION IN ME\UGORJE
Polish television was in Me|ugorje from January 9th to January 16th, 1995. They wanted to put together a documentary on the events of Me|ugorje. VISIT OF THE VICAR GENERAL
The Vicar General of the Franciscan order, Gilles Bordeaux visited Me|ugorje on January 18th, 1995. He had a cordial encounter with the Franciscans of Me|ugorje, MEMBERS OF THE UN IN ME\UGORJE
Fifty officials and military of the "Blue Helmets" from Argentina, positioned in Croatia, visited Me|ugorje on January 19th, 1995. They participated in the celebration of the Eucharist and visited Apparition Hill.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE PARISH CHURCH
At the end of January, work will begin in the Parish church of St. James in Me|ugorje. A new electrical system will be installed, as well as central air-conditioning and new lights for the church. Work outside and on the towers will also continue. We ask the pilgrims to be patient with any inconvenience from the renovations. .
We ask all those who will take part in the seminar in Tu~epi in April, 1995, to make preparations for it. Bring a list of all the Me|ugorje Centers in your country for the Information Center, which needs it. (Prayer Centers, Pilgrimage Organization Centers and Charitable Aid Centers, etc.) It is necessary to provide the exact name of the Center or the person in charge, address, telephone number and fax number.
For the needs of the Archives of the Sanctuary and the Information Center we kindly ask you to send to us copies of all the publications (books, magazines, papers, etc.), writing about Me|ugorje or explaining it, that are being published in your country. You may send them to us by means of pilgrims or to the following address:
INFORMATION CENTER, ATTN: FRA MILJENKO STOJI]; 88266 Me|ugorje; B i H
NUMBERS OF HOLY COMMUNIONS
Although January was a month with only a few pilgrims, still 24.500 Holy Communions were distributed during that month.
ARGENTINE BISHOP VISITS MEDJUGORJE
During his recent visit to Medjugorje the Argentine Bishop Rubeirom H. di Monteo said: "I came to know Medjugorje while reading the messages of Our Lady and my impression was that this is her usual way of speaking. The conversion of my two cousins during their pilgrimage to Medjugorje is what urged me to come to Medjugorje. One of them was a communist and the other a fascist. This fruit and my desire to see what is happening in this place motivated my coming to Medjugorje.
Our Lady's theology in Medjugorje seems to be healthy and I understand it to be a continuation of the theology of her apparitions in Fatima. In the past century already Our Lady had begun her work: Rue du Bac, Lourdes, Fatima and, in my opinion, Medjugorje is the nucleus of her work. Through this nucleus she is continuing what she began in Rue du Bac. She invites us to the conversion of heart. Here, where there is so much suffering today, people pray a lot and are being reconciled through the sacrament of penance to arrive at that conversion. By living these messages of Christ, peace becomes a real possibility and this change of heart through prayer and conversion mitigates the Divine Justice.
The messages of Medjugorje are messages of hope. Many things are happening that make the world situation difficult. My hope lies in the supernatural since human hope is insufficient.
FR. PETAR LJUBI^I] IN ZURICH
After ten and a half years of ministry in Medjugorje Fr. Petar Ljubi~i} was transferred to the Croatian Mission in Zurich. Besides his service to the parishioners, throughout these years he was in a particular way and with a special love committed to the poor pilgrims and to those from central Europe who had been living under communist regimes for so many years. In the name of all the pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje we thank him this way for the love and readiness to sacrifice he always showed. We wish him God's blessing in his new mission and may the intercession of the Queen of Peace always be with him.
COMMEMORATING THE FRANCISCAN MARTYRS OF HERCEGOVINA
From February 7 - 14, 1995 celebrations were held in several nearby churches to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 66 martyred Franciscans of the Province of Hercegovina. The friars of Medjugorje participated in the holy masses celebrated in memory of their deceased brothers.
PRAYER AND FASTING RETREATS
During Lent four retreats of prayer, fasting and silence will be conducted in Medjugorje's house of prayer, Domus Pacis. They are intended for all those who wish to live the mystery of the passion and redemption of Christ more intensely. Fr. Slavko Barbari} will lead them on the following dates: March 12 - 18, March 19 - 25, March 26 - April 1, April 9 - 15, 1995.
VOCATIONS
Medjugorje is a place where numerous vocations are born. Two young americans told us theirstories during a recent trip to Me|ugorje.
I am Rick from Boston and John from Dallas.
"My name is Rick. I came to Me|ugorje in September of 1989, responding to an interior calling which I had not totally understood. I was 23 years old. I knew in my heart that God wanted me to go to Me|ugorje. But I had absolutely no idea about what was going to happen to me there. During this week, I received an exceptional gift. I discovered the "unconditional love" which Jesus and His mother have for each one of the us, their children. I clearly felt that people from all over the world who were there, felt the same--that they were loved with an unconditional love. At every celebration of the Eucharist, a multitude of believers participated, the lines for confession were much longer than anything I could ever have imagined. During this pilgrimage, I met many dear people. All had come to Medjugorje to deepen and to discover their personal relationship with God. In these seven days, I witnessed many tears of joy. I understood the power of prayer--all my prayers were answered. After I had returned home, my newly discovered desire for prayer grew stronger. I was praying more and I understood more that the Lord was guiding me and calling me to the Franciscan order. Today I am a franciscan for 5 years-student of Theology. I have a few years of study to face before ordination to the priesthood. Prayer has remianed the most important part of my day. In prayer, I continuously experience the unconditional love of God and His hand guiding me tenderly in a continuous deepening of mutual love.
"My name is John. I was a protestant. I grew up in the Episcopal church. While studying the history of the Church, I discovered that the Catholic Church has the full truth. I came to Medjugorje in 1991 and I felt as if I was at home. I worked in bringing Humanitarian Aid to the refugees. It was difficult to come to Medjugorje then. With me, there were two other members of the Episcopal church. Later on, however, they also became Catholics. I asked God to help be understand His will for me. I said "I am ready to do anything for you, just reveal your will for me. If I am to become a priest, I am ready". I that moment, peace returned back to my heart. I thought of becoming a priest in the Episcopal church. I had already accepted this and thought of my family. Later I met two priests of my church, who helped me much in discovering the Catholic tradition. They must have been Marian priests. One of them had been to Medjugorje. Teaching me the true religion, they turned toward the Catholic Church also. I returned home. I studied and prayed. One year later, I entered the Catholic Church in the United States. I thought about many orders and communities. I decided to enter into a missionary community: Our Lady of the Holy Trinity. Me|ugorje has truly helped to discover and accept the vocation. I shall do everything so that I will be able to cooperate with Divine grace on this path of mine."
SEMINAR IN TU^EPI
During the seminar on spirituality and information to be held from April 2 - 6, 1995 these topics will be treated: the theology of apparitions, the participant's role in the Medjugorje events and Medjugorje for our day.
Simultaneous translations for all languages will be organized. Hotel expenses will be paid for locally in convertible currency. Participants are expected to make their own arrangements for arrival and departure. But the possibility still exists that transfer to and from the Split airport may be provided on April 2 and 6. Registration is open until March 20 at the Phone/Fax number of Fr. Leonard Ore~, ++385-21-361-354.
For the needs of the Archives of the Sanctuary and the Information Center we kindly ask you to send to us all the publications (books, magazines, papers, etc.), writing about Me|ugorje or explaining it, that are being published in your country. You may send them to us by means of pilgrims or the following address:INFORMATION CENTER, ATTN: FRA MILJENKO STOJI] 88266 Me|ugorje, Bosnia i Hercegovina, Via Croatia.
MEETING OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA
The newly formed Episcopal Conference of Bosnia and Hercegovina held its first session in Mostar from January 27 - 29, 1995. The Declaration published at the end of the meeting makes no reference to the events in Medjugorje although pilgrims are very interested in them.
MISSIONARY TRIP OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
Fr. Slavko Barbari} travelled to 8 countries of Latin American for a month and met with the many friends of Medjugorje and with former pilgrims. He returned to Medjugorje February 13. In Guatemala, a country exhausted by 14 years of civil war, many earthquakes and poverty, the local priests testified that the message of Medjugorje brought new inspiration and renewal to the people. In Salvador Fr. Slavko was welcomed by the President's family and he later had a long and friendly conversation with them. In Equador, Peru and Chile Fr. Slavko led numerous prayer meetings in which great numbers of the faithful participated. In Equador he met with Bernadino Cardinal Echeverrio who was very interested in Medjugorje and accepts it wholeheartedly. In Bolivia's capital city La Paz 6000 people were present at the prayer meeting which was authorized in writing by Archbishop Luis Sainz Hinojosa himself. During his three days in Paraguay about 2000 faithful took part in the meetings. Archbishop Felipe Santiago Benitez, had personally consulted the Holy Father in Rome to know if he could approve the visit of a priest from Medjugorje to his diocese. The Pope answered him saying, "Approve everything that concerns Medjugorje." The last country was Argentina where he led many prayer meetings in Buenos Aires and a very big one in Cordoba. During this visit he met with the Papal Nuncio Giulio Calabrese who expressed his wish to visit Medjugorje. Fr. Slavko concluded with two prayer meetings in Italy on his way back home.
THE CUSTOS OF THE FRANCISCAN CUSTODY OF MOZAMBIQUE IN MEDJUGORJE
Medjugorje is a place where people from all over the world meet and on February 11, 1995 Fr. Adriano Langa visited Medjugorje. He is Custos of the Mozambique Franciscan Custody, which belongs to the Franciscan Province of Portugal. On the occasion of his visit Fr. Adriano said:
"I'm in Medjugorje for the first time even though I've heard about it for a long time. The Church of Mozambique knows Medjugorje well, but the faithful do not know it very well yet. The newspapers and television do not cover Medjugorje and although the communist regime has fallen, we still do not have a Catholic newspaper. Presently there are two government newspapers but they are not interested in religious events occurring outside of Mozambique. Our society, having been systematically destroyed by communism, must face the problems of poverty, drugs and the influence of western lifestyles. Although it is a decadent model it especially attracts the youth. Our effort is to draw them away from this model and to defeat it.
Through my presence in Medjugorje I wish to confirm the presence of the Franciscans of Mozambique. My impressions are very positive. I admire the faith of the people coming here to pray and I admire the work of the Franciscans with the faithful as well. I feel how the Franciscans support those who come here and this is a very important attitude for proclaiming the Gospel. Only by being close to man, can we help him to walk the right way. So be courageous and go on supporting your people too, because they need help and support during these times of great suffering."
A NEW FRANCISCAN FRIARY IN ZAGREB
After 50 years of having to study outside their own country, the Franciscan students for the priesthood from Hercegovina will soon have their own residential friary in Zagreb. In 1945 the communists violently appropriated the Franciscan friary. Now they will have their own place again thanks to the generosity of friends and benefactors. We wish to thank wholeheartedly all those who made possible the realization of this great project, although it is not yet completed due to the lack of funds.
THE NEW COMMUNITIES IN MEDJUGORJE
In addition to the Franciscans friars of the Mostar Province of the Assumption and the Franciscan sisters of Christ the King Province of Herzegovina some new communities from abroad are living and operating in the parish of Medjugorje. They are Communita Cenacolo, Oasis of Peace and Casa Internazionale della Pace from Italy and the Community of the Beatitudes from France. There are also some houses with a specific apostolate. The Italian Casa di San Giuseppe for pilgrims, the Communita Piergiorgio for the sick and the Medjugorje Croatian Childrens' Village providing hospitality and assistance to orphans from the war.
This Press Bulletin will introduce these communities and their work beginning with the Communita Cenacolo. It was founded in 1982 by Sister Elvira Petrozzi. She wanted to help drug addicts but with the primary aim of leading them to discover and to live true Christian values. Besides the main house in Saluzzo, Italy, the community has about 20 other houses in Europe and the United States. Sister Elvira decided to open one in Medjugorje and did so on June 1, 1991 because Medjugorje is a place of special graces particularly for young people seeking the path of truth.The community lives on providence. The young men of Communita Cenacolo have strong testimonies about their own conversions and are available to meet with pilgrims.
NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Anyone interested in presenting a book, a scientific publication or an article about Medjugorje in the pages of the Press Bulletin are invited to submit a copy to us. In this issue we announce Fr. Peter's new book: 1. Fr. Petar Ljubi~i}, The Call of the Queen of Peace. Glas Mira Edition, Medjugorje. January 1995. 296 pages.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CELEBRANTS
In February, despite the small number of pilgrims, 22,000 communions were distributed and 465 priests from Croatia and abroad concelebrated at the Eucharist. This month's number of communions is identical with February 1987. Likewise the number of concelebrants is the same as February 1989. And of these were pre-war years of peace when many more pilgrims were coming.
A NIGERIAN ARCHBISHOP VISITS MEDJUGORJE
Archbishop Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka of Nigeria privately visited Medjugorje for the third time. He made the following statement on the occasion of his visit.
"Since the time my faithful are coming to Medjugorje, I too, as Archbishop, feel the duty to come, to see what happens and to have a personal experience of this place of intense prayer. I still remember the strong impressions I had after my previous visits. Our Lady's messages are simple, practical and life changing. I realize the Church has not yet recognized the apparitions and I submit myself to its judgment. Pope Urban VIII said it is better to believe in private revelations and apparitions than not to believe. When the Church approves of them, your would have already taken advantage. Though waiting for Rome's decision, I came to Medjugorje to talk to the priests, sisters and laity about the events.
I have preached in 12 dioceses and I always mention Medjugorje. I have a lot of books and videos too to make it known to the people. It is really something extremely interesting. The messages have spread all over the world and people are attracted to come here. I have met many of the faithful who daily pray the rosary. I met one person who incessantly prays for priest since coming to Medjugorje. The messages changed a lot of people in my diocese. Even life in convents changed after they had become known. But we must still spread them more and more. That's why I wish to have as much information as possible about these events. There are groups that pray for peace according to the wish of Our Lady herself. If you look at the messages of Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje, you will see that they are the same: peace, conversion, and penance. They are all important and biblical. Even though it is not always easy or possible, I would like my diocesan priests to come to Medjugorje because it is important for them to come, see and experience. I permit no one, myself included, to be prejudiced, because that means to judge without seeing. To sum up, as an archbishop I'd like to invite all those who have not yet done so, to come to Medjugorje. The reason is to be personally persuaded and not to be prejudiced against what they don't know. They may have their own opinion only after a personal experience. When I meet the visionaries and priests working there, I see fruits that edify me. I am really grateful for the opportunity to come here. It is important for everyone to respond and then peace will dwell within us. I promise my prayers and my blessing to all pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje and, in turn, I recommend myself to their prayers."
COMMUNITIES - THE MARIAN COMMUNITY - "OASIS OF PEACE"
Nine years ago the Marian community "Oasis of Peace" was born in Medjugorje. It is a response to Our Lady's wish to live and to put her messages into practice. This community has been recognized by ecclesiastical authorities and today has nine houses one of which is in Medjugorje. Their main house is in Rome. The community consists of clergy, lay men and women, and married couples. All have dedicated their lives for peace which is God's gift which still has to be prayed, earned through suffering and then shared with others. The life style is contemplative and affords to all who are sincerely seeking God and His peace the possibility of also finding it in the life of the community. Prayer, the most important element of their life, work and a simple family life in nearness to God is the daily treasure of this community. The Marian community "Oasis of Peace" opened its house if Medjugorje five years ago. It lives from the donations of benefactors and its members are open to meet with pilgrims interested in knowing more about their kind of life.
Now that we are in Lent the number of pilgrims is daily increasing. They come during Lent to be closer to the Passion and Resurrection of Christ with the help of Blessed Mary. We want to invite all pilgrims to set out on this path as sincere and open pilgrims and they will surely be led to a bright Easter through the sacraments, prayer, penance and silence.
Parishioners and pilgrims gather in the church for the evening program of prayer from 5 - 8pm. The joyful and sorrowful mysteries of the rosary start at 5pm, Holy Mass at 6pm followed by the blessing of religious articles, a prayer for healing and the glorious mysteries. On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 - 10pm there is an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament as occurs on Thursdays after the evening mass. Every Friday at 2pm the Way of the Cross is prayed on Krizevac, the Cross Mountain. On Sundays at 2pm the rosary is prayed on Podbrdo, the Hill of Apparitions. Holy Mass for pilgrims in different languages takes place each morning at different hours. At 10am each day various visiting priests preside at the English language mass.
We would like to remind all those who wish to attend the seminar on prayer and information in Tucepi from April 2 - 6, 1995 to please make their reservations as soon as possible and not later than March 20. This may be done at the number of Fr. Leonard Orec: tel & fax 385-21-361-354.
MIRJANA'S ANNUAL APPARITION
The visionary Mirjana Dragi~evi} - Soldo had daily apparitions from June 24, 1981 to December 25, 1982. During the last apparition on Christmas day 1982 Our Lady confided the tenth secret to her. She told her that the daily apparitions for her would stop but that during her entire life she would have an annual apparition on her birthday, March 18. And so itwas also this year. The apparition lasted ten minutes. After it Mirjana, all in tears, withdrew toher room. Here is what she said about her meeting with Our Lady.
"I prayed the Our Father and the Glory be with our Lady three times. The first one was for unbelievers, especially for those who have not experienced God's love. The second was for the souls in purgatory and the third for the intentions of those who were present at the apparition. Our Lady blessed all those present and also all the religious articles. Our Lady was not happy during the apparition as she has been known to be during past apparitions for my birthday. She talked to me about the secrets but I cannot say anything about that."
In answer to questions why Mirjana cried and if Our Lady give any message, the visionary answered: "It is hard for me when Our Lady goes away. The meeting with Our Lady is a fulfillment of everything. I feel completed. But when she leaves, I realize that I'm here, on earth, that I'm going on without her as if I were forsaken even though I know I am not. It is really hard, so hard . . . In the message Our Lady spoke about the love that we need. Her wish is that people love one another because God is love and if we love God, we will love one another. I understand this message as one of consolation and that we don't have to fear anything if we have love. And this was Our Lady's message:
"Dear children!
Already for many years as a Mother I have been teaching you faith and God's love. You have
not shown gratitude to the dear
Father nor have you given him glory. You have become empty and your heart has become hard
and without love toward your
neighbors' sufferings. I am teaching you love and showing you that the dear Father loved you but
you have not loved him.
He sacrificed his Son for your salvation, my children. As long as you do not love, you will not
know your Father's love. You
won't get to know him because God is love. Love and don't be afraid, my children, because
there is no fear in love. If your
hearts are open to the Father and if they are full of love toward him, then why any fear of what is
to come? Those who are
afraid are the ones who do not love because they are waiting for punishments and because they
know how empty and hard
they are. Children, I am leading you to love, to the dear Father. I am leading you to eternal life.
Eternal life is my Son.
Receive him and you have received love."
PROMOTION OF THE MOVIE 'GOSPA'
In response to the great interest of pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje we present here the dates and places where the movie 'Gospa' by director Jakov Sedlar will be shown.
April 9, 1995 TORONTO - Convention Center
April 10, 1995 NEW YORK - Radio City Music Hall
April 11, 1995 DETROIT - Convention Center
April 14, 1995 ZAGREB - "Vatroslav Lisinski"
April 15, 1995 SPLIT - Lora
April 15, 1995 ^ITLUK
April 17 1995 DUBROVNIK
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES - "THE BEATITUDES"
The Catholic community of "The Beatitudes" was founded in France by Brother Ephraim in 1973. Its mission is to pray for the unity of the Church, for the enlightenment of Israel and for Christ's coming in glory. This new lay community is both contemplative and apostolic. It is composed of brothers and sisters, priests, deacons and families. Their life is based on the order of life of the first Christians as described in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 4.
The community is present on all five continents and has sixty houses. The one in Medjugorje was opened in 1989. Its ten members, including one priest, live her messages in Our Lady's school and endeavor to spread them throughout the whole world. The community's life in Medjugorje revolves around the community liturgy open to all; an apostolate consisting of lecturing, receiving people of the French language and sometimes groups of other languages; confessions, animating liturgies in the Sanctuary and participating in the evening prayer program of the parish community. It is a great joy for them all to live at the heart of this place which they look on as their own home and which provides them the experience of being all the children of the same Mother.
We announce to all participants that the Prayer - Information Seminar, scheduled for April 2 - 6, 1995, will take place at the Hotel "HORIZONT " in Ba ka Voda, 2 kilometers from Makarska toward Split. Everything else announced regarding the seminar remains unchanged.
At "Mir"--The Information Centre of the Shrine of the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje we have advanced and improved our technical equipment so that information reaches you quickly and qualitatively. We have added to our computer the RobofaxPRO programme which allows you to call our number +387-88-642-709 at any time, and after two rings you will hear a voice with the following messages:
"Thank you for calling RobofaxPRO, our fax-on-demand system. For a complete catalogue of available documents, press 1. To select document by number, press 2. To leave a voice message, press 3. To hear this menu again, press 4."
If you wish to receive the NEWSLETTER in English or OUR LADY'S MESSAGES or some other information then after listening to these directions press 1 on your fax machine. Then Robofax will ask you to write (type in) your telephone (voice) number. When you have typed in your telephone (voice) number, Robofax will repeat this number which you typed in and then you will again press 1 (that is if the number is correct). After that Robofax will tell you to press START on your fax machine, which you then must do. After you have pressed START wait a moment and the requested document will be transmitted to your fax machine. If you have any questions or if you are not clear on any aspect regarding the receipt of these documents, we ask you to please send us this in writing on our fax number +387-88-642-339 (for fr. Miljenko Stojic or Mr. Stipe Cavar).
Dear friends!
Easter is again before us! May the feast we are about to commemorate not be just one more
celebration among other feasts in a row, but rather a celebration of the fact that we have been
able to
change with the help of our God.
We know you are capable of that. You have already proven it by coming here to Medjugorje, going to confession and by praying for peace in your own soul and for peace in the world. You are that yeast that will be the leaven in this world. The world cannot change without you. Our Lady has often spoken to us about that and invited us to be missionaries in this world.
In this Press Bulletin of ours we have tried to keep abreast of your coming and the fruits you have harvested in your encounter with God. Naturally, it has managed barely to scratch the surface of that treasure. Only you and God know the depth and the greatness of that encounter. We shall endeavor still more to continue being of service to all of you. With your contributions, news items and suggestions you can take part in the shaping of this publication. That way all of us together can contribute toward the purity and health of the message of God imparted to us by Our Lady.
Do not let anything hinder you. Persevere in helping the message of God to reach every heart. Then this world of ours in which we live will be more sane and more beautiful. A Blessed and Happy Feast of Easter to all of you!
THE PRAYER AND INFORMATION SEMINAR
During the seminar just held in Ba ka Voda, the following was adopted:
At the international symposium held in Ba ka Voda from April 2- 6, 1995, seventy leaders of prayer groups and centers of peace from 15 states, four visionaries and the priests who work in Medjugorje participated. After hearing the lectures, exchanging ideas and experiences and praying together, taking into consideration all the criteria: regarding the visionaries, the messages of Our Lady and the fruits of those messages in the lives of the faithful throughout the whole world, we are even more convinced that the Medjugorje apparitions are a gift of God for our times. They are an encouragement for the people of God in these times of trouble and turmoil, an impulse and direction to the Church in her search for the ways of new evangelization on the approach to the third millennium. Our Lady's message are not a new revelation, but new help for Revelation to be grasped in a new way and to be incorporated in new times. In them are contained, in some sense, concrete answers to the most recent documents of Pope John Paul II. Accordingly, we recommend to all prayer groups and centers of peace:
- That in Our Lady's messages they see a call to and direction toward the only Savior Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of salvation;
- That they always keep in their heart concern for the Church, for which Mary is Mother, model, exemplar and final goal of her journey through time;
- That they especially do everything so that through them, the local Church may experience the fruits of conversion and peace;
- That in the context of Our Lady's messages they be open to the signs of today's world and times, in order to be a sign of hope and a place of security for all men amid modern problems and uncertainties;
- That they do everything in love and understanding to overcome mutual disagreements so as altogether to serve better the great good of peace.
THE FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN MEDJUGORJE
About 5000 pilgrims from ten different countries came to Medjugorje for the feast of the Annunciation on March 25.
MISSIONARY TRIPS OF FR. IVAN LANDEKA AND FR. JOZO ZOVKO
Medjugorje's pastor, Fr. Ivan Landeka and Fr. Jozo Zovko went to Austria and Germany at the invitation of pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje. Through five days in Austria, Fr, Ivan visited the cities of Innsbruck, Leonding and Oberportdorf. A great number of faithful participated in the prayer meetings at which Fr. Ivan spoke about the Medjugorje message of peace. Fr. Jozo met with pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje in the German cities of Munich, Frankfurt, Koln and Achen. A large number of faithful participated in the prayer meetings with the desire of getting better acquainted with the message of Medjugorje given by Our Lady to the world. During his next missionary trip from May 18 - 22, 1995, Fr. Jozo will visit Padua, Bologna, Ferrara and Reggio in Italy and Lugano in Switzerland.
THE VISIONARY VICKA VISITS THE POPE
At His general audience Wednesday March 2, 1995, the Holy Father, John Paul II met with 310 disabled Croatian war veterans. The visionary Vicka was among those who accompanied them. The Pope recognized her when she presented him with a rosary blessed by Our Lady specifically for the Holy Father. He said to Vicka, "Pray for me and I will pray for you." Then she accompanied the Pope and helped introduce the most severe cases as he visited each one.
SISTER ELVIRA AT THE SESSION OF THE CROATIAN BISHOPS' CONFERENCE
Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, founder of the community "Cenacolo," was invited to the ordinary session of the Croatian Bishops' Conference on March 16, 1995. One of the topics discussed was "The Problem of the Drug Addiction in Croatia." For an hour and a half she gave her testimony on the life of her community. She began by saying: "The healing of the drug addicted is in your hands. You must totally dedicate yourselves to them, but you must realize it is Christ that is working through you. You must letthe Holy Spirit lead you and make it possible to save the youth, without any interests or personalambitions, never expecting the person's gratitude. Otherwise, you will never have any results." We should add that this community has the highest rate of success. Of the youth who join the community 85% have left rehabilitated, thanks to its lifestyle.
The new Information center FAX NUMBER is: + 387 88 64 23 39; ROBOFAX: +387 88 64 27 09.
EASTER
Several thousand pilgrims visited Medjugorje during the days of Easter celebration. Besides native pilgrims the most numerous groups were from Italy, France, United States, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Poland, Canada, Slovenia and Hungary.
SEMINARS ON PRAYER AND FASTING
During Lent four seminars on prayer and fasting were organized and conducted by Fr. Slavko Barbari} at the Domus Pacis House of Prayer. About 150 local and foreign participants joined in the courses. The seminars on prayer and fasting are becoming a tradition during Advent and Lent since so many people would like to take part in them. They are truly a chance for plunging into one's own soul and for a sincere and profound observance of Lent.
THE POPE IN MEDJUGORJE ?
During the unofficial portion of Pope John Paul II's meeting with a political and ecclesiastical delegation from Croatia held in Rome April 7, the Holy Father, among other things, said there is a possibility of his visiting Croatia again. With that he mentioned the possibility of coming to Split, the Marian Shrine of Marija Bistrica and Medjugorje ("Sl. Dalmacija ", 08.04.1995., page 3)
AMERICAN SCIENTIST JIM DOYLE IN CROATIA
A great friend of Croatians, Mr. Jim Doyle, prominent scientist and physicist who has successfully worked on numerous inventions, visited Croatia in February. On that occasion he said "I have been to Medjugorje six times. When I fell in love with Our Lady of Medjugorje, I also fell in love with the Croatian people. I am convinced that Our Lady has come to the Croatians out of love for them and so I felt obliged to do something for these people. Therefore, I am donating to Croatia my newest invention, "electronic ear" which will enable the deaf mute to hear. That is why I am here."
In Zagreb on February 17, 1995, together with Fr. Jozo Zovko and his physician brother, Mr. Doyle presented his invention to the medical specialists of the Vinograd Hospital clinic and the "Rudjer Bo{kovi}" Institute of Science. Jim Doyle handed over the license for "electronic ear" to scientists of HAZU and signed a contract with the government of Croatia. The Vice President of HAZU (Croatian Academy of Science and Art), Dr. Ivo Padovan, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Doyle with these words, "I thank you and Fr. Jozo Zovko because all of this would not have happened if it had not been for Medjugorje."
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. LEONARD OREC
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims Fr. Leonard Orec visited the German city of Fulda from April 7 - 9, 1995 Prayer groups of Medjugorje pilgrims organized the three day seminar on prayer in which 115 participated.
FR. JOZO ZOVKO TO AMERICA AND ITALY
Responding to the invitation of friends of Medjugorje Fr. Jozo Zovko will visit the following
cities in the
United States:
Orangefield, Texas May 01
Portland, Oregon May 06
Los Angeles, California May 09
Phoenix, Arizona May 12
Chicago, Illinois May 14
New Orleans, Louisiana May 16
Miami, Florida May 18
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania May 19
Providence, Rhode Island May 21
Lowell, Massachusetts May 22
Manhattan, New York May 24
Long Island, New York May 25
In Italy he will visit Turin and Udine from June 8 - 13, 1995
PREMIER OF THE MOVIE GOSPA'
About 10,000 spectators were present to participate in the American and Canadian premiers of the Croatian producer Jakov Sedlar's movie Gospa', held respectively on April 9, 10, 11 in New York, Toronto and Detroit. The film had its European premier performance in Zagreb and then in several Croatian cities.
Due to the multitude of accurate and inaccurate pieces of information circulating around the world which speak about events on Medjugorje and make references to us, we feel obliged to inform you that this Press Bulletin is the one and only organ of the sanctuary of the Queen of Peace in which the official position of the Medjugorje Franciscans is expressed.
We have advanced and improved the computer technology of our "Mir"Information Center enabling you more quickly and efficiently to obtain the information we make available to you. Instead of the till now prevailing practice of the transmission of faxes by us, the improvement consists in this that from now on at any time you can call our Robofax + 387-88-661-555 on your own fax. Wait for your own language announcement and you will hear which number to press on your fax. Depending on the language in which you wish to receive the Press Bulletin, press the corresponding number:
To receive English Press Bulletin press number 1;
To receive German Press Bulletin press number 2;
To receive Italian Press Bulletinpress number 3;
To receive French Press Bulletin press number 4;
To receive Croatian Press Bulletin press number 5;
To receive Our Lady's message press number 6;
To receive additional information from Medjugorje press number 7;
To leave your own spoken message press number 8 and speak your message.
After you have pressed the desired number, you will hear the announcement only in English asking you to enter your own fax number. Then our Robofax will repeat your number only in English. Then press number l to confirm the correct reception of your fax number by our computer.
Then you only have to press START on your fax to receive the selected Press Bulletin, and/or Our Lady's message and/or the additional information.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
Due to the great influx of pilgrims during March, 32,000 Holy Communions were distributed and 771 priests from Croatia and abroad concelebrated the Eucharist. In April 71,000 Holy Communions were distributed and 1,296 priests concelebrated at Holy Mass.
YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL
A Prayer Youth Festival will be organized again this year in Medjugorje. It will begin July 31,1995 at 18.00 (6:00 pm) with the evening program in church and will end with a festive Holy Mass on Mt. Kri`evac at 5 am on August 6, the Feast of Our Lady of Snows. The theme of the festival will be: Youth with Our Lady for Life and Peace. Participants must have a bible in order to fully take part in the prayer program. Based on our experience in past years, we request all pilgrimage organizers not to plan on other programs during the festival, but only to participate with the youth in the festival. We also invite all priests to be at the disposal of the youth for personal discussions and confessions during the festival. A songfest of Marian music dedicated to Our Lady will take place on the evening of August 5, the last day of the festival. Therefore, we invite you to prepare and rehearse in your own language a song that you can sing for this occasion. Participation in this portion of the festival will be limited only to individuals or groups of less than 20 persons. All those who want to participate in the songfest or who wish to enrich the festival with an instrumental performance (violin, flute, trumpet, cello, saxophone, etc) are requested to make their wish known to Augustino at the fax number - - 387-88-642-339 as soon as possible. Augustino is the young Italian who will be responsible for the music during the festival. A simultaneous translation system will be provided. To take advantage of it one must have headphones and any kind of FM radio equipped with frequencies between 88-108 MHZ. To submit any suggestion concerning the planning of prayer for the festival, please send it in to us as soon as possible on the fax number - - 387- 88-642-339.
MISSIONARY TRIP OF FATHER JOZO ZOVKO
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims Fr. Jozo Zovko visited several Italian cities from April 18-27,1995. During all the prayer meetings he spoke about Our Lady's message and, especially, about prayer and the Eucharist. Along with the Eucharist he prayed the rosary and led Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The meetings were well attended. For the meeting in Padua about 3,500 faithful came from all over northern Italy.
After meetings with pilgrims in Bologna, Fr. Jozo visited the Poor Clares' Monastery and the tomb of St. Catherine who founded the same convent in which her incorrupt body is preserved. Fr. Jozo met with the Bishop of Ferrara at his invitation. During the one hour meeting, the bishop listened to Fr. Jozo's experiences with deep interest and evident emotion as he related the events of Medjugorje. Due to ailing health the bishop was not able to attend the prayer meeting organized in the cathedral at which several thousand faithful participated. However, he invited all his diocesan priests to attend. Fr. Jozo also met with the members of the Ferrara Red Cross in order to thank them for all the aid they have sent to the Croatian people, suffering so much because of the war.
Desiring to help in the building of a school in Sarajevo, Italian Caritas organized a meeting with Medjugorje pilgrims on April 26 in the city of Terni. Fr. Jozo was also invited to the meeting. In that way Medjugorje wanted to help the suffering city of Sarajevo along with the thousands of faithful and the President of Italian Caritas who came from Rome to take part in the meeting. On April 28 Cardinal Vinko Pulji} visited Terni for the same purpose.
After his visit in Italy Fr. Jozo visited Lugano, Switzerland. The prayer meeting in Congress Hall with several thousand faithful present was especially touching. Since the bishop of this diocese died recently and a new one had not yet been appointed, the organizers dimmed the lights at the beginning of the meeting and played a message from the bishop taped before his death as the faithful held lighted candles to express their affection. All the diocesan priests joined in praying the rosary and in the Holy Mass that followed.
OTTO VON HABSBURG VISITS MEDJUGORJE
A great friend of Medjugorje, Archduke Otto von Hapsburg and his son, Karl, visited Medjugorje April 23 with a group of 40 family members and members of the European Mission. They explicitly wanted to participate in the Croatian Evening Mass after which they visited the Parish house where they had a long and cordial talk with the Medjugorje Franciscans.
SECURE STATUS OF MEDJUGORJE
Medjugorje is and has remained an Oasis of Prayer and Peace during these disturbed times. Only in the beginning days of the war three years ago was it a little bit dangerous being in Medjugorje. But from then until the present time it has never been dangerous again. The easiest way to reach Medjugorje by car or bus is by the Dalmatian coastal road through Croatia via Split. For those who wish to travel by air the Split airport is open and bus transportation is available to Medjugorje . By boat one can arrive at any Croatian port and then take a bus to Medjugorje.
NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Dr. Franti{ek Mr~ek: "Med`ugorje" III, VRIT, PRAG, 1994 176 pp.
FRENCH BISHOP VISITS MEDJUGORJE
Recently Bishop Georges Lagranges from the French city Gap visited in Medjugorje for a week. On the occasion of his visit with the Franciscans in Medjugorje he said: "I am from the city of Gap in France. My diocese borders with Italy. This is my first visit to Medjugorje and, to my knowledge, only two French bishops have so far visited Medjugorje."
When asked, "What does the fact that the apparitions are continuing this long mean to you and does it surprise you?" the bishop answered: "No, not in the least because that happened with us 300 years ago, namely, in my diocese. The Blessed Virgin appeared to a young girl who was only 16 years old and those apparitions lasted to the end of her life. She died at the age of 72. No one ever counted how many times she saw the Blessed Virgin! Our Lady began speaking to her by teaching her how to be a patient little shepherdess. She continued and ended with mystical visions of the crucified Christ and his sufferings in which the visionary herself participated. It is interesting to note that Our Lady lead the little girl to a place of abundant water. She told the girl that a house for priests had to be built there where they could receive pilgrims who would come to be reconciled with God in the sacrament of penance. That's how the Marian sanctuary of Our Lady of Laus began. I want to say that there exist today numerous conflicts between religions and nations and they have become especially prominent in these regions. I believe its exactly for that reason the Blessed Virgin chose Medjugorje as a place of complete and sincere reconciliation."
CELEBRATION OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II
The 50th anniversary of the end of World War II was celebrated in the church of Medjugorje as in numerous other places in the world. While remembering all the calamities, in a special way we commemorated the afflictions suffered by the Hercegovina Franciscan province and the Mostar-Duvansko-Mrkinje Diocese, of which Medjugorje is a part.
At that time in the boundaries of this small diocese 17,000 Croatian Catholics lost their lives. Out of that great multitude we only recall here one Franciscan sister, 13 diocesan priests and seminarians and 66 Friars from the Hercegovina Franciscan province. In the small Croatian nation which at that time numbered about 4 million inhabitants more than 600 priests, and men and women religious were killed.
The majority of these were killed after the end of World War II. The great tragedy began May 15 on the field of Bleiburg in Austria. Croatian soldiers and civilians had retreated before the godless, unbridled communist partisans to whom Croatia had been handed over at the Yalta summit in 1943. The Croatians wanted to surrender to the allies and so escape the communist madness. When they arrived at the field in Bleiburg, the English, who welcomed them, promised them protection and help if they would surrender their weapons. They did that, but then the English handed them over to the partisans with full knowledge that they would be slaughtered. They were sent off by train to Slovenia where the partisans took charge. The tragedy began. Many were immediately killed. The others set out on a so-called Way of the Cross a 1000 kilometers long. It stretched from Slovenia to Macedonia. The killings continued all along the way. The latest research shows that about 300,000 Croatians were killed in these events.
We pray the Queen of Peace that nothing like that ever happens again in human history. She will secure that better than those who say they are taking care of world security. We can see what their security looks like in the case of ex-Yugoslavia and other regions of the world. They make every effort to protect certain self-interests of their own. Our Lady defends the rights and justice of every man and his freedom.
CONDITIONS IN THE DIOCESE OF BANJA LUKA
In the course of this terrible war in Bosnia-Hercegovina in which Medjugorje is situated, many Catholic parishes have been wiped off the face of the earth. Recently this is happening to the entire diocese of Banja Luka. Bishop Dr. Franjo Komarica is at the head of that diocese. He is, moreover, the President of the commission for the investigation of events in the parish of Medjugorje.
At the beginning of the war 80,000 Croatian Catholics lived in the diocese of Banja Luka. Today there are about 22,000 left even though there was no war ever waged in these regions. From the beginning the Serbs were in the majority and had all the power. Still that did not prevent them from throwing the majority of the Croatians out of their homes, nor from taking away their jobs and driving them out of those regions. In doing that more than 1000 were killed. They often used them as a live defense on the battlefield.
Something similar was done to the Moslems. Unfortunately, we do not at this moment have comprehensive data on that.
In the same neither were objects of Catholic faith or religious personnel respected. So far 40 churches have been destroyed, 17 of them totally and 23 partially. They have destroyed or damaged 24 parish houses or buildings. Four Catholic priests have been killed. In not one of these cases have the Serbian authorities done anything to discover those guilty or to protect innocent people or property. Here we are taking into consideration only the most recent events.
On May 7 the Franciscan monastery and church in Petri~evac were totally demolished. Fr. Aloysius Atlija, an old, infirm and immobile priest died in the explosion and fire. They had planned to burn alive the friars and sisters in one section of the monastery. The guardian of the monastery, although seriously wounded, succeeded to escape through a window and notify the police who were not willing to do anything more than to transport them to Bishop Komarica. After this several other churches in the vicinity of Banja were damaged. On May 12 the parish church of Presna~e was mined and the priest Fr. Philip Lukenda and the catechist Sr. Cecilia Paula Grgi} were burned alive together in the parish hall. In his regular general audience on May 14 Pope John Paul II sharply condemned these crimes. He called on all Christians to pray for this martyred diocese saying, "Who can keep silent before such barbarianism!"
Sad to say, for the United Nations and the Security Council these crimes are not considered newsworthy. They don't even mention them.
We beseech all of you who love truth and justice to pray for this diocese and to do all in your power to help your brothers and sisters in Christ.
We have just been informed that, because of all these events, Bishop Komarica has begun a hunger strike.
THE EXPERIENCE OF ONE PILGRIM
At the beginning of the aggression against Croatia in 1991 Mr. Ivica Relkovi}, a pilgrim from Zagreb, decided to walk from Zagreb to Medjugorje with a desire in that way to pray for peace in his agonized homeland. On his way the Serbian army captured him and he spent 113 days in prison. After his release from prison he bravely continued his journey and arrived at his destination in Medjugorje. Recently he published a book on his experiences during that pilgrimage which, after several other Croatian cities, also received its promotion in Medjugorje. On that occasion the author said: "Without wishing to prejudice the final position of the Church, Medjugorje is, in fact, from its very beginning a call to genuine peace and a serious warning about the danger of Satan's counter-plan. The Medjugorje mystery is truly in terms of time a precursor to the tragedy of today, to the tragedy of our people and of other people in these regions. As such, Medjugorje can be a signal for us in these times. In conclusion, it has been and is an ongoing inspiration for numerous spiritual activities of various concrete attainments. After all, Gamaliel's theorem is valid for every spiritual mystery: if it is of man, it will fall; but if it is an outpouring from heaven, just by the irresistible endurance of little people it will live for the glory of God!"
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARI]
At the invitation of pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje Fr. Slavko visited Vienna May 5-7. About 4,000 faithful took part in the prayer meeting at the Church of Mary Our Lady of Victory. Along with prayer and the celebration of Eucharist Fr. Slavko spoke on Our Lady's messages of peace directed to the world. On the last day May 7, an evening program of prayer as in Medjugorje was held in the Marian shrine "Maria Taferi", 130 kilometers from Vienna. After the prayer meeting Sr. Milena Tomas, an academic painter presently living and working in Medjugorje, exhibited 30 of her works with various motifs which sold out immediately to participants of the meeting. Sr. Milena briefly presented her nascent works as the fruit of prayer and glorifying God through Our Lady's messages. She expressed the desire that her works help people discover the beauty of creation.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES
The house of St. Joseph in Medjugorje, situated in the valley between the Hill of Apparition and Cross Mountain, is a spiritual center for the purpose of spiritual exercises for priests, men and women religious, youth, families and pilgrims. All is done is silence, prayer, sacrifice and most of all in the spiritof the message of peace Our Lady has directed to the world. Already the first experiences show that those burdened in heart and spirit who come to this house, leave full of peace and joy after a profound experience of grace and reconciliation with God and man in the sacraments. They are ready to walk through life with new strength and courage. Madame Marisa Baldessari directed the construction of the house of St. Joseph and is director of its activities.
Since the system of receiving the Press Bulletin by Robofax seems agreeable to some receivers, we are announcing this time a simplified system of reception. You may at any time call our Robofax number + 387-88-651-555. You will hear a voice giving you the number to press on your fax. Wait for the announcement in your language. To receive the Press Bulletin in English press 1; for German press 2; for Italian press 3; for French press 4; for Croatian press 5. For Our Lady's monthly message press 6. For additional information about Medjugorje press 7. To leave your own spoken message press 8. Then press START upon which your selection will be transmitted to your fax machine.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of May, in the santactuary of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, 51,000 commuions were distrubuted and 1639 priests from Croatia and from abroad celebrated the Eucharist.
TWO CARDINALS VISITED MEDJUGORJE
Cardinal Wamala from Uganda and Cardinal Margeot from the island of Maurice, had been to Medjugorje in the month of May.
During his one week visit, Cardinal Wamala said: "looking at difficulties in which my mother country and yours are in and which all of humanity is in, as a cardinal I feel the need to tell everyone that we must go on praying for peace in the world. Medjugorje is really a place of prayer for peace. Prayer is not enough, in fact, we have to do something more to make peace a reality. This is true especially for you who are living here. This morning in this place I have understood that peace is within us. I feel well in Medjugorje, the climate is fine, people are open and devout. Here I found a special way of prayer, of dialogue and of love. This is really a place where people come to share their problems with the others."
Cardinal Jean Margeot, Emeritus Bishop of Port Loius, in the island of Maurice, having been some days in Medjugorje, said he was leaving content for the experience he had lived.
WE PRAY AND WE FAST FOR PEACE
During these difficult days in our mother country, Our Lady is unceasingly repeating to us: "Dear children! Today I invite you in a special way to pray and to offer sacrifices and good deeds for peace in the world. Satan is strong and he wishes with all his strength to destroy peace coming from God. . . . "(25 October 1990).
". . . . during these times peace is especially in danger and I am asking you to renew fasting and prayer in your families. Dear children, I wish you to comprehend the seriousness of the situation and that alot of what is going to happen depends on your prayer. You pray little. . . I am with you and I invite you to begin fasting and praying seriously as during the first days of my coming. . ." (25 July 1991).
The tireless invitation of peace addressed to humanity by Our Lady, is in fact, an invitation to conversion, to prayer, to faith and fasting. It is clear from Our Lady's messages, that peace is the greatest and the most needed good and that faith, prayer, conversion and fasting are the unique conditions to this realization. Man is created for the realization of peace and for living in it therefore, all the difficulties in which modern humanity is, maybe the hint and the invitation to prayer, to fasting and to daily conversion. They maybe an invitation to purify ourselves from evil and sin, so that peace may reign in each heart, among men and peoples.
Even though Medjugorje had been protected from war destructions and it is situationed away from the front line, we feel called to pray and to fast for peace. So we invite you also, dear friends, to multiply with us your prayers and fasting for peace in our tired mother country, because Our Lady, in a message said: "The war can be stopped through prayer and fasting only." (25 April 1992).
The safest way to reach Medjugorje through any type of transportation is traveling across Croatia.
SEMINAR FOR GUIDES
In the house of prayer 'Domus Pacis', the formative course for young wishing to dedicate themselves to piglrims as guides is finished. The 5 day seminar was organized by the Association of guides for pilgrims in the parish of Medjugorje and 50 young adults participated in it.
BLOOD DONATIONS
In the parish of Medjugorje, every so often, we organize blood donations. It is what happened on the 26th and 27th of May, when 70 pilgrims from Croatia and abroad donated their blood. Wholeheartedly, we thank all those who helped the brothers and sisters in need through this human gesture.
SEMINAR OF PRAYER AND FASTING
In preparation for the 14th Anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions, in the house of prayer 'Domus Pacis', in Medjugorje, a one week seminar has been organized to pray and to fast following Our Lady's intentions. The seminar will be led by Father Slavko Barbari}. All those who are interested in it, please call the number of telephone and fax + 387- 88-642-339.
MARCH OF PEACE
In the past years, we organized the "March of Peace", a walk of 13 km from Humac to Medjugorje. This idea was born from pilgrims' hearts during the most difficult times of the war in our mother country and it is really a idea to peace and reconciliation.
This year the march will be on the 24 of June 1995, beginning at 6.45 am, in Humac, by praying and blessing the pilgrims. At 7 am we will begin walking toward Medjugorje, and once there, all the pilgrims will gather in front of the church for communal brief prayer.
NEW BOOKS AND PUBBLICATION
P. Petar Ljubi}i}: "Der Ruf der Konigin des friedens" ( The call of the Queen of Peace). pages 323, Gebetsaktion, Wien, Postfach 18,A - 1153 Wien.
Recently in England the code numbers have changed. Because of this, we find it difficult to sent you the messages of Our Lady and the Press Bulletin. We kindly ask you to send us the new code numbers.
THE VISIONARIES TODAY
According to the testimony of the Medjugorje visionaries, Our Lady has been appearing to them since June 24, 1981. Here is a short presentation of their lives during these events.
IVANKA IVANKOVI] - ELEZ was born July 21, 1966 in Bijakovi}i. She had the daily apparitions from June 24, 1981 till May 7, 1985. On that day Our Lady confided to her the last of ten secrets. Our Lady told her that for her entire life she will have an apparition every year on June 25, the anniversary of the apparitions. And so far it has been just that way. Ivanka is living in the parish of Medjugorje, is married and has three children.
MIRJANA DRAGI]EVI] - SOLDO was born March 18, 1965 in Sarajevo. She had daily apparitions from June 24, 1981 till December 25, 1982. On the last day of her apparitions Our Lady told her that for the course of her entire life she will have an apparition every year on her birthday March 18. And since 1983 till today it has been just that way. Each 2nd day of the month Mirjana hears Our Lady's voice in her heart and then prays with Our Lady for unbelievers. Sometimes she also sees Our Lady. Our Lady has confided ten secrets also to Mirjana. Mirjana is living in the parish of Medjugorje, is married and has two children.
VICKA IVANKOVI] was born September 3, 1964 in Bijakovi}i. Our Lady appeared to her for the first time on June 24, 1981. For her the daily apparitions have not yet stopped. Our Lady has so far confided nine secrets to her. Vicka lives in her parents' home in the parish of Medjugorje.
MARIJA PAVLOVI] - LUNETTI was born April 1, 1965 in Bijakovi}i. Our Lady appeared to her for the first time on June 25, 1981. Till today she still has the apparitions every day. Through Marija Our Lady directs her message to the world every 25th day of the month. Our Lady has confided nine secrets to her so far. Marija is presently living in Italy, is married and has one child.
IVAN DRAGI] EVI] was born May 25, 1965 in Bijakovi}i. Our Lady has appeared to him every day from June 24, 1981 till today. To him also Our Lady has confided nine secrets. Ivan is married and is living in the parish of Medjugorje.
JAKOV ^OLO was born March 6, 1971 in Bijakovi}i. He has had the apparitions daily from June 25, 1981 till today. Our Lady has confided nine secrets to him. Jakov lives in the parish of Medjugorje, is married and has one child.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. JOZO ZOVKO
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and Centers of Peace, established through the Medjugorje events, Fr. Jozo Zovko visited the United States of America through the month of May. In about 50 Medjugorje Centers he spoke about Our Lady's message of peace directed to the world. Several thousand faithful participated in each one of the prayer meetings. During the course of his visit in New York, Fr. Jozo witnessed to horrors which have befallen the people of Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina before the United Nations Security Council. He also turned over written documents about it to the Security Council. They were written by Cardinals Franjo Kuhari} and Vinko Pulji}. On that occasion he also met several political officials.
From June 8- 15 Fr. Jozo visited the Italian cities of Udine, Turin and Cuneo. A large number of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje took part in the prayer meetings.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARI]
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje Fr. Slavko Barbari} visited Rome May 28. A large number of faithful took part in the prayer meetings at which Fr. Slavko spoke about Our Lady's message of peace directed to the world. From July 3 - 8, 1995 Fr. Slavko will visit Prague, Czechland. SOLDIERS' PILGRIMAGE
This year also on May 27 the traditional soldiers' pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje was held. Units from Bosnia and Hercegovina took part in the pilgrimage. Praying the rosary together, the Croatian defenders visited the Hill of Apparition and after that attended Mass in the church of Medjugorje. Most of them received the sacrament of reconciliation and Holy Communion. For the pilgrims who were in Medjugorje that day, it was an extraordinary experience.
EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR
From June 4 -10, 1995 an educational seminar was held in Medjugorje at the "Domus Pacis" house of prayer on the subject of "The Severely Traumatized - Interpretation of Serious Problems Originating from Abortion and Child Abuse." The seminar was led by Dr. Philip Ney from Canada and Dr. Marie Peters from the United States. They are continuously traveling in some part of the world giving lectures on this subject.
NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
1. Maria Coll Calvo: "LA REINA DE LA PAZ" ("The Queen of Peace in Medjugorje"), Amigos de Medjugorje, Barcelona, 1994. 159 pp.
2. Jo o Jorge Albano: "RECADOS DE MARIA PARA VOC " ("Mary`s messages for You") Editora LTDA., 1995. 254 pp.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
At the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje during the month of June 84 000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1958 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from both home and abroad.
14TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY'S APPARITIONS
A novena was observed in preparation for the anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions and, as in all previous years, after the evening mass the Medjugorje visionaries prayed Our Lady's prayer the "Magnificat" and seven Our Fathers with the congregation. A great number of the faithful came for the holy sacrament of reconciliation. At the "Domus Pacis" house of prayer a week of fast and prayer was organized by Fr. Slavko Barbari with 35 participants from home and abroad.
On the day of the anniversary, June 25, about 60,000 pilgrims visited the shine of the Queen of Peace. Several thousand Croatian youth, some bare footed, marched several hundred kilometers to this shrine praying for peace. The largest number of pilgrims from abroad were from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, America and Australia. The group from Australia was led by retired bishop, Henry Kennedy. During these days we have once more witnessed that in the world the Croatian language has become a prayer language of the Church and our country has become Our Lady's home. The parishioners first realized that, then both young and old pilgrims from the whole world and, thereby, the parish of Medjugorje entered into the history of the universal church as a place of conversion and prayer.
VENERATION OF OUR LADY`S STATUE BEGUN IN CIVITAVECCHIA
According to the Bishop's own testimony, a statue of the Medjugorje Madonna has been weeping On June 16, after months of scientific investigations, it was returned to the Bishop of Civitavecchia. By the expressinstruction of our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, Bishop Girolamo Grillo has exposed the statue for the veneration of the faithful.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. JOZO ZOVKO
In the course of his missionary journey held at the end of June, during which he spoke of Our Lady's messages directed to the world, Fr. Jozo Zovko met with numerous Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje in several Italian cities. In addition, he met with the four following bishops: Bishop Aliprandi from Cuneo, Bishop Masseroni from Mondovi, Bishop Bettazzi from Ivrea and Bishop Micchiardi, auxiliary bishop of Torino.
THE HOLY FATHER IN MEDJUGORJE?
During the month of June the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, visited Australia and New Zealand. On June 25, the very day of the anniversary, he met with the Croatians of Sydney. Having received information that the Holy Father wishes to visit Medjugorje, he said on that occasion: "The Catholic Church has played a central role in the history of the Croatian people. It has also been with the people in today`s time of rebirth." ( Sl. Dalmacija, June 26, 1995)
CHILDRENS` VILLAGE OPENED
On June 27 Fr. Mate Dragicevic, Vicar Provincial of the Hercegovina Franciscans, blessed and solemnly opened the first four facilities in the Childrens' Village in Medjugorje. It is intended for war orphaned children as well as for children with psycho-physical obstacles to development. Care for the children will be provided by the Mostar Province of the Franciscan School Sisters.
Construction of this humanitarian project is being financed exclusively with the donations of benefactors. In this way, therefore, we heartily thank all the people who sensed the importance of this project and helped in its partial realization.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje, Fr. Slavko Barbaric will visit the following Centers of Peace:
August 26 - 30 London, England
September 15 - 24 Linz, Austria; Fulda, Germany
October 6 - 14 Quito, Ecuador; Passau, Germany
October 27 - 29 Dublin, Ireland
November 14 - 20 Italy
SPIRITUAL VOCATIONS
On June 18, 1995 Fr. Peter Dugandzic celebrated his First Mass in Medjugorje. Here is what he said on that occasion: "My name is Peter Dugandzic. I am from New York. I was born on Long Island in New York and grew up there. I came to Medjugorje for the first time in 1986. My family background is from the area of Medjugorje. I have a degree in psychology. At first I worked with computers and then with people as a psychologist, and now I will work as a priest.
Before coming to Medjugorje I was not faithful in going to church. I was happy in my work. I earned a lot of money and because of my work I traveled all through America. One time my aunt told me they were going to the old country. I wanted to go too. After that she also told me about Medjugorje, that a group of six children were seeing Our Lady. At that time I reacted like a psychologist: "Well, good! Just let them look at Our Lady!" We came to Medjugorje. Something started to happen in my soul that I didn't understand. I began praying. which I never did before. I also meditated a lot. Little by little the desire to become a priest began to germinate inside of me. Now finally I am a priest and I am grateful to God and other people."
NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Heather Parsons: "A LIGHT BETWEEN THE HILLS", Robert Andrew Press, Dublin 1994, 176 pp.
IVANKA'S ANNUAL APPARITION
The visionary Ivanka Ivankovic Elez had her regular annual apparition June 25, 1995. According to the testimony of the visionaries themselves, four of them (Vicka, Marija, Ivan and Jakov) are still always having daily apparitions, while Mirjana and Ivanka have an apparition once a year. At her last daily apparition May 7, 1985 Our Lady told Ivanka that she will have an apparition once a year on the anniversary of the apparitions. It was that way also this year. Ivanka had the six minute apparition at her family home at the end of which she brought this message of Our Lady to those present: "Our Lady blessed every one present at the apparition. She spoke to me about the secrets. She called us to pray for families because Satan desires to destroy them. In addition, Our Lady called on all people to be messengers of peace."
At the end Ivanka added: "Now I will have to wait a whole year again for another meeting."
PEACE MARCH
The Peace March we announced in previous issues of the Press Bulletin took place for the fourth year in a row on June 24, 1995, the vigil of the anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions in the parish of Medjugorje. Abut 2,000 pilgrims from all parts of the world took part in this 13 kilometer long prayer march from Humac to Medjugorje. Even though not speaking the same language, they all understood each other and came together in a common prayer for peace. Above all, they prayed for peace in the regions of Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
AUSTRALIAN BISHOP VISITS MEDJUGORJE
Bishop Henry Kennedy from Australia attracted the curious glances of many pilgrims and those others present in Medjugorje for the 14th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions. For the third year he came to Medjugorje and moved around wearing all the signs of his episcopal office. He said he simply felt in his heart that he had to do it that way. He wishes for the Church as soon as possible to recognize Medjugorje like Fatima and Lourdes. He feels peace in Medjugorje and a certain very agreeable, friendly flow between people that he would also wish to feel among people in Australia. He is not afraid of the war because there is no war in Medjugorje. He regrets that many untruths about this war have been circulated and he wishes for the Croatian people to succeed in their just struggle.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
From July 3 - 8 Fr. Slavko spread Our Lady's message in the Czech Republic. In Prague on July 3 he visited and blessed the space of the publishing house "Verite" which is situated in a monastery. During the communist reign of terror it was a prison in which also today's President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, was held. The same day there was a "Medjugorje program" in the parish church of Kyov and then in the cultural center which before had served for Communist Party meetings and marxist training. A program of prayer was held July 4 in Rati kovici and Karlin. From July 5 - 7 Fr. Slavko took part in the the 18th Colloquium of European parishes together with 4 bishops, about 140 priests and a great number of laity, and men and women religious. After the solemn holy mass a "Medjugorje Program of Prayer" was held. The prayer was for peace in Europe.
A large number of people were present at all the meetings. The message of Medjugorje is alive and is renewing the Czech Republic.
MUSIC DAYS IN MEDJUGORJE
Music Days 95 in Medjugorje will be held July 22, 29 - 30, 1995. On the program for the first evening are serious musical works composed for this occasion. On the second night two original performances of a Croatian Mass composed by Ivan Brkanovi} and Boris Papandopul will be given. On the final evening, July 30, ten of the best known names from the Croatian musical scene will introduce the audience to contemporary spiritual compositions.
In addition to the Press Bulletin and Our Lady's monthly message, if you call our "MIR" Information Center's Robofax number +387-88-651-555 with your fax apparatus set on "tone mode," you can at any time obtain the English language commentary on Our Lady's message by Fr. Slavko Barbari . The new commentary will be entered into the Robofax each 29th of the month.
After getting the line you must press number 7 (additional information) and your START button. The commentary on Our Lady's message will then go to your fax machine.
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During July at the Queen of Peace Shrine in Medjugorje 39,500 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1173 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from Croatia and abroad.
MUSIC DAYS IN MEDJUGORJE
Besides being an inexhaustible source of grace and life for millions of pilgrims for its fifteenth year, Medjugorje and the Medjugorje events are an inspiration for numerous musical artists who are moved by its spirituality to perform. Proof of that is the International Music Festival being held for the second year under the title: "Music Days in Medjugorje '95". The Festival is taking place on July 22, 29 and 30. From every aspect it is attractive to composers and, therefore, one producer stated: Even though the competition for the Festival was not aimed toward a religious theme, it is interesting that the composers were all thinking just along that line. It was obviously impossible to escape the spiritual role of Medjugorje as a new Marian shrine that for years is arousing the exceptional interest of the whole world.
During the three evenings of music all the beauties of musical artistry and creativeness could truly be felt. On the first evening of music the "Zagreb Soloisti" and a mixed choir from Croatian Radio and Television performed compositions of serious music under the direction of Maestro Igor Kuljeric. Those works were composed especially for this occasion. On the second evening with the performance of the famous Croatian mass by composer Boris Papandopulo and the premier performance of the Croatian mass by composer Ivan Brkanovic, the audience was introduced to the orchestra and choir of the Croatian National Theater of Split, the academic choir "Ivan Goran Kovacic" from Zagreb and a group of world renowned soloists under the direction of Maestro Vjekoslav Sutej, who is today one of the younger generation's most prestigious directors in the world. On the third evening of music the best known names of the Croatian musical scene performed contemporary spiritual compositions with accompaniment of the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Delo Jusic.
PRAYER SEMINAR
A prayer seminar was held for 20 United States pilgrims from July 12 - 20 at the "Domus Pacis" House of Prayer. Fr. Slavko Barbaric organized and conducted the seminar on the theme "Our Lady's message of peace to the world".
BLOOD DONATION
At the Medjugorje shrine on July 20 voluntary donation of blood was organized for the needs of the Blood Bank Center in Mostar. About 40 pilgrims donated blood, of which the largest number were pilgrims from the Czech Republic. These humanitarian actions are frequently held at the shrine of the Queen of Peace at the request of the pilgrims themselves who wish in that way to help the people of our homeland. We would also like to take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to all who responded and helped our brothers and sisters in distress.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
In Press Bulletin #16 we announced the travel schedule of Fr. Slavko Barbaric which was partly incorrect because of subsequent changes. The exact schedule of his missionary travels is the following:
August 26 - 30 London, England
August-Sept 30 - 3 Linz, Vienna, Austria; Fulda, Germany
September 15 - 24 Belgium
October 06 - 14 Quito, Ecuador; Passau, Germany
October 27 - 30 Dublin, Ireland
November 13 - 20 Italy
Please pardon having to ask you to note these changes of schedule.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. JOZO ZOVKO
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and Centers of Peace Fr. Jozo Zovko will visit Canada from August 22 to September 5, 1995 as follows:
August 22 - 24 Montreal
August 26 Moncton
August 27 Sydney
August 28 Norval
August 29 Ottawa
August 30 Sudbury
August 31 Toronto
September 1 Winnipeg
September 2 Saskatoon
September 3 Edmonton
September 4 Calgary
September 5 Vancouver and Regina
For detailed announcements refer to Mr. Henry Kovacic, AVE MARIA CENTER FOR PEACE.
Tel 416-251-4245; fax 416-253-0480.
SECURITY CONDITIONS
Stirred by world news on national television, a large number of pilgrims are interested in knowing the possibility of getting to Medjugorje. By means of this bulletin we make known that pilgrimage to Medjugorje is completely safe because since it is situated far away from the front lines and pilgrims are in no way threatened by any activities of the war. The way to Medjugorje is safe through the Republic of Croatia: by air or boat to Split or on the Adriatic coastal road through Split to Medjugorje.
PRAYER YOUTH FESTIVAL
This year also the already traditional Prayer Youth Festival was held in Medjugorje. It opened July 31 with the theme "Youth with Our Lady for life and peace" and closed early Sunday morning August 6 after a festive Holy Mass on Cross Mountain. About 3,000 youth from all over the world took part in this truly unique meeting of prayer, songs and fellowship. Especially numerous were the youth from Eastern European countries.
At the request of the participants themselves voluntary blood donation for the needs of the Central Blood Bank of Mostar was organized throughout the festival at the shrine of the Queen of Peace. About 130 youth from around the world gave blood. We take this occasion to thank all those who helped the needy in this humanitarian way.
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER ON MEDJUGORJE
Mrs. Ljilja Voki}, a Croatian Minister in the Government of the Republic of Croatia who has visited Medjugorje several times gave an interview in "Na{a Ogni{ta." Among other things she said: "I accepted Medjugorje from the very beginning of Our Lady's apparitions. I am speaking from my own personal faith experience. My son was sick and with a vow I offered him to Our Lady of Medjugorje: holding him in my arms I will go around Our Lady's statue twenty times on my knees and pray for his health. And Our Lady of Medjugorje heard me. Now the whole world can say whatever it wants. For me God is working in Medjugorje. And then did not Jesus himself say that He is present in the midst of those gathered in His name? And in Medjugorje a multitude of the faithful gathers in the name of the Lord. In Medjugorje God is truly glorified." (Na{a Ogni{ta" no. 7-8, pp 4-5, 1995)
PORTUGUESE TELEVISION IN MEDJUGORJE
Desiring to produce a report on Medjugorje and so also to get first hand acquaintance with the Medjugorje events, a television team from Portugal visited the shrine of the Queen of Peace at the end of July.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. JOZO ZOVKO
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and Centers of Peace Fr. Jozo Zovko will visit Australia,New Zealand, Jakarta and Singapore from September 18 to October 4, 1995 as follows:
- September 18-19 Brisbane
- September 27 New Castle
- September 20 Auckland
Nth New Castle
- September 21 Lake Taupo/Rotorua
- September 28 Canberra
- September 22 Christchurch
- September 29-30 Sydney
- September 23 Glenorchy
- October 01 Adelaide
-
September 24 Melbourne
- October 02 Perth
- September 25 Sunshine, Albury
- October 03 Jakarta
- September 26 Melbourne
- October 04 Singapore
For detailed announcements refer to Mr. Kevin Morley / Mr. Leon LeGrand at tel
03-9755-1003; fax 03-9955-2600
EXPERIENCE
At the end of July Mexican toreador Manuel Capetillo De Flores visited Medjugorje. On the occasion of his visit he said: "I am 38 years old. I am the son of a toreador and one of my brothers works in the same occupation. As a little boy I watched my own father in bull fights, continuously heard stories about bulls and my whole life developed in that world. My dream came true in 1981 when I was promoted to toreador. Now after 15 years I have around 400 fights behind me. Every year I do from 20 to 40 and am myself a toreador who has changed his life."
When asked why and how he came to Medjugorje De Flores said: "In Mexico I heard of Our Lady's apparitions. This is my second visit to Medjugorje. My first time was last year in September. I had some especially profound moments on Apparition Mountain. I remember it was very cold that night, but I felt deep peace and I prayed like never before, with much love. Above all I prayed that through our Lady God would open my heart completely. That happened and although it was a painful experience, it was an experience of profound peace. As a toreador I am known all over the world and that gives me an open door for apostolate. For that very reason I want to continue this work and the rest of the time be an apostle of Our Lady's message of peace. In conclusion I want to say that I experienced Medjugorje as God's biggest "stadium" where, through Our Lady, God is fighting with the evil in us and around us and is filling us with love and joy."
Press Bulletin 20, August
30,1995
PERSECUTION IN THE BANJA LUKA DIOCESE
Persecution of Croatians and Muslims from Banja Luka continues to go on. Hundreds of them are arriving every day in Croatia with nothing but a plastic bag in their hand. At the start of the war there were 500,000 Croatians in the Banja Luka diocese. Today there remains about 13,000 of them. All of this has happened in a territory where there was no war at all.
Bishop Franjo Komarica, who fulfilled the duty of being president of the commission for investigation of the events in the parish of Medjugorje, is continuously sending appeals to the world. The world press in general reports nothing on it. Still at work is the cover up of crimes for political motives.
CELEBRATING THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION
Despite the war in Croatia and the fear some have because of it, the feast of Assumption was solemnly celebrated in our shrine. Pilgrims were present from various parts of the world. About 15,000 people passed through our shrine this day.
STUDENT DAYS
There are many young people who are gifted, but due to lack of material means, are not, however, able to develop their capabilities. For that reason the association "Medjugorje Friends of Gifted Youth" was established a few years ago in our shrine to support such young people. The association is organized as the kind that draws its resources from free will contributions.
It has become customary each year also for the scholarship holders of this fund to organize student days. This year they were August 18 - 20. The purpose of these days is also to stimulate others to undertake studies. Those who were the hardest working also received appropriate awards.
MASS ON CROSS MOUNTAIN
In 1933 a cement cross was erected on Cross Mountain which rises up directly behind Medjugorje in thanksgiving for all that God has done for the people of this area. Every year since then a solemn mass is held at that place on the Sunday after Our Lady's birthday.
Through Our Lady's apparitions Cross Mountain is becoming a place of prayer. Thousands and thousands of people treading the hard rock of this mountain bare footed have been coming closer to each other and closer to God. The number of pilgrims grows especially during the days for celebrating the erection of the cross.
This year it will be on September 10 with the solemn mass at 11:00 a.m.
Press Bulletin 21, September
13,1995
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
A great number of pilgrims visited Medjugorje in August. This can be seen by the number of Holy Communions of which 71.500 were distributed. The number of concelebrants at the evening mass was 1861 or 62 per day.
MOTHER THERESA IN MEDJUGORJE?
"The Croatian ambassador to India, Dr. Drago Stambuk presented the Order of Kraljica Jelena to Mother Theresa in her home in Calcutta; Mother Theresa was invested with this order by the President of the Republic of Croatia on her 85th birthday for her humanitarian and spiritual work.
Dr. Stambuk asked Mother Theresa to pray for the Croatian people and said how they are looking forward to her coming to Zagreb and Medjugorje; he wished her good health and a long life, so that she could continue to serve the poor for the glory of God. Mother Theresa promised to come to Croatia by the end of the year, if her health permits. She expressed the desire to go to Medjugorje, and to visit Bosnia and Hercegovina." (Vjesnik, 31. 08. 1995, p.4).
CELEBRATION OF THE FEAST OF THE HOLY CROSS
Again this year many pilgrims arrived in Medjugorje for the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Cross despite the recommendation of their countries not to go to Croatia or Bosnia and Hercegovina because of the war. According to the estimates of the journalists there were about 50.000 people at the 11:00 am mass on Sunday on Mt. Krizevac. The main concelebrant, fr. Mirko Filipovic, a priest from the Bosnian franciscan province, in his homily spoke about the cross and about the need for each of usto carry it joyfully and perserveringly.
IMPRESSIONS FROM THE JOURNEYS OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC AND VISIONARY IVAN DRAGICEVIC
At the request of Medjugorje pilgrims, fr. Slavko Barbaric visited England, Austria, and Germany between August 26th and September 4th. All of the meetings were well attended, which means that Medjugorje lives and operates in individuals and through individuals, prayer groups and centres of peace.
- on August 26th there was a meeting in London in the Holy Ghost Church
- on August 27th there was a meeting at Peter Hutley`s. In the forest of his large estate he set
up
a Way of the Cross. The first Friday of every month many Catholics and Anglicans join in
prayer andmeditate on the passion of Christ. The stations of the Way of the Cross were made by 14artists.
- on August 28th there was a meeting of Carmelites in Aylsford. Around 9.000 people
gathered
there.
- on August 29th there was a one-day spiritual renewal for around 30 priests. Among them
were
4 anglican priests.
- on August 30th around 50 priests, 3 bishops, and 1 cardinal participated in the meeting in
Aige
by Linz. The meeting lasted 4 days. Among the speakeers were Rene Laurentin and other
well-known
professors from German and Austrian theological faculties. The meeting was concluded with the
concelebration of the Holy Eucharist and with Cardinal Stickle as the main concelebrant.
- on September 2nd there was a meeting in Fuld. Mass was concelbrated by the renowned
archbishop Diba who in his homily said that Medjugorje pilgrims are a special type of people
who are
perservering and of whom God asks for much.
On the same day fr. Slavko, together with fr. Ivan Sevo, guardian of the monastery in Mostar,
attended a fund-raising concert the proceeds of which will go towards rebuilding the demolished
Franciscan church in Mostar.
- on September 3rd there was a meeting in the parish community in Marktsteinach.
At all of the meetings it was beautiful to see how Our Lady created small prayer groups out of many families, and how She gives birth to Her spiritual children in this materialized world and in that way renews the church which is the mother.
NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE OF THE CECH REPUBLIC TO MEDJUGORJE
Besides the numerous of pilgrims from Croatia and all over the world, for the feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross about 2,000 pilgrims with 14 priests and 15 nuns of the Cech Repulic came to the shirine of the Queen of Peace in a National Pilgrimage, the first to Medjugorje. It is interesting to underline how Our Lady's message of Peace deeple penerated the heart of these people despite the Aethistic Regime, which for a long time tried with all means to suffocate the good seed.
SEMINARS OF PRAYER AND FASTING
For preparation for Christmas, in thehouse of prayer "Domus Pacis" in Medjugorje, five seminars of prayer and fasting will be organized. The Holy Father, John Paul II, in his Encyclical "Gospel of Life", invites us: ". . . .come back to fasting and prayer with courage and humility. . . .". Our Lady herself in her messages has been inviting us many times to fasting and prayer. Once she even said: ". . with prayer and fasting you can stop wars. . " Therefore, we invite all those who wish to come closer and deeper to the mystery of God born on earth, to participate in these seminars, a unique occassion because of their richness.
These seminars organized and leaded by Father Slavko Barbaric, will be held during the following days:
-11 03 - 11 09 1995
-11 26 - 12 02 1995
-12 03 - 12 09 1995
-12 10 - 12 14 1995
-12 18 - 12 24 1995
They will begin in 4pm and will end at noon.
For reservations and a fax to - 387 88 642 339. For cancellations, please give one week
notice at the same fax number. The cost of the lodging is 10DM per day.
BLOOD DONATIONS
During last month's, in the shrine of Medjugorje for two times the donation of blood was organized for the needs of the Mostar Hospital. About 100 pilgrims, most of which were from the Cech Republic, donated their blood. We thank all those who responded to the needs of the suffering people in this way.
PERPETUAL VOWS OF YOUNG FRANCISCANS
On the 17th of September 1995, six franciscans, students of Theology, of the Franciscan Province of Hercegovina, of which the parish of Medjugorje is part, gave their perpetual vows in the sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Peace. About 3000 pilgrims from Croatia and abroad, were present at the this event during the evening solemn Holy Mass.
We wish to inform all pilgrims coming to Medjugojre, that the evening daily program of prayer, will be from 5pm to 8pm (5pm- Holy rosary, 6pm-Holy Mass, Blessing and third part of the rosary) because of the changing of time.
The adoration of the Holy Sacrament on Wednesdays and Saturdays will be from 9pm to 10pm and on Thursdays right after the evening Holy Mass. The adoration and the prayer before the Holy Cross of Jesus is on Fridays after the evening Mass in the church. On Sundays at 3pm we pray the holy rosary for peace on apparition hill and on Fridays the Way of the Cross on Krizevac at 3pm also. Confessions are possible one half hour before the beginning of the evening program every day.
The Holy Masses in different languages will be celebrated in the church in the morning, following the scheduled program of the day.
You will have all the information about the spiritual program of the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, at the information office of the shrine, tel. 387 88 650 400, from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. We invite all the organizers of pilgrimages to inform all their pilgrims that the possibility to have all their questions answered by the information office instead of the parish office.
NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of September 60,500 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1,291 concelebrations of holy mass by priests from the homeland and from abroad or an average of 43 daily. FAMILIES OF DECEASED WAR VICTIMS IN MEDJUGORJE
The families of deceased Croatian soldiers, who with the organization of the Croatian Army spend their rest period in Ba ka Voda, have already for a long time been coming to Medjugorje for pilgrimage every Saturday. During their one-day pilgrimage they usually visit the Hill of Apparitions, Cross Mountain, and celebrate a common Holy Mass in the church. For the families that have lost their fathers in war, Medjugorje with its message of peace has become a genuine refuge and a fountain of peace, hope and consolation.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARI]
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje and Centers of Peace, Fr. Slavko Barbari} went on a missionary journey to Belgium. In nine days Fr. Slavko visited ten Belgian cities. A large number of faithful participated at all the prayer meetings, during the course of which Fr. Slavko spoke about Our Lady's message of peace directed to the world.
It is interesting that a lot of young people were at all the meetings. In addition to spreading Our Lady's message of peace, Medjugorje pilgrims endeavor to make the public aware of the cruel events in our homeland. One nine-year-old girl, touched at hearing about these things, came up to Fr. Slavko at the end of a prayer meetings and said: "Tell the children who are in the war that I pray for them every night and that I love them all. I am sorry that they cannot play the same way we can."
At the French speaking national shrine of Beauraing about 3,000 faithful gathered for the prayer meeting. Our Lady appeared at that shrine in 1932 and 1933. The messages she directed to the world at that time are simple invitations to prayer. Hundreds of thousands of faithful gather in the shrine every year. After the prayers a festive mass was celebrated by Bishop Leonard. In his sermon he said: ". . .The Church has not yet said the last word about the Medjugorje apparitions, but we need to accept the messages. Because all who are accepting them are renewing the Church, and the Church needs renewal.. ." After communion the organizer placed a basket before the altar with the names of all the priests in Belgium. He invited everyone present to come forward and each one to draw a piece of paper from the basket and to pray for the priest whose name was written on the paper, suggesting that they let the priest know that they are praying for him. Bishop Leonard was moved to tears and thanked the faithful for this great gift to the priests and the church in Belgium. He addressed the youth in a particular way to have the courage and the love to answer and follow the call the Lord is giving them.
NEW FRANCISCAN MONASTERY IN ZAGREB
On September 28, 1995 in the presence of a large number of dignitaries from Croatian ecclesiastical and social life, the new monastery of the Hercegovina Franciscan Province was solemnly opened in Zagreb. Franjo Cardinal Kuhari} blessed the church and monastery and presided at the solemn mass.
Thanks to the great promotion of the entire Province and the magnanimity of its friends and benefactors, the Hercegovina Franciscan Province succeeded in building their own monastery for their students. Until 1945 the Hercegovina Franciscans had a monastery in Zagreb which the communist authorities then forcefully confiscated from them. In the years after World War II the Hercegovina Franciscan Province suffered manifold setbacks. About 70 Franciscans were murdered, the seminary and library at iroki Brijeg were destroyed and all Franciscans schools were shut down.
Here we now wish to heartily thank all who by their love assisted in the construction of the Franciscan monastery in Zagreb.
In recent days Rev. Ricardo A. Hernandez visited Medjugorje. Meeting with him was interesting also because during his priestly life he served as an American military chaplain for 23 years. During these war times of ours it was interesting to hear something about how important the presence and the nearness of a priest is for a soldier.
About that Rev. Hernandez said: "I became a priest 30 years ago. For 23 of those years I have fulfilled the duty of military chaplain in the American army. Experience tells me how serious and important that assignment is. The priest has become a very important person in a soldier's life. Before going into combat duty many come to confession and to mass. I have frequently heard from those who previously lived unfaithfully: ". . .If I die, tell my family that I died as a believer. . ." People who are that often face to face with death, indeed need a priest close to them.
About his Medjugorje experience Rev. Hernandez said: "I came inspired by the experience of Archbishop Flores from Texas. Namely, a few years ago Archbishop Flores, during the course of a conversation with the Holy Father, asked him: "Many people are going to Medjugorje, but the Church has not yet either approved or forbidden it. What do you propose I tell the people from Texas?" The Holy Father answered: "I know that people are going there, that they pray and go to confession. If that is what they are doing, then it is ok." I am in Medjugorje for the first time and I am absolutely certain I will come again. This really is a great center of reconciliation, and we truly need reconciliation. I was especially deeply impressed celebrating the Eucharist with a number of priests and a crowd of the faithful. As soon as my circumstances permit, I will come again!"
CARDINAL WAMALA ON MEDJUGORJE
Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala from Uganda visited Medjugorje this year at the beginning of June. Upon returning to his country he wrote us a letter. Among other things he said: ". . . The memory of my pilgrimage to Medjugorje is still alive in me. My experience of that holy place could be summarized in three points: prayer, penance and communion in faith. It seems to me those are also the main features of Medjugorje. Truly you have reasons to be grateful to God. We share our common joy with you."
FAMILIES OF FALLEN AND MISSING CROATIAN SOLDIERS VISIT MEDJUGORJE
Mothers, fathers, wives, children and relatives of missing, imprisoned and fallen defenders from Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina assembled in pilgrimage at the shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Medjugorje to pray for the return of the imprisoned and missing members of their families or at least to learn the truth about their fate. After assembling in the church, they went in a long procession to the Hill of Apparition, carrying a cross, lit candles and an inscription asking "Where are our loved ones?" After returning from the Hill of Apparition they celebrated holy mass in the church of Medjugorje with about 1,500 foreign pilgrims. Fr. Jozo Zovko celebrated the Eucharist and addressed them with words of consolation and encouragement.
These people have already lived through four years of searching for the members of their families about whose fate they still know nothing today.
CROATIAN SOLDIERS IN MEDJUGORJE
Croatian soldiers stationed on the front lines in Bosnia-Hercegovina regularly visit the Medjugorje shrine. They are mostly one day pilgrimages during which they visit the Hill of Apparitions and afterwards take part in the evening prayer program in the church.
Two military chaplains visited Medjugorje this week. They provide pastoral care for the Spanish and English units of UNPROFOR in Medjugorje and Gornji Vakuf respectively.
TELEVISION CREWS IN MEDJUGORJE
Two foreign television crews, journalists from Spanish television and the Italian RAI networdk, visited the shrine of the Queen of Peace to film reports on Medjugorje and the Medjugorje events.
"I RECEIVED MY VOCATION AFTER CONVERTING IN MEDJUGORJE"
At the beginning of October Friar Christopher Amanzzi visited Medjugorje. This is what he told us on that occasion.
"I came to Medjugorje for the first time in 1987. I was 32 years old then. This is the l3th time I am visiting this shrine. When I came for the first time to Medjugorje, I planned to stay for just two days and then go to the coast, because, as an economist, I was engaged in demanding jobs and felt tired. However, I stayed for two weeks and I profoundly experienced the love of God. I came back to sacramental life which I had given up ten years before. Till that time I was the centered on myself, but then God became the center of my life. That year my walk in faith began and continues till today. All of my friends asked me, ". . .Why don't you decide to become a priest?" I deliberately rejected it then. After later visits to Medjugorje in 1988, something systematically changed in me. I opened myself to the will of God! I started to feel the vocation to which God was directing me. I thought over and searched for my way. Inspired by Our Lady's messages, I came closer to the Gospel which itself began to direct me and invite me to leave everything and to dedicate myself to God. After my pilgrimage to Medjugorje in 1989 I made a contact with the Franciscans of the Rome Province and I entered the monastery in January 1990. I made my perpetual vows this year on September 17, after which I came to Medjugorje for the 13th time. This time it is my thanksgiving to the Blessed Mother for the grace of conversion and my vocation to the priesthood. I have to admit that my entire family with the exception of my mother, went completely away from God and sacramental life. After my conversion they have all come back to God, the sacraments and the Church. In the first place I am grateful to God and Mary for my vocation, but I owe a lot to the perseverance and the prayers of my own mother. I want to tell all mothers not to get tired of praying for their children, even then when it seems that they have reached bottom.
At the end I want to say that I "owe" a lot to Medjugorje. Everything in it, namely, always reminds me of the person of Jesus Christ. Medjugorje, in other words the messages Our Lady gives us here, by their simplicity heal all of us who carry the wounds of life in our times. The man of today, wounded and exhausted by the spirit of the civilization in which he lives needs Medjugorje."
NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of October at the shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 69,500 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1,818 concelebrations of holy mass by priests from the homeland and from abroad or an average of 59 daily.
CHILDRENS' VILLAGE BEGINS WORKING
In recent days the first small children together with the sisters have moved into the Childrens' village in Medjugorje. Though only partially completed, the Children's Village is intended for children who have lost their parents during this war. The Province of Franciscan School Sisters of Mostar will be in charge of the care, education and general welfare of these children. A multitude of benefactors, first in order Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje, are providing for the construction of this large project.
MISSIONARY TRAVEL OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
At the meeting of Marian prayer groups and Centers of Peace held in Costa Rica last year it was decided that also this year a similar meeting be held in Quito in the South American state of Ecuador from October 7 - 13 on the theme: "With Mary, Educator for Peace." The organizer requested one of the Medjugorje Franciscans to be present at the gathering to help them understand what Our Lady is seeking from today's man through the messages she is giving in Medjugorje. Fr. Slavko Barbaric participated in the meeting at which about 100 representatives gathered from 17 countries.
On the first day the participants went 40 km away from the city to a place which is the actual center of our planet. After reciting the rosary, they prayed a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the whole world. That same day Archbishop Jose Mario Ruiz Navas, president of the Ecuadorian Bishops' Conference, presided at the evening mass. The second day Bernardine Cardinal Echeverria R., OFM presided at the mass. He is the one responsible for Marian movements with the Bishops' Conference. In the course of his address to the multitude of assembled faithful he said, among other things: ". . .By my presence I wish to affirm my conviction that very healthy initiatives are coming from Medjugorje groups, not only in Ecuador but also in the whole world." On the third day Archbishop Antonio Gonzales of Quito presided at the eucharistic celebration, wishing by his presence and his words to affirm the significance and the importance of this meeting. He preached on the theme: "Peace - the fruit of the Holy Spirit."
In conclusion the participants made resolutions in which is stated among other things: "All the Centers of Peace should consistently follow Marian spirituality just as Our Lady is teaching it in Medjugorje. They should avoid all sensationalism and fault-finding and remain healthy cells of each parish community." Subsequent meetings were agreed upon for 1996 in Paraguay, 1997 in Chile and 1998 in Columbia. A letter was sent to the Holy Father, the Pope.
After the meeting in Ecuador Fr. Slavko visited Germany and Austria. Several thousand faithful participated in prayer meetings held in Munich, Innsbruck and Passau. The prayer was especially moving in Munich where the walls of the oldest medieval castle resounded with prayer and song in the Croatian language. Many, in other words, have taken pains to learn prayers in the language in which Our Lady speaks in Medjugorje. In Passau at the end of his trip Fr. Slavko met with retired Bishop Anton Hofman. Bishop Hofman has already visited Medjugorje several times and wants to do it again as soon as circumstances permit.
POLISH TV CREW IN MEDJUGORJE
A television crew from Poland visited Medjugorje in October to film programs about Medjugorje. The Medjugorje message has penetrated deeply into the Polish people despite the long years of communist rule which tried with every possible means to extinguish its circulation.
PRAYER - INFORMATION SEMINAR
A Prayer-Information Seminar will be held for the leaders of prayer groups, charitable organizations and pilgrimages connected to Medjugorje. It will take place March 17 - 21, 1996 at Hotel "Alga" in Tucepi, located about 3 kilometers south of Makarska.
Remaining news about the program, registration, etc will be announced later.
RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION
A year ago the parish office of Medjugorje established an Information Center that twice a month reports the most significant news about the happenings in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in the parish of Medjugorje. The official organ of information is this Press Bulletin.' Its role is to help pilgrims and Centers of Peace and prayer to follow the events in Medjugorje. The official information from the shrine is the information that the Press Bulletin reports. The parish office and the Information Center stand behind all the communications announced in the Press Bulletin. All other information, including reports from Sr. Emmanuel, is personal opinion and is not official information from the shrine.
ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL CENTERS
Since there are many Centers of Peace, prayer groups, charitable organizations etc. in the world originating from the Medjugorje events which are only slightly acquainted with other and since there is a great interest in a stronger connection, we have decided to try to get better acquainted with you and thereby to offer the possibility of an active cooperation through this Press Bulletin. We, therefore, request all Centers to fax us brief introductions which we will gradually publish in subsequent numbers of the Press Bulletin.
One right exists that no one can take away from anyone else: freedom. Truth can take
us prisoner
bodily, but our spirit always remains free if we want that. Therefore, Our Lady is presupposing
our
freedom when she invites us to go out into nature. It is time to leave behind us the words I have
to' and
I must.' In nature one experiences that God has created us and that he sustains us. We don't have
to'
or need to' do anything except to love God (if that is a having to' and needing to').
Neither is going out into nature any kind of ecological fad or agreement with New Age tenets.
It is something at the heart of Christianity. We only have to recall St. Francis. Experiencing the
freedom
of the child of God, he liberated himself also in his relationship toward every created thing. He
understood that he was passing through this earth as his friend on the way to his heavenly
homeland.
He reveled in freedom and freedom reveled in him.
A BELGIAN BISHOP ON MEDJUGORJE
Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje recently held a meeting for prayer in the Belgian city of Beauraing. On that occasion Bishop Leonard of Namur presided at the celebration of the Eucharist. Among other things he also said this during his sermon:
"The Church has still not expressed its official position regarding the Medjugorje apparitions. With confidence and prayer we are yet waiting for it. I have visited Medjugorje. I came and I am convinced of the authenticity of what is taking place there. Every Marian apparition is an opening of Heaven toward earth which is thereby enabled to smile with the love bestowed from Heaven. The perseverance with which Mary is speaking to us in these times of ours made a very strong impression on me. Sometimes someone will say to me, "How are such long lasting apparitions possible?" or "Mary talks so much!" I personally do not have any preconceived plans either about how or how much Mary should talk. I tell myself that perhaps Mary is knocking on our doors with such unusual persistence just because there are such great and urgent needs in our times. I interpret Mary's persistence as a stimulus to our conversion. The Medjugorje fruits are blessed fruits. Frequently people confide in me relating their experiences for which I can testify that they are rich with fruits of conversion, discovery of prayer, love, peace, penance, fasting and returning to sacramental life and the Eucharist.
In order to achieve peace in the world, peace in families and in our hearts, I want to invite both you and myself to accept all those unceasing invitations into our life and in a special way to accept the call to prayer and fasting."
NEW CONGREGATION FOUNDED IN NIGERIA
This year in Nigeria a new congregation of sisters was founded with the mission to live and carry the Medjugorje message of peace to others. Its founder is Msgr. John Bosco Akam, rector of Memorial Seminary in Enug, Nigeria. Since 1990 he has been spreading the Medjugorje messages in Nigeria. After being named chaplain to the President of the State, he organized a visit to Medjugorje for the President and members of the government, as also for Bishop Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka who this year for the third time visited this shrine. We described his experience in Press Bulletin #8. Msgr. John Bosco Akam, a man who enjoys the reputation of being a great intellectual, wrote the following after his first visit to Medjugorje:
"I am a priest working in the education of seminarians and theology students in Nigeria. We are a young church, existing just 100 years and my people are hungry and thirsty for God. My pilgrimage to Medjugorje was an extraordinary grace. It was the most beautiful experience I had in Europe. I must say that the devotion with which those people pray made a profound impression on me. It filled me with hope for a fallen world where devotion to the rosary has been almost completely forgotten. The war in Nigeria ended without any kind of logical, diplomatic or political reason. Only praying of the rosary brought peace to our land. Therefore, we really believe in the power of that humble and effective prayer."
FROM THE MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje Fr. Slavko Barbaric visited Ireland at the end of October. Exactly ten years ago in the city of Ballinasloe the first major prayer meeting in the world in connection with the Medjugorje events was held. This year's meeting was in fact the tenth anniversary celebration of the gathering of the faithful of that city in prayer, inspired by Our Lady's messages.
The Irish people are one of those countries that were among the first to answer the call Our Lady of Medjugorje directed to the world. They were among the first that began to come to Medjugorje and that felt the importance and necessity of the message of peace for mankind today. Even during this 1995 year of war a plane load of pilgrims landed every Sunday in the Split airport to spend a week in Medjugorje.
Upon his return from Ireland Fr. Slavko said, "I had the happiness of cooperating in the first meeting ten years ago and of experiencing the total readiness of the faithful seriously to answer Our Lady's call. I personally was not able to imagine how all that would develop further on, but undoubtedly it all developed according to Our Lady's wish. The seed sown has grown and continues to grow. In general the same priests spoke at the meeting that spoke ten years ago. Fr. Paddy Devine, spiritualdirector of the whole Medjugorje movement, especially stands out among them. He is a professor at Black Rock College in Dublin and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Among other things he also emphasized that in Medjugorje not only conversion to God takes place but also conversion to the whole church. Especially touching and powerful were the personal testimonies of individuals about the healing of soul and body and the testimonies of priests who again discovered in Medjugorje a sense of their priestly vocation. The first night Bishop John Kirby of Clonfert celebrated the mass with 30 priests concelebrating. In his homily he proclaimed that Marian devotion is Christocentric, modern and sensitive to the suffering of neighbors. The most beautiful surprise were the young priests Martin Carley and Oliver Divine who in 1985 participated as young men at the first meeting and after that came to Medjugorje where they decided on a vocation to the priesthood. Now they are already working as assistant pastors and are grateful to Our Lady for the gift of their vocation."
*** We are requesting all the organizers of pilgrimage groups to inform us of their arrival in Medjugorje for the sake of a more efficient organization of pastoral care at the shrine (Holy masses in different languages, the organization of meetings with the local Franciscans, etc) as well as to provide evidence on the number of pilgrims you are bringing and the country from which you are coming. We ask you, please, to do this by fax to the information center at +387-88-642-339.
*** All announcements pertaining to the program of prayer at the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, as well as other announcements pertaining to the organization of your pilgrimage are available at the Information Booth of the Shrine at +387-88-650-400 from 10 A.M. till 2 P.M. except Sundays. Hereby we also request all organizers of pilgrimage groups on arrival in Medjugorje to inform their pilgrims about the possibility of obtaining all necessary information at the Information Booth that is located opposite the parish rectory and not to ask at the parish office.
God created man in his own image the book of Genesis tells us. The reason for that is
love.
Because of that it is man's task to keep that image of God pure and clear in himself. In that way
he will
draw even closer to himself and feel what security and peace mean. Difficult things may happen
but the
desire for the manifestation of God's image should never be allowed to leave us.
Love is that powerful means that helps us do what we have to. We are not only supposed to
accept
it from God but also to pass it further on. Every person next to us should be able to sense that
God's love
is abiding in us. Without that this world will be cold. It will not know what warmth means, the
feeling
that someone needs you just because of yourself. At the same time that he gives himself , man is
being
given to himself as well. He is coming closer to his God because every good is from God.
Nobody can
come to Him just through oneself, but also through the other.
NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of October at the shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Medjugorje19,000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 741 concelebrations of holy mass by priests from the homeland and from abroad or an average of 25 daily.
MISSIONARY TRAVELS OF FR SLAVKO BARBARIC
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje Fr. Slavko Barbaric together with the visionary Marija Pavlovic visited several cities in Italy from Nov 13 - 19. Prayer meetings were held in Trezo d'Adda near Milan, in the Marian shrine of Montenero near Livorno, in Prato near Florence and in the church of St. Martin in Bologna. A great number of the faithful participated in these meetings. During the usual prayer program the visionary Marija gave her testimony to the assembled believers and prayed together with them.
From November 17 - 19 about 200 people participated in a prayer seminar that was held in Cervia near Ancona. The theme was "Mary, Educator for Peace." This meeting began in S. Piero di Bagno (Forli), the native place of Carmelo Puzzolo who sculpted the bronze reliefs of the way of the cross on Cross Mountain as well as the mysteries of the rosary on Apparition Mountain. The seminar began in that parish because a way of the cross identical to the one on Cross Mountain is erected on a hill in the parish. Because of bad weather it was not possible to go up the hill, so prayer was continued in the parish church. The artist himself participated in the seminar with his wife and gave a touching testimony.
As we announced in Press Bulletin No 25 we shall try through this bulletin to introduce to one another the Centers of Peace in the world established through the events at Medjugorje. We shall present them in the order that the same centers communicate the description of their activities to us.
THE MEDJUGORJE APPEAL (Bernard Ellis), Unit J Lambs Business Park, Tilburstow Hill Road, South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8JZ, tel 01342-893-230; fax 01342 893-515. Humanitarian Association Registration number 1014224 with financial funds in Great Britain, Australia, United States and some other countries. It works for aid to innocent victims of war in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. This Association assists in the acquisition of vehicles, food, medical equipment etc. At the present time it is occupied with raising funds for the construction of the Mothers' Village in Medjugorje, the Franciscan monastery in Mostar and the purchasing of tents for homeless people. Besides that it endeavors to enable priests, religious and seminarians to come to England to study the English language, providing accommodations and schooling for them.
THE MARIAN SPRING CENTER (Bernard Ellis), Unit J Lambs Business Park, Tilburstow Hill Road, South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8JZ, tel 01342-893-007; fax 01342-893-515. This association works on the distribution of a rich assortment of books, video and audio cassettes, posters, postcards and Christmas cards. All profits are directed toward those who are not able to buy books as well as to the funds of THE MEDJUGORJE APPEAL to help refugees in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
We have established "The MIR' Information Center" of the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje with the aim of helping to spread Our Lady's messages. We have always been and always will be at the service of those who have come to our shrine and to everyone around the world. Presently we are trying to broaden our activities with new contents that require new material means. We shall be grateful to those who will help us with it in any way. In your donations simply designate that it is for the Information Center.
We request you to sent your registration for the Prayer-Information Seminar that will be held from March 17 - 21, 1996 at the Hotel "Alga" in Tucepi by the end of January at the latest. Send your registrations by fax number +387-88-642-339 designated for the Information Center.
Simultaneous translation will be organized for all language groups. The price of accommodation, transportation and the seminar is 260 DM (German marks) per person in a double room. Single room supplement is 32 DM. Payment will be made to the organizer of the Seminar upon arrival at the hotel. There is the possibility of organized transfer from the Split airport to Hotel "Alga" in Tucepi. All those who need transportation on March 17 should make known the precise time of their arrival to the "Medjugorje MIR" Association in Split on the fax number +385-21-361-354 by the end of January at the latest. Transportation from Tucepi to Medjugorje will be organized on the last day of the seminar.
The program of the Seminar is found on page 3 of this Press Bulletin
Sunday March 17, 1996
Assembly
19:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Leonard Orec)
20:00 Dinner
Monday March 18, 1996
07:30 Morning Prayer
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Lecture: Kurt Knotzinger
"God's Word in Our Lady's Messages"
10:00 Group Discussions on the theme of the lecture
11:30 Meeting with the Lecturer
12:30 Lunch
15:00 Lecture: Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic: "With Our Lady Into the Third Millennium"
14:15 Meeting with the Lecturer
17:15 Rosary
18:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Slavko Barbaric)
Dinner
20:30 Adoration (Fr. Slavko Barbaric)
Tuesday March 19, 1996
07:30 Morning Prayer
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Lecture: Fr. Slavko Barbaric: "Prayer Groups in the Marian Prayer Movement"
10:00 Group Discussions on the theme of the lecture
11:00 Meeting with the Lecturer
12:30 Lunch
15:00 Meeting with the visionaries
16:45 Intermission
17:15 Rosary
18:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Jozo Zovko)
Dinner
20:30 Meeting with the friars:
(Fr. Jozo Zovko, Fr. Slavko Barbaric, Fr. Leonard Orec, Fr. Miljenko Stojic, Fr. Ivan
Landeka)
Wednesday March 20, 1996
07:30 Morning Prayer
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Lecture: Fr. Miljenko Stojic : "The Possibility of Cooperation of the MIR' Information
Center
with the Other Centers of Peace in the World"
10:00 Intermission
10:30 Meeting with the Lecturer
12:30 Lunch
15:30 Group discussion - Resolutions
16:30 Group meeting - Resolutions
17:15 Rosary
Mass (Fr. Ivan Landeka)
Dinner
20:30 Experiences - feed back
Thursday March 21, 1996
07:30 Morning Prayer
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 Departure for Medjugorje
11:00 Press Conference
12:30 Community Dinner
Departure for Hill of Apparition
Visit to "The Cenacle" Community of Sr. Elvira
We who live in the West or who are washed over with it usually in this season decorate
Christmas
trees or buy various gifts. We are apparently happy. Everything is full of splendor and
abundance. But
are we really happy? Let us ask ourselves how many of those who are buying gifts and
decorating
Christmas trees will attend holy mass these days, decide to change their behavior, make a visit to
some
poor person. . .not to mention anything further. Unfortunately, their number will not be
excessively large.
Life in today's West is just a soap bubble. The interior has been emptied, and only the form
has
remained. The society in which we are living is not Christian and every day it is endeavoring to
become
all the more less so. The customs that remained from some past times are just customs and
nothing
more. Even these one tries just to perform as quickly as possible because one does not have time.
Everyone is rushing somewhere and there is no one to say where.
Our Lady, who began to speak in the parish of Medjugorje has been trying to teach us a
different
way of behavior. She tells us not to hurry, to leave a place for prayer, because then we will
know where
to go. Those who understand this, Our Lady sends out further as prophets who will change thesociety
in which they live. I hope that we are like that!
A Blessed Christmas and New Year to you!
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
During the past days the atmosphere of prayer, peace, and community has stamped the Medjugorje shrine due to the multitude of pilgrims groups that visited it for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. There were local pilgrims from all parts of the homeland and from abroad the most numerous were pilgrims from Italy, North America, France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Belgium and Argentina. Among them were many benefactors who have been tirelessly helping our people in its difficult times. We heartily thank them.
On the feast itself the Peace Rosary was prayed on Apparition Hill. Due to the many faithful of various languages, the rosary was introduced in nine languages and about 3,000 faithful were present at the evening mass.
During the past feast days Italian Television RAI also visited Medjugorje. The TV team stayed several days wanting to film a report on Medjugorje and the celebration of Our Lady's feast.
BLOOD DONATION
Volunteer blood donation for the needs of the Hospital-Clinic Center of Mostar is frequently organized in the shrine of Medjugorje, but especially on the big feasts because there is a great number of those who would like to help the suffering people in that way. It was also like that on December 9 when about 50 pilgrims donated blood. In this way we would like to thank all of you who with love have donated their own blood. May the new born Jesus give you his blessing and peace.
CELEBRATION OF ST. NICHOLAS FEAST
On December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, a great number of children assembled in the church of Medjugorje for a community celebration. This year also the arrival of St. Nicholas brought great joy to the hearts of the children. Refugee children were overjoyed in a special way because, due to circumstances of war, they are far away from their homes.
CHRISTMAS NOVENA
As a part of preparation for Christmas, a novena of prayer in the shrine of the Queen of Peace has been arranged to begin on December 16. In addition to the usual evening program in the church, at 2 PM the rosary is prayed every day on Apparition Hill for traffic victims and people involved in traffic.
NEW YEAR
A New Year prayer vigil will be held again this year in the church of Medjugorje. The vigil begins at 10 PM and ends with holy mass at midnight.
GEBETSAKTION MEDJUGORJE - Mary Queen of Peace, (GAM), Werner Huesler, CH, 6166 HABSCHWANDEN - HASLE; tel +41-41-480-3178; fax + 41-41-480-1186.
The association "Prayer Action Medjugorje-Queen of Peace" from Switzerland began to operate October 31, 1985. Its aim is to live and to spread Our Lady's message from Medjugorje in order to bring all the more people closer to God by living Mary's messages.
GAM organizes film presentation evenings on the events of Medjugorje in 130 places throughout Switzerland, an evening prayer program like the program held in Medjugorje every day in 100 churches every Thursday, and a rosary every day in countless prayer groups.
On a humanitarian level the association GAM during the war paid about 4.3 million Swiss Francs for thousands of tons of flour, sugar, oil and meat products, thereby helping the war victims in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina. It paid for prostheses for numerous invalids, provided wood burning stoves, and goats for returnees.
GAM sent mass stipends to the missions valued at over one million Swiss Francs. So far this association has sent out into the world 190,000 pictures of Jesus, 20,000 prayer books, 3,000 booklets, and 3,500 monthly magazines with news from Medjugorje, and the Vienna edition of the same magazine every three months. Among the 12,000 members there also 150 priests, a large number of monasteries and families.