BULLETIN 2000.

Međugorje -157, December 26 2000

"Dear children!

Today when God granted to me that I can be with you, with little Jesus in my arms, I rejoice with you and I give thanks to God for everything He has done in this Jubilee year. I thank God especially for all the vocations of those who said ‘yes’ to God completely. I bless you all with my blessing and the blessing of the newborn Jesus. I pray for all of you for joy to be born in your hearts so that in joy you too carry the joy I have today. In this Child I bring to you the Savior of the your hearts and the One who calls you to the holiness of life. Thank you for having responded to my call."

December 25, 2000

Christmas

“These days, we are celebrating the coming of the Lord. According to our human standards, if we were asked to prepare no less than the reception of God Himself, what would the setting be? What would we undertake?” (J. Turcinovic)

This is the question we have to face at Christmas. A surprising question, as surprising as the unusual ways God chooses to come and to speak to us. Christmas brings a good surprise: we all feel that throughout the year, we could live with one another and with God in a better, more meaningful and in a less complicated way. This is why Christmas is an exceptional feast.

Elisabeth, the mother of St. John the Baptist, had a pleasant surprise – of another type, through another Visitation – the coming of Mary: “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my lord should come to me?” (Luke 1,43)

Such a Visitation, pleasant and challenging, was accorded the parish of Medjugorje. Millions have come to “see this thing which is come to pass” (see Luke 2,15), and they found Jesus in the sacrament of Reconciliation and in the Eucharist, in fasting and in prayer.

Blessed Christmas to you who have found Him and to you who seek Him!

Fra Ivan Landeka

N E W S

JAKOV’s ANNUAL APPARITION on DECEMBER 25, 2000

At Her last daily apparition to Jakov Colo on September 12, 1998, Our Lady told him that, from now onwards, he would have only one yearly apparition and that on Christmas day, December 25th. Thus it was also this year.

The apparition began at 3:20 pm and lasted 10 minutes. Our Lady came joyful with baby Jesus in her arms. She blessed everyone and gave a message:

"Dear children!

Today when Jesus is born and by His birth brings immeasurable joy, love and peace, I call you, in a special way to say your ‘yes’ to Jesus. Open your hearts so that Jesus enters into them, comes to dwell in them and starts to work through you. Only in this way will you be able to comprehend the true beauty of God’s love, joy and peace. Dear children, rejoice in the birth of Jesus and pray for all those hearts that have not opened to Jesus so that Jesus may enter into each of their hearts and may start working through them – so that every person would be an example of a true person through whom God works.

Father Slavko's burial

Fr. Slavko Barbaric was buried November 26^th in the local cemetery of Medjugorje “Kovacica”. The funeral mass, concelebrated by some 150 priests and assisted by more than 10.000 faithful, was presided by Mgr Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar.

All speeches held at the funeral are published on our web-pages: www.medjugorje.hr

Father Slavko’s work is alive

Humanly in deep sorrow, but carried by Christian hope, we wish to tell to all pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje that God’s work, started through Fr. Slavko Barbaric, continues to live on through his collaborators who followed Fr. Slavko’s inspirations throughout the years.

Works of Christian charity (Mothers’ Village, Fond of the Friends of Talents, Fond for Children of Departed Defenders, Fond for Families with Numerous Children, help for different persons in distress) will continue to live on, thanks to your active charity; also the prayer seminars (for couples, for priests, for young people) will continue in the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus and of Our Lady’s messages.

For all information linked with Fr. Slavko’s work, please contact the parish priest, Fr. Ivan Sesar and the Parish Office.

Thanks and praise to the Lord for having given to Medjugorje such a man, priest and Franciscan.

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During the month of November, 40.000 Holy Communions were distributed and 1.144 priests from the country and from abroad concelebrated at Holy Mass in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje.

Statesmen from Slovakia in Medjugorje

On Tuesday November 7^th, two statesmen from Slovakia visited Medjugorje: Jan Petrik, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Slovakia in Croatia and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Pavol Danic, consul in Zagreb. In their conversation with the parish priest of Medjugorje, they manifested their interest in the history of the apparitions in Medjugorje and, in a special way, in Slovakian pilgrims coming to this place. They visited the sanctuary and expressed their gratitude for the care the Franciscan friars accord to Slovakian pilgrims. They wish to maintain good contacts with the Sanctuary in order to be able to offer the best possible information to all those who are interested in visiting Medjugorje. After their visit to the parish, they visited Sister Elvira’s therapeutic community for former drug addicts. It is an international community, representing about 10 different nations at the moment – among them also some Slovaks.

Austrian Ambassador’s visit

Dr. Gerhard Jandl, Austrian ambassador in Bosnia and Herzegovina, came to Medjugorje on November 27^th. During his visit, he spoke of his interest in the history of the events of Medjugorje and also for the Austrian pilgrims coming to this place.

To Medjugorje on a bicycle

Antoine Lamy and Fabrice de Rivet, two young Frenchmen, came to Medjugorje on November 18^th after one month’s journey from France on a bicycle. They spent one day in the sanctuary of the Queen of Peace and continued their journey to the final destination of this exceptional pilgrimage - the Holy Land.

pilgrimage of Mentally Handicapped persons

40 handicapped persons from the Institution for Retarded Persons from Vrlika, Croatia, came to Medjugorje with their caretakers on the feast of St. Elisabeth of Hungary. Their pilgrimage has become a tradition. Their first visit to Medjugorje was on the feast of St. Elisabeth of Hungary. The homily given then spoke about how much this saint cared for the poor and the sick, and so they decided to come every year on her feast day to Medjugorje. After Holy Mass, they climbed the Apparition Hill where they prayed the Rosary – especially for peace and the strength to be able to continue to live with the burden of their illness and the handicap they carry from their early childhood.

45 pilgrims from the Centre for Work Therapy in Dubrovnik, came to Medjugorje with their parents on November 23^rd. In spite of their difficulties, they showed exceptional joy, displayed by their singing in Holy Mass. After Holy Mass, they offered their handicrafts to the Franciscan friars from Medjugorje.

FRAMA’s Engagements

On Sunday, November 19^th, 50 youths from the parish of Medjugorje made their promise of fidelity to the Gospel, according to the example of St Francis.

The Franciscan Youth Group – FRAMA – has been active in the parish of Medjugorje for the last five years. These young men and women try to be joyful witnesses of the Good News of Jesus, according to the example of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi. From year to year, Frama has increased its membership and has become more and more involved in the life of the parish and society. They meet weekly for prayer and sharing, they help in different ways in the pastoral life of the parish: singing, playing instruments and reading during the liturgy, taking part in processions, helping in the organization of important feasts and prayer-meetings. They are also involved on a cultural, ecological, charity and media level. After spending a year in Frama, they make a promise to live the Gospel in their fraternity. This year, 26 young people renewed their promises, and 24 of them made their first promises. During a very beautiful liturgical celebration full of songs, dances and fervour, these young people pronounced their “yes” to Christ before fra dr. Ivan Sesar, parish priest of Medjugorje, fra Branko Rados, their chaplain, and in the presence of a great number of parishioners and pilgrims.

American soldiers in Medjugorje

About 100 American soldiers, members of SFOR based in Tuzla, came to Medjugorje with their military chaplain on November 21^st. They celebrated Holy Mass and climbed Apparition Hill.

We are most pleased to see that also soldiers recognize Medjugorje as a place of prayer and of peace.

14 Franciscan provincials in Medjugorje

On November 23^rd, Franciscan provincials from 14 provinces, situated in Slavic countries – the Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, headed by fra Antonio Ricci, Definitor General and Delegate of the General Direction of the Franciscan Order, came to Medjugorje.

After their meeting, which took place this year in the Franciscan monastery in Slano, they came to Medjugorje get better acquainted with the life and work of Herzegovinian friars, members of the herzegovinian province, the hosts of this year’s meeting. They visited Mostar, Siroki Brijeg and Humac, and came to Medjugorje in the afternoon. They visited Sr. Elvira’s community for former drug addicts and also the Mothers’ Village, which takes care of orphans and children from broken families. They concelebrated Holy Mass in St. James’ church.

This year’s theme of the meeting was the announcing of the Gospel and witnessing the Gospel today.

Their meeting with the above-mentioned communities and their participation in the evening program in church made them understand that the Word of God is announced powerfully in Medjugorje in three different ways: prayer, the care for former drug addicts, for abandoned and neglected persons. In their conversation with the friars from Medjugorje, they emphasized their interest in the events of Medjugorje and for the pilgrims coming from their countries. They expressed their gratitude for the pastoral care given to their pilgrims in Medjugorje.

“Boney M” in Medjugorje

Members of the rock-group “Boney M” came to the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje on November 23^rd, before going to Mostar, where they gave a concert.

They participated in the English Mass for pilgrims and sung with them. After Mass, they met with fra dr. Ivan Sesar, parish priest of Medjugorje, who spoke to them about the events of Medjugorje: Our Lady’s messages, the visionaries, the spiritual life of the parish and of the pilgrims. He told them that Medjugorje was not a place to come to in order to see something, but rather a place of prayer where people come in search of inner peace. He gave a rosary to each one of them. “Boney M” also visited the former drug addicts living in the Community of Cenacle.

“Boney M” left Medjugorje full of enthusiasm, and they shared their spiritual experience with their public in Mostar.

Franz Gollowitsch 250 times in Medjugorje

On Friday, November 24^th, the day father Slavko Barbaric passed away, he celebrated Mass for the German speaking pilgrims and marked a significant jubilee. It was the 250^th pilgrimage of Franz Gollowitsch from Steiermark in Austria.

Franz Gollowitsch, owner of a travel agency, came to Medjugorje for the first time 15 years ago. Since then, he has brought more than 12.000 Austrian pilgrims to this Shrine. He became a tireless witness and herald of Our Lady’s messages in his homeland Austria. He not only brought pilgrims to Medjugorje, but also those who desired to deepen their faith by attending prayer and fasting retreats.

In difficult years during the war, he stretched out his hand to the needy in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the help of Medjugorje-pilgrims from Austria. He was most involved in helping children, being himself a father of 5 children and a grand-father of 13.

This great man was recently awarded the “Golden Heart” price of Austria and 10.000 schillings. He gave the entire amount to the 12-member family of Danijela and Marinko Maric from Rastovaca near Posusje.

May the shining example of this man be a guide line for us, as are his words: “I see in children the joy of a new life and hope. We are children of God, and all children are our future; every day, they give us new strength.”

A sincere and big thanks to this man, with our promise to pray for his work.

Mgr Georg Eder, archbishop of Salzburg’s, thanksgiving letter

At the occasion of the accident that struck the winter-sport village of Kaprun in Austria, the parishioners of Medjugorje sent a letter of condolence to Mgr Georg Eder, Archbishop of Salzburg, expressing their faith in the resurrection of the dead.

These days, Mgr Eder responded, saying:

“We have received the encouraging letter signed by the parishioners of Medjugorje with a special feeling of recognition. We are grateful to hear that the parish of Medjugorje prays for the souls of those who lost their lives in this accident. This is a manifestation of the unity of the Catholic Church: when one member suffers, the whole Church suffers.”

Mgr Eder, Archbishop of Salzburg, has come to Medjugorje on several occasions. He blesses the whole parish, and, in a special way, the parish priest, who signed this letter.

Meeting of the radio prayer group “Let us pray together with a joyful heart”

The Radio Prayer Group “Let Us Pray Together With a Joyful Heart” had its second meeting in Medjugorje on December 3rd. About 300 members of the group came from Herzegovina, Split, Sarajevo, Knin, Drnis, Livno and other places.

This meeting in memory of Fr. Slavko, who had founded and led this prayer group over the radio, was led by Fr. Branko Rados.

The members of the group met at 2 p.m. at Apparition Hill for the Rosary and then at 4 p.m. in the parish. They went together to Fr. Slavko’s tomb and ended their meeting with the evening program in the church.

All members received medals, certificates and an audio tape of the last radio prayer meeting led by Fr. Slavko.

CELEBRATION OF ST. NICHOLAS DAY

On the feast of St. Nicholas, December 6th, a large number of children of the primary school of Medjugorje gathered in the large hall behind the parish church to celebrate the feast of their beloved saint, the protector of children and sailors. They sang various songs and gave a small performance. In the afternoon, they came together in the parish church to celebrate holy mass.

This year also the arrival of St. Nicholas aroused joy in the hearts of the children. There was no end to their prayers, enthusiasm and joy. As usual, St. Nicholas rewarded the children who had been good and those who were not always obedient were invited to be better, especially now as Christmas is approaching.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

In recent days, the atmosphere of prayer, peace and community characterized the shrine of Medjugorje due to a large number of pilgrims that visited it for the feast day of the Immaculate Conception. Local pilgrims came from all parts of the country, while the most numerous foreign pilgrim groups were from Italy.

On the day itself, the Rosary for Peace was prayed on Apparition Hill. Several thousand took part in the evening Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Miron Sirkic, professor of Canon Law on Franciscan Theology at Sarajevo.

Christmas at Medjugorje

In addition to the evening prayer program in church, and to prepare for Christmas, the Rosary was prayed on Apparition Hill during the novena before Christmas. During Advent, three fasting and prayer seminars were conducted at "Domus Pacis", the House of Prayer. About 100 pilgrims from home and abroad participated in these seminars, desiring through prayer and fasting to prepare for Christmas and to draw closer to the mystery of God born on earth.

During the Christmas holidays, peace prevailed in the shrine of the Queen of Peace with an atmosphere of prayer and unity among the faithful who arrived from all parts of the world. On Sunday, December 17^th, “Little Singers from Dubrovnik”, a children’s choir from Dubrovnik directed by Djelo Jusic, and “Little Doves of Peace”, children’s choir from Medjugorje directed by Sr. Slavica Kozul, performed a Christmas Concert in the church of Medjugorje. With this joyful event, in preparation for Christmas, the little one’s wished a Happy Christmas to the faithful and to pilgrims from all over the world.

On Christmas Eve, several thousands of faithful took part in Holy Mass. The Eucharistic celebration began at 10 p.m. with a prayer vigil that ended with Holy Mass at midnight. The feast of Christmas itself passed in the Christmas peace and joy of pilgrims and parishioners gathered around their Mother.

Seminar for married couples

The Information Center “Mir” Medjugorje is organizing the 1^st International Seminar for Couples from February 8^th to February 11^th, 2001, with the theme: “COUPLES IN THE SCHOOL OF THE HOLY FAMILY”

Recommendations of things to bring with you:

1. Small headphones and small radio with fm frequency (can also be purchased here)

2. Bible and umbrella

All meetings will take place in the new building behind the Church. Costs of the Seminar: 30 DM per couple. You may make reservations by calling the Information Center at Tel: 00387-36- 651-988 or fax: 00387-36-651-888, or by E-mail medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr

Međugorje -156, November 26 2000

"Dear children!

Today when Heaven is near to you in a special way, I call you to prayer so that through prayer you place God in the first place. Little children, today I am near you and I bless each of you with my motherly blessing so that you have the strength and love for all the people you meet in your earthly life and that you can give God’s love. I rejoice with you and I desire to tell you that your brother Slavko has been born into Heaven and intercedes for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

November 25, 2000

COME, LORD JESUS

Throughout the history of the Church, grace and sin, good and bad have been intertwined. Anyone who looks at his life objectively will see that also in his life grace and sin, good and bad are intertwined. There is no human being who does not want to be a better human being and no Christian who does not want to be a better Christian. Rarely will anyone want to be a lesser human being and rarely will a Christian want to be a lesser Christian. Wanting to be a better Christian is the best soil for the work of God during the time of Advent. Not so much because it is Advent – surely also because of it – but more because it is a true need. This Advent is an opportunity not to let overwhelming responsibilities become an excuse to leave everything as it was. Jesus and His mother Mary are the company with which one can truly attain a fulfilled Christmas.

Let us welcome them as our fellow-travellers and accept their companionship with everything that emanates from it.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

IN MEMORY OF FATHER DR SLAVKO BARBARIC

Father Slavko Barbaric died on November 24, 2000 at 3.30 p.m. After the Way of the Cross, that he animated usually every Friday on the Hill of Krizevac for parishioners and pilgrims, he felt some pain. He sat down on a rock, then lay down on the ground, lost consciousness and gave his soul over to the Lord.

Father Slavko Barbaric was born on March 11, 1946, as the son of Marko and Luca born Stojic at Dragicina (parish of Cerin). He attended elementary school in Cerin and then went on to high school in Dubrovnik. He entered into the Franciscan order at Humac on July 14, 1965. He made his final vows September 17, 1971. He was ordained priest the December 19, 1971. He studied at Sarajevo, Graz and Freiburg. He finished his studies at Graz (Austria) with a master's degree. After 5 years of pastoral service in the province of Herzegovina, in the parish of Capljina, he continued his studies at Freiburg, where he obtained his doctorate in religious pedagogy and the title of psychotherapist.

As Franciscan priest, he was in Capljina from 1973 to 1978. From the spring of 1982 to September 1984, he was chaplain for students at Mostar, and he held retreats in the house of religious sisters at Bijelo Polje near Mostar. His fruitful work with the students and his retreats very well accepted by the students, however, the Communist government in power at that time persecuted him. In those difficult moments, his eminence, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, protected father Slavko’s mission.

Thanks to his knowledge of the main European language and despite his numerous obligations in different parishes, father Slavko put himself ceaselessly at the service of Medjugorje pilgrims from the time he finished his studies and came back to the country in 1982. He was officially sent to Medjugorje in 1983. According to the order of Mgr. Zanic, bishop of Mostar, he was transferred to the parish of Blagaj, and in 1988 to Humac, where he was parish vicar and assistant of the master of novices.

At the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, when all elderly friars were exiled to Tucepi, with the oral accord of + father Drago Tolj, former provincial, father Slavko remained at Medjugorje.

From the very beginning of his mission in Medjugorje, father Slavko has been writing spiritual books: «Pray With the Heart», «Give Me Your Wounded Heart», «Celebrate Mass With the Heart», «In the School of Love», «Adore my Son With the Heart», «With Jesus and Mary Climbing the Golgotha to Meet the Risen Lord», «Pray Together with a Joyful Heart», Interviews, and «Fast With the Heart», which is now in print. Fr. Slavko Barbaric’s books have been translated in twenty languages and more than 20 million copieshave been printed in the whole world. He published also numerous articles in various publications. He was editor of the St Francis’ Bulletin in Capljina, collaborated in Krsni Zavicaj, Glas Mira and the Radio “Mir” Medjugorje. He gave unceasingly conferences for pilgrims, animated adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, veneration of the Cross, the rosary up the Apparition Hill, the Way of the Cross on the Mount Krizevac, where he finished his earthly life. He animated annual meetings for priests and youth, in the prayer house of the Franciscan province “Domus Pacis” he animated “Fasting and prayer retreats”. The destructions of the war inspired him to found and lead an institution for the education and care of the young, the “Mother’s Village”, where more than 60 persons have found their home (war orphans, children from separated families, unwed mothers, elderly abandoned persons and sick children). If there was a man who loved children, it was Fr. Slavko. Children loved him in return: they always gathered around him and he knew always how to gather them – just like Jesus! His psychotherapeutic formation and education allowed him to work with drug addicts in the Community of the Cenacolo, founded by Sister Elvira, mostly in their house in Medjugorje, “Campo della vita”. He oriented the help received from the whole world in two directions: “Foundation for children of deceased defenders” who died during the war, and “Foundation of friends of talents” to help students.

It is difficult to extract something from the life of this big and unusual man. If we would try to do it, it is undoubtedly the period of his life in Medjugorje. Father Slavko Barbaric has traveled throughout the whole world, spreading the message of peace and reconciliation of Our Lady. He was the soul and the heart of the peace movement born in Medjugorje 19 1/2 years ago. He had wonderful gifts: knowledge of languages, facility of communicating with people, education, simplicity, care for human beings in need, inexhaustible energy – one could not believe that one single man could have it, diligence, and above all piety, humility, charity. He prayed and he fasted a lot, he loved Our Lady with a childlike love. It was, in fact, the essence of his life: through prayer and fasting to take souls to God through Mary - the Queen of Peace.

It seemed sometimes above the reality to live near him – he was here, in the world, but at the same time so much out of the world. In his presence, the words of Jesus from his high priestly prayer became reality: “They do not belong to the world, as I myself do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I sent them into the world. I sanctify myself for them, in order that they may be sanctified by the truth…” (Jn 17,16-19)

The funeral took place at the cemetery in Medjugorje “Kovacica”, on Sunday, November 26, 2000, after the mass in the church of St James at 2 p.m.

NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

Since – according to Catholic tradition – October is the month, which is especially dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a great number of pilgrims chose this time for their pilgrimage to Medjugorje.

During the month of October, 120.000 faithful received holy communion in the parish of Medjugorje and 2.870 priests from home and abroad concelebrated at holy masses.

The most numerous groups of pilgrims came from Ireland, the United States, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Poland and, of course, Croatia.

THE ‘CENACOLO’ COMMUNITY - HOUSE FOR WOMEN

On November 1, 2000, a house for drug-addicted girls was solemnly opened and blessed here in the parish of Medjugorje. Many girls and boys of the ‘Cenacolo’ community were present, as were many of their parents and friends. This house is one of 60 houses and the second in Medjugorje which the ‘Cenacolo’ community has opened for youths with drug problems.

This community’s path from the hell of drugs into a new life is based on prayer and work; therefore, it is not surprising that such a large number of youths are being healed here. Searching for a way out for the increasing number of young drug addicts, Sister Elvira Petrozzi founded the ‘Cenacolo’ community in 1983.

Prior to their acceptance into the community, the girls and their parents have to take part in so-called ‘colloquiums’ – informative talks – which take place every Saturday at 9 am at the parish office in Medjugorje.

RELIEF OF FRANCISCANS FROM MEDJUGORJE WHO WERE KILLED DURING WORLD WAR II

On November 3, 2000, reliefs of five Franciscans from the parish of Medjugorje who had died a martyr’s death in World War II were blessed in the Adoration Chapel. These five Franciscans were among a total of 66 Franciscans who were killed under the Communist regime, bearing witness to their faith in Jesus Christ.

The parish of Medjugorje wanted to honour these Franciscans in a special way in this year of the Great Jubilee, and had five reliefs made which were then put up in the Adoration Chapel. Dr. Fr. Tomislav Pervan, the Provincial of the Franciscans in Hercegovina celebrated Holy Mass on the occasion. In his homily, Fr. Pervan reminded us of the many who have given their lives for Christ – almost a thousand Croatian priests died during the last wars.

At the end of Holy Mass, Fr. Ivan Sesar, the parish priest, thanked the former parish priest, Fr. Ivan Landeka, who had suggested that these five Franciscan be honoured during this Jubilee Year for having died a martyr’s death. Many members of the numerous families, as well as parishioners of Medjugorje attended the ceremony. They will now be able to show their solidarity with their Franciscans - whose graves are unknown - by coming to Adoration Chapel, being there with them, praying for them and asking them for their intercession.

FR. IVAN BRADVICA HAS DIED

On Saturday, November 4, 2000, Fr. Ivan Bradvica, Franciscan from the Franciscan Province of Hercegovina, died in Camogli, near Genova in Italy. Fr. Bradvica was buried on November 9^th in Humac.

Fr. Bradvica was born on May 9, 1944 in Veljace. He attended elementary school in Vitina and continued his studies at the Franciscan Seminary in Visoko. He then attended the seminary for priests in Sarajevo, Trento and the Antonianum in Rome, where he received his diploma in 1971. He gave his monastic vow in 1969 in Trento, Italy, where he was ordained a priest. From 1971 to 1991, he worked as a Franciscan priest with the Croatians in the Diaspora in the United States and Canada. He worked as chaplain in the Croatian parish St. Hieronymus in Chicago and then worked for one year in the parish of St. Kyrillos and Methodios in New York. He was parish priest in the parish of St. Nikola Tavelić from 1976 to 1987. There he built a new church and the Croatian Catholic center. He then worked in the Croatian Franciscan center in Norval, Canada, and from 1989 to 1991, he was parish priest in the parish of the Holy Family in Kitchener, Canada. As the democratic changes began to take place in his homeland of Croatia, Fr. Ivan Bradvica returned to the country of his birth. He first worked in the Franciscan monestary in Široki Brijeg and then in the beleaguered town of Konjic. In August 1995, he came to the parish of Medjugorje und worked there tirelessly until March 1999; he then returned to Konjic, where he worked devotedly to spiritually and physically restore the devastated parish.

The funeral on November 9th in the new cemetary in Ljubuški was attended by a great number of Franciscan brothers and sisters, priests and faithful. Holy Mass was celebrated in the church of St. Anthony in Humac by Mgr. Ratko Perić, the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the permanent representative of Trebinje-Mrkanj, together with 85 priests.

Fortunate to have been able to work near this magnanimous Franciscan and live with this extremely capable spirit, we feel a great loss, as we were accompanied for many years by the pastoral care and the high standards of this diligent Franciscan, who had such a special devotion for Our Lady. Fr. Ivan’s seminars and his spiritual guidance gave not only the parishioners of the parish of Medjugorje, where Fr. Ivan worked for four years, but also many pilgrims from abroad new incentives to change and start a new life upon their return home.

Also in this way, we thank God once more for all the good He has done through His servant and we recommend him to your prayers.

SEMINARS IN 'DOMUS PACIS'

Several prayer seminars have been held in 'Domus pacis', the house of prayer.

From November 3 - 5, 2000, Franciscan sisters of the Franciscan province of Hercegovina held a seminar for 40 girls. Two fasting and prayer retreats were also held; one for French-speaking pilgrims from November 5 to 11 and another from November 13 - 18 for German-speaking pilgrims.

From November 10 - 12, members of the Franciscan youth from the parish of Medjugorje had a spiritual renewal, together with their leader, Fr. Branko Radoš; and from November 24 -26, the FRAMA from various parts of the Hercegovina gathered for a two-day seminar.

Such seminars show how much everyone – young and old – needs spiritual renewal and growth. And this is exactly what Medjugorje offers them with its prayer life. That is why all seminars are booked out in advance and, each year, there are more.

THE BULLETIN IS PUBLISHED ON THE 26th OF EACH MONTH

The Press Bulletin with the monthly news will be published on the 26th of each month, rather than on the 5th, as we had previously announced.

Međugorje -155, November 1 2000

"Dear children!

Today I desire to open my motherly heart to you and to call you all to pray for my intentions. I desire to renew prayer with you and to call you to fast which I desire to offer to my Son Jesus for the coming of a new time – a time of spring. In this Jubilee year many hearts have opened to me and the Church is being renewed in the Spirit. I rejoice with you and I thank God for this gift; and you, little children, I call to pray, pray, pray – until prayer becomes a joy for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

October 25, 2000

WHAT DOES HOLINESS HAVE TO DO WITH LIFE?

The feast of All Souls’ Day is casting more and more of a shadow on the feast of All Saints’ Day. Whether justified or not, that’s how it is. Piety, honouring and praying for the deceased are highly esteemed and without them the world would be remarkably poorer. Remembering the dead is something everyone can accept but the feast of All Saints’ is something that only has meaning for Christians who believe. The question is, to what extent and what? Jesus Christ specifically calls us to live a holy life. Writing to the Christian communities, St. Paul addresses them as ‘holy’.

What is valuable and important to us, we call ‘holy’, ‘holiness’. With the belief that God is our creator, we assume that we are valuable and important to Him, that a human being and his life are holy to Him. The more radically we become conscious of this - without planning to become holy - the more open we become for a holy life, which is uniquely perceivable in Jesus’ entire life and in the lives of well-known and lesser known holy women and men.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

VISITS OF BISHOPS

Mgr. Joseph Das of the Indian bishopric of Berhampur visited Medjugorje from October 12^th to 15^th. On Sunday, October 15^th, he celebrated holy mass for the English-speaking pilgrims and he also held the homily. This was his first visit to Medjugorje.

On October 26^th, Mgr. Florencio Olvera Ochaoa, Bishop of Mexico, from the bishopric Tabasco, visited Medjugorje on his way to Dubrovnik. He was accompanied by Ante Luburić, Chancellor of the bishopric Mostar-Duvno. He said that it had been his ardent desire to visit Medjugorje, as a great number of his faithful come on pilgrimage here.

At the end of October, four bishops were in Medjugorje: Mgr. Leo Drona from the bishopric of San Jose from the Philippines, Mgr. Nestor Carino, General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Mgr. Cirilo Almario, retired Bishop from the bishopric of Malolos of the Philippines and Mgr. Nicodemus Kirima, Archbishop of Nyeria, Kenya. These four bishops were part of a group of 700 American pilgrims, who were taking part in a pilgrimage to several Marian shrines throughout Europe. This pilgrimage was organized by an American organization and one of the Shrines they visited was Medjugorje.

SEMINAR FOR COUPLES

The Information Center “Mir” Medjugorje is organizing the 1^st International Seminar for Couples from February 8^th to February 11^th, 2001, with the theme:

“COUPLES IN THE SCHOOL OF THE HOLY FAMILY”

February 8 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Registration

(Thursday) 4.00 pm Introduction of program

5.00 pm Holy Rosary

6.00 pm Holy Mass

THEME OF EACH DAY:

February 9 “Let Prayer Take the First Place in Your Families!” (Nov.1, 1984)

(Friday) 9.00 am Morning Prayer

2.00 pm Way of the Cross on Križevac

5.00 pm Rosary

6.00 pm Holy Mass

7.00 pm Veneration of the Holy Cross

February 10 “I desire you to awaken love in your families so that where there is unrest

(Saturday) and hatred, love will reign…!” (April 25, 1993)

9.00 am Morning Prayer

3.00 pm Testimonies

5.00 pm Rosary

6.00 pm Holy Mass

9.00 pm - 10.00 pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

February 11 “…dear children, let your family be a place where holiness is birthed. Help

(Sunday) everyone to live in holiness, but especially your own family!” (July 24, 1986)

9.00 am Morning Prayer

Time for Commentaries, Opinions, Thoughts and Testimonies

2.00 pm Hill of Apparitions (Podbrdo)

The seminar will end with the celebration of Holy Mass at the evening program

Daily Schedule:9.00 am Laudes in Latin

9.30 am Speech and Discussion

11.00 am Pause

12.00 am Prayer and Pause

3.00 pm Discussion

5.00 pm Evening Program (Rosary, Holy Mass and Healing Prayer)

9.00 pm - 10.00 pm Adoration (Saturday)

Speakers at the Seminar: Don Cosimo Cavaluzzo, couples from the ‘Cenacolo’ Community of Sister Elvira, Fr. Jozo Zovko, Fr. Slavko BarbariF and other witnesses.

Recommendations - Things to Bring With You:

1. Small headphones and small radio with fm frequency (can also be purchased here)

2. Bible and umbrella

All meetings will take place in the new building behind the Church. Costs of the Seminar: 15 $ per couple. You may make reservations by calling the Information Center at Tel: 00387-36- 651-988 or fax: 00387-36-651-888, or by E-mail medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr As the number of places is limited due to space, those who would like to participate in the seminar, should make reservations as soon as possible but no later than by the end of December. We ask all couples taking part to please make arrangements for their own accommodations.

FR. FILIP PAVIĆ HAS LEFT MEDJUGORJE AND TAKEN ON A NEW ASSIGNMENT

After 13 years of selfless and devoted service for God and the pilgrims, especially the English-speaking pilgrims, Fr. Filip Pavić has left Medjugorje and taken on a new assignment in the Franciscan province of Chicago, USA. On behalf of everyone who experienced Fr. Filip’s care and help during their pilgrimage to Medjugorje, we thank Fr. Filip wholeheartedly for all the good he has done. We promise to include him in our prayers that God may be with him in his continued work for his brothers and sisters.

IMPORTANT NEWS!!

Starting with the next issue of the Bulletin – that is Nr. 156 – the Bulletin will be published at the beginning of each month (around the 5^th of each month) in seven languages, as usual.

To get the most up-to-date information during the course of the month, please contact us via Internet on our web-site under the title NAJNOVIJE VIJESTI (LATEST NEWS). For reasons of efficiency and fastness, we will publish it only in the Croatian language. You will find a summary of these news in seven languages in the monthly Bulletin at the beginning of each month.We believe that this change will be satisfactory to all those who are waitingfornewsandinformation from the Shrine and that it will also solidify our working together in distributing reliable information regarding the events taking place in Medjugorje.

Međugje -154, October 18 2000

"Dear Children!

Today I call you to open yourselves to prayer. May prayer become joy for you. Renew prayer in your families and form prayer groups. In this way, you will experience joy in prayer and togetherness. All those who pray and are members of prayer groups are open to God's will in their hearts and joyfully witness God's love. I am with you, I carry all of you in my heart and I bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

September 25, 2000

WHAT DOES PRAYER HAVE TO DO WITH LIFE?

“In the camp, we prayed together frequently, and that was something very, very important …I have a great trust in God, from which emanates a basic optimism.” (Werner Wallert, hostage for many months on the island Jolo). We often think of prayer as being a separate part of our life, which hardly influences our daily life, our work, successes or failures, if at all. It seems to be much easier to pray only when difficulties arise, rather than when everything goes according to our wishes. But let us be honest: Is it too little, when we pray in times of distress? And what if this prayer brings forth optimism?

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

OCTOBER – THE MONTH OF OUR LADY

According to Catholic tradition, the month of October is dedicated to Our Lady and emphasis is put on praying the Holy Rosary during this month. So many times we have witnessed the strength and power of these prayers. For this reason, we are pleased that such a great number of pilgrims from all over the world come to Medjugorje during theses days. Especially numerous were the Croatian pilgrims who came for the Feast of the Queen of the Holy Rosary on October 7^th, in order to honour Mary, the Queen of the Rosary. We would like to invite all and everyone in their communities, as well as the pilgrims in Medjugorje, to especially pray the Holy Rosary and thus to draw nearer to Jesus during the month of October.

TOGETHER WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE WORLD, THE HOLY FATHER DEDICATED THE THIRD MILLENNIUM TO OUR LADY

On Sunday, October 8, 2000, in the course of the Feast of the Great Jubilee, the Holy Father – together with all the bishops who were present - dedicated the future of the Church and of the world to the Mother of Christ. Kneeling in front of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the Holy Father performed the consecration at the end of Holy Mass, which was attended by several thousand pilgrims from all over the world.

DECLARATION

The international conference of representatives of humanitarian organizations and of individuals inspired by the messages of Medjugorje was held in Medjugorje June 26, 2000. About 250 participants from 16 countries and the priests who work in Medjugorje took part in this conference.

Listening to what has been done through these ten years for displaced persons and refugees, the destitute and the infirm, invalids of war, war orphans and other needy people, we became more conscious that we must thank God through Mary Queen of Peace for the experiences of deepened faith and for the aid that we afforded to the imperiled people in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina during and after the war.

We also became more aware that there is still much need on various sides and therefore we decided, according to our capacities, to continue to do good, to broaden the areas of our activities, stirring others also to do the same, confident that we are doing to Jesus whatever we do to one of his least brethren (Mt 25:40).

The presence of representatives from the Jewish, Muslim and Orthodox confessions shows that our help was not limited only to those “in the household of faith” (Gal 6:9). Therefore, we decisively reject all accusations that were expressed in various media about individuals and associations abusing humanitarian work.

We invoke the intercession of the Queen of Peace on all and invite men of good will to join us in helping our brother in need.

In Medjugorje, June 16, 2000 Fr. Ivan Landeka, Pastor St. James Parish – Medjugorje

Fr. Leonard Orec, President, Association “Medjugorje–Mir” Split

VISIT OF BELGIAN BISHOP

In mid July the bishop of the Belgian city Namour, Msgr. Leonard Andre - Mutien made a three day visit to Medjugorje. On that occasion Fr. Slavko Barbaric spoke with Bishop Leonard Mutine for Glas Mira. We present here a part of that conversation:

Bishop Mutien: “I met Medjugorje through my seminarians. When I was rector of the school of theology at St. Paul in Louvain-la-Neuve, 1982 and 1983, some of my students of theology went to Medjugorje. That was at the very beginning of the apparitions. I had never heard it spoken of before. Some students of theology came to me seeking permission to go to Medjugorje during their vacation. I knew nothing about it and I asked them if there existed a position of the Church on Medjugorje. They told me no, that it had only begun a few years earlier, and that the Virgin seemed to be appearing there. They gave me an article to read and I told them, “Go and see, go and see!” They spoke to me several times about it and in 1984 I decided myself to go and see. Four of us priests came with the students of theology to Medjugorje in June1984. I must say that what I saw in the parish church in 1984, that folk piety, the manner in which the rosary was prayed, the Eucharist celebrated, the meeting that I had with the visionaries two times during the “apparitions” in the sacristy – all that seemed to me very positive, especially the manner in which they prayed here.

Glas Mira: How many times have you already come to Medjugorje?

Bishop Mutien: This is my second time. The first time, then, I came in 1984. I kept a very positive impression about what I saw here. Later I kept informed. I read the books of Fr. Laurentin, not all, but a few. I read some articles, and , accordingly, took an interest. Especially while I was a professor at Louvain, I saw among the students some who had been to Medjugorje and who there had discovered prayer, confession, Eucharist, fasting, and I remember that in the theologate I began fasting Fridays quite regularly, following the example of some of my students of theology or other students who I met at the university and who had fasted after pilgrimage to Medjugorje. When I became a bishop I met some believers of my diocese who fasted every Friday, who discovered the sacraments, thanks to their encounter with Medjugorje. I established the fact that regularly among the students of theology there were those who experienced conversion and received a vocation, thanks to Medjugorje. Now I have thirty students of theology, among whom there are some who have undergone a spiritual experience here which has marked their vocation. Such fruits are of interest to me. I know that from false premises according to logic we can draw exact conclusions. But still, the fact that so many positive discoveries take place, just with thanks to Medjugorje, is positive evidence in favor of Medjugorje. Accordingly, I continued to inform myself and said that some day I would be able also to return to Medjugorje. In the year 2000 I thought I might be able to take advantage of the Jubilee for a short pilgrimage. The fact that at the present time in France and in Belgium there exists much opposition to the Medjugorje events, books which criticize Medjugorje, moved me to come and see with my own eyes. I do not wish to judge things, situations, and persons from a distance, only from books. I would rather take a little more personal look. After I informed the bishop of Mostar about my coming, I came here as a pilgrim to pray, but also personally to convince myself, and I must say that what I see in the parish church on the pastoral level seems very good: praying the rosary, the Eucharist, adoration, solid devotion, balanced piety, cultivated devotion. As far as the Medjugorje events are concerned, it is not up to me to decide about that. It up to the local bishop, the bishops of Bosnia-Hercegovina, after a detailed study of the situation, to formulate a judgment about the authenticity or non-authenticity of the apparitions. That is not my business! In every case, I will accept the official judgment of the Church.

Glas Mira: Why does the Church hesitate when good fruits are visible?

Bishop Mutien: I think that the Church in her wisdom with these kind of phenomena wishes first to investigate the facts, and only then the fruits. I think that is the rule that Cardinal Seper already formulated when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. First the facts are studied, and only then the fruits. Investigating the fruits is not enough. The facts have to be investigated, but the abundance of positive fruits is in itself a positive evidence, even if it seems to me that there are, as in every human affair, also negative fruits. Wherever there are people, there are also human moments, sometimes far too human. As also among the twelve apostles. . .

Glas Mira: From where does the opposition come?

Bishop Mutien: I understand why questions are asked about the phenomena of Medjugorje and why there exist objections against the apparitions in Medjugorje. I understand why, for example, questions like these are asked: the multitude of apparitions, the fact that in some manner they are foreseen, known for a certain day. I understand why there is opposition. Personally there are not many a priori thoughts about what the Most Blessed Virgin would need, or what she would not need to do. I prefer to accept things, even if they disturb my personal ideas, but I understand why questions are asked and I believe that, according to what I have been able to see, there are in this phenomenon of Medjugorje essential things, but there are also parasites. I believe there exists that which is fundamental, but also accidentals. One is more positive, and the other is more negative. In Lourdes the testimony of Bernadette impressed me very much, I would say 100% pure. It seems to me that here there were parasites surrounding the central events. I understand why questions are asked. I keep informed also on the questions that the opponents of Medjugorje are asking. One has to hear them, and therefore I read the book of Joachim Boufflet from beginning to end. It is written in a polemical tone which does not seem to me to be in place, but there are real questions which are asked and which one day have to receive a clear and historically established answer. Accordingly, I accept those questions, but I wish to stay open to the event. I know bishop friends whose rule of behavior is to say: “Look out, if we are open to the events of Medjugorje, we can perhaps encourage something that is not authentic.” There exists a risk. I am more sensitive to the opposite risk and say: “Just the same, it is possible that Heaven has spoken to people at that place and I do not wish to take the risk of a priori being closed to that grace.” Two risks exist: the risk that we are being deceived in Medjugorje and the risk that we are bypassing a gift of grace.

Glas Mira: A gift from Heaven?

Bishop Mutien: My desire is that those who have the grace and the competence for that, the local bishop, the Bishops’ Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina, a theological and investigative commission, continue to study this phenomenon, to formulate one day the judgment of the Church about what has happened here. Until then, between the two risks, I prefer to take the risk of being open rather than the risk of a priori being closed to the grace of God which can be operating in this place. Accordingly, therefore, I take the position of openness and prudence.

Glas Mira: We Franciscans, awaiting the final judgment, are placing ourselves at the service of the persons who come here. The bishop considers us “disobedient” because of the “apparitions”, but we do not have a big choice: if people come here, we have to serve them. . .

Bishop Mutien: As far as I can see, your pastoral work in the parish church is not based on the apparitions as such. It seems to me that there is not a lot of mention of the apparitions when Holy Eucharist and the sacraments are being celebrated. From time to time I even hear: “All the fruits of Medjugorje come simply from the fact that the Eucharist is celebrated, that there is adoration of the Eucharist, that there is confession, that there is prayer. The fruits, accordingly, if there are some, do not come from the alleged apparitions but from the sacraments of the Church.” I hear this from time to time.

Glas Mira: Some say: “Where there is prayer, there is grace and miracles.”

Bishop Mutien: That logic does not seem to me completely correct. It is true that there where there is prayer, Eucharist, confessions, fruits do come. But there are many other places in the world where there is prayer, where there is confession, where Eucharist is celebrated, but there are not the same kind of evident fruits!

Glas Mira: You, then, think that this dimension can be attributed to the apparitions?

Bishop Mutien: I believe that it is an indication which has to be studied, an indication that leads to consideration. I regularly meet young people who think about the priesthood or who have had a profound experience of conversion coming here, much more so than in relation to other places and that makes me question. I cannot accept without reservation that the fruits of Medjugorje are connected only with the living of the sacraments. They are also lived in other places. Here there exists something that presents a special question. It is not up to me to pronounce about the reality of these fundamentals, but there is a question that cannot be avoided.

Glas Mira: Finally, is it your wish to give some message here to the world?

Bishop Mutien: I think that on the spiritual plane we are living in a period that demands urgency. I am convinced, as is also Pope John Paul II, that the time of the Jubilee is a time of special grace, as John Paul II has said several times, that is preparing a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church. That which I am expecting from Medjugorje is that it contribute to the preparation of that new outpouring of the Holy Spirit which the Church and world need. Therefore I think that it is more useful to concentrate on the most fundamental, as you are doing here in this parish: to concentrate on the Eucharist which is the source of Christian life, and for the rest I think we need to cultivate the grace of peace and seek for the discernment in connection with Medjugorje to be done in the best possible climate, for the good of the Church.

Glas Mira: We will pray for you. Bless us! Thanks!”

VIDEO TAPES OF THE YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL

In recent days many are looking for video tapes of the recent youth prayer festival. It is possible to get them in person at the Information Office of the shrine, but not by mail.

FRAMA OF HERCEGOVINA IN ROME

About 200 young Frama members (Franciscan Youth) made pilgrimage to Rome in the middle of August on the occasion of the Jubilee Year for the International Youth Meeting with the Holy Father. The Frama of Medjugorje was led by Fr. Branko Rados. May the Queen of Peace accompany them and all youth on this important pilgrimage, so that they become and remain a part of the young generation dedicated to God and to the Church.

VISIT OF STATE OFFICIALS

In recent days Medjugorje was visited by the Vice President of Croatia, Dr. Goran Granic who was interested in the events of this shrine.

Not long ago Medjugorje was visited by the family of the President of Bolivia: his wife and daughter, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren. On that occasion Mrs. Yolanda de Banzer proclaimed: “I fervently desired to come to Medjugorje. After several attempts it seemed to me that it would also remain an unfulfilled wish. Now it is fulfilled and I am exceedingly happy.” Her stay in Europe began with a meeting with the Holy Father and ended with pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima and Banneaux.

Međugorje -149, August 9, 2000

"Dear children!

Do not forget that you are here on earth on the way to eternity and that your home is in Heaven. That is why, little children, be open to God’s love and leave egoism and sin. May your joy be only in discovering God in daily prayer. That is why, make good use of this time and pray, pray, pray; and God is near to you in prayer and through prayer.Thank you for having responded to my call."

Message of July 25, 2000

REST

“Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while!” (Mk 6:31) So Jesus says to his disciples. During these summer days a lot of people talk about rest. Some, where they will go and how they will spend their vacation. Others will say, not again this year is it possible for us to go anywhere. Pupils, students, retired workers talk about a rest. Vacation is all the more tied to traveling and all the more connected with periods when there are no special obligations. Rest as a part of everyday is not sufficiently observed. And, maybe right there is the origin of many kinds of fatigue. From the beginnings of civilization rest is linked to both religious and pious contents and makes the rest complete. Sabbath in Judaism, Sunday in Christianity are unthinkable without religious content.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During July in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 88,500 Holy Communions were distributed and at holy mass there were 3238 concelebrations by priests from home and abroad, that is, 104 priests daily.

Some of the countries from which pilgrims came during July to visit Medjugorje are: USA, Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Litva, Letonia, Korea, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and, of course, Croatia.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL

The traditional eleventh international youth prayer festival was held from July 31- August 6, 2000. The theme of this year’s festival, at which about 15000 youth participated, was “The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us”. The festival began July 31st with the evening prayer program. Minor themes on which the youth discussed and meditated were:

- “The Father’s Plan - to send Emmanuel!”

- “Mary - Mother of Emmanuel!”

- “Jesus - Bread of life - way of bread!”

- “Eucharist - medicine for wounds of soul and body!”

- “Dear children, fall in love with Jesus in the Eucharist!”

- “Go home and become bread for the life of the world!”

The first international conference of representatives of humanitarian organizations and individuals who, inspired by the events of Medjugorje, are involved in humanitarian activity, will be held in Medjugorje June 26, 2000, starting at 9:00 AM. All those are invited who provided spiritual and material support to the war-stricken population during the war in Croatia and in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

We request all benefactors and representatives of humanitarian organizations who wish to participate in the work of this conference to give all pertinent information about their organization, the participant, and the details of their arrival to the association ”Medjugorje-Mir” Split, either via fax: 00385-21-342-258 or by e-mail to <<medjugorje-split@st.tel.hr>>

Simultaneous translation will be organized for the participants of the conference. For all additional information contact ”Medjugorje-Mir” in Split by telephone: 00385-21-361-354.

STUDENTS IN MEDJUGORJE

At this time, there are a great number of students among the pilgrims from this country who regularly go on a well-deserved trip at the end of their school year. Many of the students chose Medjugorje as their destination in order to thank the Queen of Peace for their education and for having successfully completed their school year.

A DONATED PILGRIMAGE

From May 5^th to 10^th, a group of pilgrims from Bulgaria visited the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje. An austrian parish financed this pilgrimage, which the bulgarian pilgrims more than happily accepted. The pilgrimage was led by nuns and, on their way back, they also visited Olovo inBosnia, an ancient place of pilgrimage. The Catholics in Bulgaria feel great gratitude towards the Franciscans in Bosnia and respect them deeply.

MEETING OF THE FRAMA (the Franciscan Youth)

The yearly meeting of the FRAMA - the Franciscan Youth - took place in the marian Shrine of Siroki Brijeg from May 12^th to 14^th. About 450 youths - also some from the parish of Medjugorje - took part in this meeting which had as its theme, "In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit ..." (Mt 28:19). The activities of the FRAMA members during the Lenten season were numerous: at the beginning of Lent, youths from Medjugorje made an ecological contribution in cleaning the parc of debris; Saturday afternoon they prayed the Way of the Cross up on Mt. Krizevac; in addition to the regular prayer meetings which take place on Fridays, they also frequently attended holy Mass, joining the numerous pilgrims and members of the parish; every evening, they prayed the "Prayer of the Franciscan Youth", thus forming an invisible chain of prayer; they also gave up "small pleasures" during Lent and collected money, which they gave to the needy.

The activities of the youths merit great praise, thanks to the tireless work of Fra. Branko Rados who is in charge of the Franciscan youth in Medjugorje.

May God bless them and continue to guide them through the intercession of Mary!

PRESS BULLETIN 143, May 17, 2000.

"Dear children!

Also today I call you to conversion. You are concerned too much about material things and little about spiritual ones. Open your hearts and start again to work more on your personal conversion. Decide everyday to dedicate time to God and to prayer until prayer becomes a joyful meeting with God for you. Only in this way will your life have meaning and with joy you will contemplate eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call."

April 25, 2000

CONVERSION

In the message of April 25th Our Lady directly calls for conversion. And not only that, she calls us to conversion in a completely concrete question. We are witnesses, namely, that material values are all the more quickly pressing into the background of the spiritual content of life. Those who have become dependent on the material hold that such a development is a completely normal process. Yet, there is an ever greater number of those who are experiencing the disturbing balance between the material and the spiritual uncomfortably and are regretting that condition. Among these latter are also we Christians. But, among us then again there is an ever greater number of those who are quite at peace with this condition. Our Lady is siding with Sacred Scripture which constantly calls us to conversion on all levels of life, and that in a very sensitive question of human existence - that is, of the material and the spiritual.

On the correct evaluation of the one and the other depends the quality of religious, community and social life.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE VISIONARIES

As we have already written in Bulletins 90 and 109, scientific medical research was carried out on the visionaries of Medjugorje in 1998. Research that was already carried out on the one hand by a French group of experts in 1984 and on the other hand by an Italian group in 1985, was repeated on a still greater scale. The group of experts has promulgated two Protocols, one on April 23, 1998 and the other on December 12, 1998. We published them in the Press Bulletin. Recently under the title Vidioci iz Meðugorja (The Visionaries of Medjugorje - A Psycho-physiological Research) the results produced in the research were published in a special book, for now only in Italian. The head of the research group, Dr. Andreas Resch, professor of theology at the Alphonsianum Papal University in Rome and an expert in the field limits of science briefly condensed the results:

“The personnel submitted to the research were subjected to the various tests with full freedom and sincere collaboration.

The results of this psychological-diagnostic research show that:

After 17 years of apparitional experiences the personnel do not exhibit any kind of pathological symptoms, like trance interference, disassociative interference and loss of reality interference.

All the personnel subjected to testing, however, did exhibit symptoms that could be related to stress reactions provoked by increased exogenous and endogenous stimulation as a consequence of daily life routine.

From their personal answers it can be concluded that the initial and subsequent altered state of consciousness occurs due to their unordinary experiences, which they called and understood as a vision/apparition of the Mother of God and still understand it that way also now

All the psychiatric and psychological investigations which were used for the description of personal characteristics of the individual personnel cannot be published for reasons of protecting the privacy of the data.

The psycho-physical investigation was carried out on four states of consciousness:

-waking state;

-altered state of consciousness(hypnosis with investigation of the state of ecstasy);

-state of visualization of mental images;

-altered state of consciousness(defined as the ecstasy of apparition).

The purpose of these investigations was to establish whether the ecstatic/apparitional state which the Italian work group measured in 1985 is also present today or are changes shown. In addition it was desired to investigate potential coincidence/divergence with other states off consciousness such as guided visualization or hypnosis. The investigation carried out demonstrate that the ecstatic phenomenology can be compared to the one from 1985 with somewhat less intensity.

Hypnotic returning to the ecstatic state did not produce the phenomenology of spontaneous ecstasy and therefore it can be said that the spontaneous ecstatic state of apparitions were not states of hypnotic trance.”

The book Vidioci iz Meðugorja (The Visionaries of Medjugorje) was published by Resch Verlag Publishing House of Innsbruck.

MAY IN MEDJUGORJE

In May there are more and more pilgrims in Medjugorje each day. Except for the seasonal celebrations, May is the month that many choose for pilgrimage to the Queen of Peace, since it is the month of special devotion toward the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this Jubilee year everything seems alive. There really are a lot of pilgrims from home and abroad. During pilgrimage to Medjugorje they pay special attention to the sacrament of reconciliation. Every evening several thousand faithful come for both the evening prayer program and for adoration. And even though those gathered in prayer are literally from all parts of the world, one feels that they understand each other.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION IN MEDJUGORJE

In the parish of Medjugorje it has already become traditional for children to receive First Holy Communion on the first Sunday of May. So also this year 84 boys and girls received their First Holy Communion on May 7th. On that day in parish communities a really special atmosphere prevails since the children are carrying within themselves the breath of life and joy. It is well felt also by those who on their vicinity. This year in Medjugorje a lot of local and foreign pilgrims joined in the celebration of the First Communicants and their parents.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

Throughout the Great Jubilee every First Friday of the month an evening liturgical program is dedicated to the sick. The parish church of St. James for the evening Holy Mass this First Friday was filled with a great number of faithful among whom were also present a considerable number of the infirm. At the end of Holy Mass the priests distributed an anointing for the sick to all who wished the blessed oil.

SEMINARS AT “DOMUS PACIS”

At the “Domus Pacis” House of Prayer in the past two weeks two prayer seminars were held. From May 2 - 4th, there were about 40 youth from Novi Travnik at the seminar. The seminar was conducted by Fr. Branimir Musa, and the organizer was the organization “Help” that works for the prevention and the fight against addiction.

In the same house from May 5 - 7th the Salesian Fathers from Žepèe organized a spiritual renewal for 30 youth from central Bosnia.

PRESS BULLETIN 142, May 3, 2000.

"Dear children!

April 25, 2000

WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK . . .

"We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)" This sentence from Acts of the Apostles best describes the disposition, the experience, and the mission of the apostles after they met the Risen One. Prohibitions and threats had no effect whatsoever. They were so filled up and captivated by the event of his resurrection that they had to give their testimony.

That which is lacking to us Christians today is testimony for Jesus Christ. In reality that testimony is not even possible without being filled with and captivated by Jesus Christ. Perhaps it is also the reason that Our Lady keeps repeating in her messages: "Decide for God!" When our decision for God will be strong neither shall we be able but to speak what we have seen and heard."

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

EASTER IN MEDJUGORJE

During Holy Week and for Easter day itself in Medjugorje there were constantly arriving new groups of pilgrims who wanted to visit here and at the same time celebrate the greatest Christian feast day. Several thousand pilgrims celebrated Easter in the shrine of Medjugorje. Of the foreign pilgrims the most numerous groups were from Germany, Austria, and France. During all these days there was also an exceptionally large number of pilgrims that came to Medjugorje from all parts of Croatia, as well as from the surrounding parishes to make their Easter confession.

Evidence of the fact of how many pilgrims visited Medjugorje during the Easter days is also the fact that during the evening prayer program about twenty priests were hearing confessions for three hours every night.

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During April at the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 95,000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1536 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from home and abroad, that is, an average of 51 daily.

April is one of the months with the greatest number of pilgrims visiting.

Thus we recorded the visit of groups from: Germany, Singapore, Latvia, France, Canada, Italy, Haiti, Argentina, Japan, Poland, Czech Republic, USA, Australia, Hungary, England, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Mexico, Carribean, Korea, Slovakia, Letonia, Spain, Indonesia, Slovenia and, of course, Croatia.

MISSIONARY TRAVEL OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC

At the beginning of April Fr. Slavko visited Holland, Belgium and France. Upon his return he gave the following impressions:

"The events in Medjugorje, which have for these 18 years and 10 months gathered a multitude of believers from the whole world, are transported like a blessed flame to every part of the world and continue to gather believers who wish to stay connected in prayer with each other and all together with Medjugorje. Therefore, from time to time the Medjugorje Franciscans go and pray with believers in their local churches and thus by their own presence help the spirit of fire enkindled in Medjugorje at Our Lady's hearth to burn all the more brightly. For that reason the two places chosen in Belgium are those where believers gather who carry in themselves the spirit of the Medjugorje messages. That is their two national shrines: Banneux and Beauring.

On April 7th, I visited our prisoners in the Haag. This was not my first visit with them at the Haag, but this time there was somehow a difference in my spirit than in previous visits. Previously there was always in my heart a great hope that the court will do justice and act worthily. In September of last year when I was with them, we were hoping that the trial would be in keeping with personal culpability, which the court obviously could not prove for some of them even at the end of four years. We were always worried about the trial being politicized, and there were good reasons for being afraid of that. But still we were hopeful?! But, the Tribunal showed its face. The Croatian people have been condemned in those good and noble men. And the sentences came down 45, 25, 15, 10 and 8 years.

In my spirit it was difficult for me to meet those men again, but on the other hand I rejoiced over the meeting because Medjugorje means very much for all of them. And when the first group voluntarily went to the Haag, they stopped in Medjugorje, prayed and took courage under the patronage of the Queen of Peace. They never ever suspected that there was a different truth and justice for the great and for the small, for the powerful and for the weak. Nor did they suspect how very small they were and how small in the eyes of the great is the nation to which they belong and how it has no right to its own self defense, a thing the powerful in their sentences proclaim to be aggression!?! All these thoughts were in my heart while I passed through all those many prison doors and corridors. Waiting even for the last door to open, behind think glass I beheld General Blaskic with lawyer Nobilo and two other men. Many documents are in front of them. General Blaskic immediately stood up and said to wait for him, that he wanted to be at the Holy Mass and go to confession and that he was coming as soon as he was finished with the lawyers. His demeanor, the expression on his face, the happy wave with his hand, freed me from those anxieties that were in my heart when I was thinking how am I going to meet him now, after the passing of an unjust sentence against him, a sentence that the Croatian people at every level clearly and loudly condemned as unjust t! Passing through the last barrier I silently greeted all those who were waiting in the area set apart for visiting. My spirit was all the more freed and rejoicing because I sensed: These dear men had lost neither the hope nor the will to fight to prove their innocence. They had accepted the sentences as a fact, aware that they are continuing to suffer for that same people for whom they were ready to lay down their lives in defense of their own homeland. In my heart arose the thought: We must not be allowed to forget these men, we have to be worthy of them, they must know that their sacrifice was not in vain. They asked about everything that was happening; everything is of interest to them. The conversation flowed spontaneously, and then they wanted confession and a personal talk. In each individual conversation I am a witness, I felt a strong faith, a deep hope, a love that forgives and heals. After confession we celebrated Holy mass and stayed on in pleasant conversation. There was a certain festive atmosphere. They all greeted everyone and wished everyone a Happy Easter. I promised them that we will not forget them.

And while the prison doors opened and closed at the clang of big keys, I wished profoundly that the sacrifice of these men be blessed and that everything turns out for the good. And that is just what the Easter message is.

On April 8th a day-long prayer program awaited us in the shrine of "The Virgin of the Poor" in Banneux. While we prayed the rosary led by the groups "Famille de Medjugorje", "Alleluiah", "Group de Luxembourg", "Nouvelles de Medjugorje"and "Koningin van de Vrede", the priests who came with their faithful were available for holy confession. Groups from Luxembourg and Holland were present. After my talk Fr. Albert Franck from Luxembourg led in prayer for healing. Ten of them came for concelebration and the others continued to hear confessions up to the end of the evening program. Medjugorje with its spirituality has given many an incentive to prayer, celebration of mass and especially Eucharistic adoration. The Church is renewed in the spirit of prayer. From this encounter with "The Virgin of the Poor" it was again clearly seen that Medjugorje is alive and will live because Our Lady like a Mother has take a deep hold on the hearts of her children that she tirelessly follows. This day also confirmed that.

The same day-long program awaited us on April 9th, but this time in Paris with the community of believers from the Congo in the chapel of St. Leo. Gathered for the meeting were ten priests and about 500 of the faithful from the Congo and form Paris. The afternoon meeting continued in the nearby parish church: again prayer of the Rosary and confessions. About 1000 of the faithful gathered. Everything was festive, and especially the celebration of mass with a solemn entry into the church. For the offering of the gifts there was a solemn procession with the bread and wine and with fruits from the Congo. These people really know how to celebrate, they have time for prayer and for celebrating the mass. When they sang a song from which I understood only two words: Mama Maria, no one could have remained unaffected. I experienced a beautiful community in the diversity. Again Mary gathered us as her children around hr son Jesus. After these meetings we departed grateful to God for all the beautiful encounters with the people who have accepted the messages of the Queen of Peace and stimulated by her messages wish to live more fundamentally to live their life with God. And personally grateful to the Queen of Peace, I returned on April 10th to Medjugorje.

"THE RADIO PRAYER GROUP"

Every Tuesday on Medjugorje "Mir" radio station there is broadcast called "Pray together with a joyful heart." In Medjugorje on Monday April 24th for the second time there was a gathering of the members of prayer groups from all parts of Croatia, and Bosnia-Hercegovina for a not-every-day way of praying. We are, namely, talking about the prayer group that Fr. Slavko Barbaric leads every Tuesday at 9:00 PM over the radio waves of Medjugorje "Mir" radio station. The members are all those that the radio station broadcast reaches and who wish in this way to be connected with Our Lady's messages of peace and conversion through prayer. For the meeting there gathered a bout 270 members from Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Republic of Croatia. Their intention is to meet not only on Tuesday for prayer on the radio but all the more often also on pilgrimages to the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje. It was that way also this Monday when they made a group pilgrimage to the Hill of Apparitions. After visiting the mountain they continued their meeting in the church during which they had the chance better to get acquainted and to exchange their experiences. Each member also received a membership card - a symbolic sign of cooperating in this not-every-day way of gathering for prayer. We wish the Lord to bless them to be able to persevere and spread Mary's message of peace in their surroundings.

The Tuesday prayer meeting can be followed also on the Internet: www.medjugorje.hr

INDICATIONS FOR PRIESTS

We would ask priests coming to Medjugorje to bring with them their alb, stoles and "celebret" from their superior.

We would also ask that mass be celebrated in agreement with the Parish in the area of the sanctuary and not in private homes or Apparition hill or Krizevac...

Please tell the pilgrims of your language group not to enter a liturgical area during the mass of a different language group, since by their entering it they upset the mass in question by changing it into a non-serious atmosphere.

PRESS BULLETIN 141, April 19 2000.

"Dear children!

Pray and make good use of this time, because this is a time of grace. I am with you and I intercede for each one of you before God, for your heart to open to God and to God's love. Little children, pray without ceasing, until prayer becomes a joy for you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

March 25, 2000

THE WAY OF LIGHT - Via Lucis

During Lent but also in other seasons of the Church year, the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) is prayed. We are immediately before the day of resurrection when the way of the cross - via crucis - for Jesus Christ and for Christians turns into via lucis - the way of light. The palpability of suffering and pain gently brings the suffering and pain of Jesus closer to us. The reality of resurrection is much more distant from our thinking and feeling. In recent years in Italy a very interesting prayer movement, or better yet a new form of devotion, is spreading. As in times past one used to meditate on the fourteen stations of Jesus's passion, so this new form of devotion meditates on the fourteen stations of the Risen One and the events of resurrection. In this way in the devotion of the people of God attention to the risen and glorious Jesus is more explicitly coming back. For all of us this Easter may the via crucis become the via lucis both in our personal lives and in the life of the whole Church.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

SEMINARS AT "DOMUS PACIS"

During the past month at the "Domus Pacis" House of Prayer about 350 faithful gathered in prayer and meditation in the course of nine different seminars.

Members of Franciscan Youth from Hercegovina had two seminars: one in March and one in April. Fr. Miro Sego conducted the seminars.

The Franciscan sisters of the Hercegovina Franciscan Province and the organization "Help" that words for the prevention of addiction among young people each held one seminar.

At the end of March the Salesians from Bosnia organized a spiritual renewal for a group of young people from Bosnia.

During the past month four fasting and prayer seminars in different languages were also held.

These kind of seminars are evidence of how much spiritual renewal and growth is necessary both for youth and adults. Medjugorje with its life of prayer indeed provides that for them. That is why all the seminars are filled in advance and every year there are more and more of them.

PRIESTS AND LAITY FROM PORTLAND

Along with the large number of groups and individuals who visited Medjugorje this Lent, from March 23 - 31 at the shrine of the Queen of Peace there was also a group of eleven priests with their parish workers from Portland, Oregon in the United States. The pilgrimage to Medjugorje was really for them like an annual retreat Inspired by Mary's messages or peace and reconciliation they returned to their homes to served in their local Church.

CHANGE OF TIMES FOR PRAYER PROGRAM

We announce to all pilgrim groups and individual who come on pilgrimage to Medjugorje that since March 26th the daily evening program in the church is now from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM (6:00 PM rosary, 7:00 PM Mass, blessing prayers and the third part of the rosary).

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is on Wednesdays and Saturdays for 10:00 - 11:00 PM and on Thursdays immediately after the evening mass. Adoration and prayer before the Crucifix is every Friday in church after the evening mass. Every Sunday at 3:00 PM the Peace Rosary is prayed on the Hill of Apparitions, and the Way of the Cross on Cross Mountain at the same time every Friday. There is opportunity for confession every evening at least one hour before the beginning of the evening prayer program.

Holy Mass for various language groups takes place during the morning according to previous arrangement.

All information in connection with the prayer program in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje as well as all other information can be obtained in the Information Office at 00387-88-651-988a from 9:00 AM till 6:00 PM. We request all organizers of pilgrim groups to notify their pilgrims upon their arrival in Medjugorje about the possibility of obtaining needed information at the Information Office that is located in front of the parish rectory, and not at the parish office.

PRESS BULLETIN 140, April 5 2000.

"Dear children!

March 25, 2000

FORGIVENESS

During Lent we often hear the word f o r g I v e n e s s. God's activity in the Old Testament is permeated with forgiveness. The activity of Jesus is filled with events of forgiveness that are always tied to definite persons. In the profession of faith (the Creed) we declare our faith: "I believe in the forgiveness of sin". God on his part bestows forgiveness. The Lord's Prayer (Our Father) contains yet another aspect, and that is one commanded to Christians, but not only to Christians, among themselves. We pray, namely, "as we also forgive those who trespass against us." Experience shows that we forgive with difficulty and that we literally undergo pain when it is required of us. Yet, it belongs to the way of conversion which is a fundamental part of the faith. What is to be done?

I make mistakes, I commit sins. . .The feeling - I am better than someone else or even what I myself did is not so bad - does not contribute to forgiveness but rather hinders it. But if I have the feeling - I too am no better than anyone else - things change. I become more gentle, more compassionate toward my neighbor and his behavior. Here precisely is the core of what Jesus calls forgiveness.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During March in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 58,000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1213 concelebrations at holy mass by priests from home and abroad, that is 39 priests daily.

March is a the months in which a greater number of groups and individuals come to Medjugorje. The greatest number of groups in Medjugorje were for the feast of the Annunciation on March 25th and on March 18th when the visionary Mirjana Dragicevic Soldo had her annual apparition. At the end of March Medjugorje was really alive!

So we recorded groups visiting from: Brazil, Belgium, Singapore, Switzerland, Slovakia, Litva, Latvia, Mexico, Hungary, France, Lebanon, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, USA, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Canada, England, Korea, Australia and, of course, Croatia.

VISIT OF BISHOP FROM GERMANY

From March 18th to 23rd Msgr. Franziskus Eisenbach, auxiliary bishop of Mainz, visited in Medjugorje. He said the following about his impressions:

"I am here as a pilgrim. I want to get acquainted with Medjugorje and to pray in it. For years already I know about and follow Medjugorje and I also wanted to come earlier, but I waited for a sure sign for myself when to decide to visit Medjugorje. This time I was expressly invited, therefore I came.

Already my first impression is that the church is continuously full at all the masses, and especially at adoration. It is obvious that many people have understood that this is a special place of prayer. The experience of many is that their personal prayer improves and that it is supported by the experience of community prayer. I know many people who in Medjugorje have renewed their faith and have learned to pray again. And now I too have personally been able to experience how Medjugorje helps in this sense.

Another experience that for me is very important is that in Medjugorje it is not just a matter of prayer, but that prayer also brings forth fruits in the service of man, especially of man in affliction. It was especially important for me to get to know the "Mothers' Village" where mothers with children, abandoned children and orphans of war find a refuge, and everything is also connected with a large garden where encounters take place between the children of healthy families and the children of those who for various reasons have lost a normal family. I saw that abandoned children here have a chance to learn how to live. And that is very important. The community of Sr. Elvira in which those addicted to drug and other evils find a place of refuge and healing also impressed me deeply. I celebrated Holy Mass and prayed morning prayer with them. It was very nice to see with what strength they pray and how joyfully they celebrate Holy Mass. I understood that the main method of healing is the deepening of faith and the experiencing of community in prayer and work.

It was important for me to hear about the God-Parent program for children, that is, the action of helping the children of fallen defenders, in which many families from Germany cooperate helping every month with a financial contribution for the destroyed families and their children. These works of active love for the needy especially showed me that in Medjugorje it is not just a matter of the correct spirit of prayer. Love toward God that is shown in prayer has brought fruits that are recognized in the care of man.

By all means I also wanted better to understand the very phenomenon of apparitions. Therefore I made an effort at least to meet someone of those who tell about their experiences and affirm that they see Our Lady. I met one of the visionaries, spoke with her and was present at an apparition. At my first meeting with Marija in her family home I found her in the garden working in rubber boots. She is a completely normal, young woman with three children. In conversation with her I understood that she is a very alert person, knows how to ask questions and to speak of her experiences and discerns things well, sees what is good and what is not good. She invited me also to participate in prayer with her when she prepares the encounter with Our Lady, that is continuing already more than 18 years. We prayed in the chapel of her home where quite a few people were gathered for this occasion. We prayed the rosary in various languages and waited for the moment of apparition. Marija gave a brief notice that the moment of apparition was getting close and after a prayer that she led, she remained in silence. We all knew that it was the moment when she sees Our Lady. After the apparition she told us that Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed us all. Once more she invited us to take part in a prayer. The meeting with Marija showed me that she is a completely normal, young woman, that she is standing with her two feet on the ground and that she is taking good care of her children. I saw that she has a good relationship with her family and with the pilgrims. She is simple and natural, and then again clear and understandable when she talks about her experiences. In the end I can say that she is a woman who can be believed, who is trustworthy and therefore I have no difficulty trusting in what she says, that is, that she is seeing and that it is authentic. This for me is a very important experience, because I concluded that this place of prayer rests on the experience that these young people have received like a gift and which they confidently transmit to others.

Mary is venerated in Medjugorje as the Queen of Peace. This title and all that she sees had to prepare the world for that terrible experience of war. Ten years after the first apparition war broke out in Croatia and in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Medjugorje is a place that continuously prays for peace. The message of Medjugorje for the world is clear: it has to overcome wars and conflicts by the power of love. One gets the impression that in Medjugorje the whole man is affected: heart, soul and body. Prayers and the place of prayer here take a hold of the entire person. Therefore Medjugorje, in this sense, carries a message for the whole Church: allow God and Our Lady to touch us in the totality of our human reality and let us allow Mary to bestow her love on us, and thus learn to love with our whole heart. Therefore I can say that no one needs to be afraid of Medjugorje even if it has not yet been officially approved in the Church. Here prayer is really done in a way that changes a person. Therefore multitudes of the faithful who also wish to learn to pray come here. I wish that this message and this experience be carried also to Germany because we Germans are inclined to rationalism rather than to feeling. And here it is a matter of a message for man in his entirety, something that is really necessary for everyone."

SEVENTH MEETING FOR LEADERS OF CENTERS OF PEACE

At the seventh meeting for leaders of centers of peace about 100 participants from twenty countries from all five continents took part. On that occasion, as every year before, the participants adopted the following

DECLARATION

Gathered in Neum from March 19th to 24th, 2000 at the seventh meeting for the leaders of Centers of Peace andMedjugorje prayer groups, we address ourselves to the friends and the pilgrims of the Queen of Peace:

1. We are in the year of the Great Jubilee of Christianity. Let us strive to put Jesus Christ at the center of our lives and so to make our contribution to the renewal of the Church of our times and of the local Church.

2. Within the content of the program of the Jubilee and of Our Lady's messages from Medjugorje we recognize connecting points. Our Lady's word: "Do whatever He tells you. . ." reveals to us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

3. Proclamation of the Gospel is the prophetic task of all Christians. It realized by taking first place in one's own life. A life in keeping with that is the very best proclamation. The same is valid also for those who spread Our Lady's messages.

4. Let Our Lady's invitation to peace and reconciliation be present in a special way in the life of individuals, of families and groups, especially in this year of the Great Jubilee.

5. Again we call on all to get to know better and faithfully to preserve the originality of Medjugorje spirituality.

Medjugorje, March 24, 2000

BENEFACTORS' CONFERENCE

A meeting of benefactors inspired by the Medjugorje messages will be held in Medjugorje on June 26, 2000 with the theme: "You did unto me."

The first international conference of representatives of humanitarian organizations and individuals who, inspired by the events of Medjugorje, are involved in humanitarian activity, will be held in Medjugorje June 26, 2000, starting at 9:00 AM. All those are invited who provided spiritual and material support to the war stricken population during the war in Croatia and in Bosnia-Hercegovina.

We request all benefactors and representatives of humanitarian organizations who wish to participate in the work of this conference to give notice of their arrival with the pertinent information about their organization and personal information for the participant to the association "Medjugorje-Mir" Split at fax number: 00385-21-342-258 or by e-mail to <<medjugorje-split@st.tel.hr>>

Simultaneous translation will be organized for the participants of the conference. For all additional information contact "Medjugorje-Mir" in Split by telephone: 00385-21-361-354.

DEATH OF DON ANGELO MUTTI

Don Angelo Mutti, founder and editor in chief of Echo of Medjugorje, died March 3, 2000. The bulletin Echo of Medjugorje spread Our Lady's messages and news of the events in Medjugorje for a period of many years. Since it was translated into ten languages he caused Mary's message of peace and reconciliation to reach every continent. The worth of Don Angelo in that was inestimable. In gratitude to him and for everything he did this way, let us commend him to prayer trusting that his co-workers will continue on the path he started.

PRESS BULLETIN 139, March 22 2000.

"Dear children!

Wake up from the sleep of unbelief and sin, because this is a time of grace which God gives you. Use this time and seek the grace of healing of your heart from God, so that you may see God and man with the heart. Pray in a special way for those who have not come to know God's love, and witness with your life so that they also can come to know God and His immeasurable love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

February 25, 2000

L E N T

"Do not dedicate to anyone else the time that is reserved for God, not even when we do not succeed in taking good advantage of that time; to stay faithful, that is critical." That is the way deceased Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago described his decision of long-ago that he would arise early every morning and dedicate the first moments of his day to God. We have begun the preparation for Easter and at least externally stored some Lenten resolutions in our thoughts. Our own memory tells us that the Holy Seasons up till now have not yielded the shifts and radical changes needed. Perhaps it will also not happen this time. What we can certainly do is - not dedicate to anyone else or anything else the time that is reserved for God. Thereby it is possible also to achieve the many other necessary Christian values.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

ANNUAL APPARITON TO MIRJANA SOLDO ON MARCH 18, 2000

"Dear children!

Do not seek peace and happiness in vain, in the wrong places and in wrong things. Do not permit your hearts to become hard by loving vanity. Invoke the name of my Son. Receive Him in your heart. Only in the name of my Son will you experience true happiness and true peace in your heart. Only in this way will you come to know the love of God and spread it further. I am calling you to be my apostles."

The apparition started at 9:55 a. m. and lasted about 5 minutes. Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed everyone. Mirjana especially recommended the sick. This time Our Lady did not say anything about the secrets.

VISIT OF BISHOP FROM THE CARIBBEAN

As we published in Bulletin No. 137, in February Bishop Robert Rivas was in Medjugorje for a private visit. Many pilgrims come to Medjugorje, among them more and more priests, and men and women religious. It is completely natural also that more and more bishops are coming. According to the Zadar declaration of April 1991, the bishops should accompany the events in Medjugorje in order to know where their faithful are going. We took advantage of this opportunity and spoke with Msgr. Robert Rivas, bishop of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Caribbean Islands, who spent ten days in Medjugorje. We are grateful to him for being available to share his testimony with us. Fr. Slavko Barbaric spoke with Bishop Rivas. Here is a part of that conversation:

SB: Tell us a little about yourself first?

RR:My name is Robert Rivas. I was born in Trinidad, Tobago. I entered the religious life, the Dominican order, at the age of 18. I did my noviciate and studies in Ireland. I was ordained in 1971. I was born in June 1943. After my ordination in Trinidad, I went to the Engelicum in Rome, and completed my studies there -- I received a Bacaloriate license in Theology. I went back to Ireland and studied Communications, Radio and TV production. I was very interested in that kind of work. When I returned to Trinidad, my superior told me I had been gone to long, 8 1/2 years, and that I needed to be 'inculturated' again to the local situation. I worked in three parishes over 7 years. After 5 years I was given the job of Director of Communications which I did for 2 years and then I was appointed Novice Master for the Dominicans in Formation. I did this work for 10 years, preparing young men for the priesthood and religious life. I also was a Unversity Chaplain for 6 years during that time. In the early 1980's I was given an appointment in the Carribbean as the first Domincan to be the Assistant to the Master of the Dominican order in Rome for the promotion of Domincan life in the Carribbean. The idea was to promote unity on the various existences of the Dominicans in the various dioceses in the Caribbean. There are at least 6 provinces within the Caribbean. My work was to coordinate all these groups toward common formation, -- the dream was to have a Dominican province in the Caribbean. I did that for 4 years and then I was appointed Bishop of St.Vincent, an island in the Caribbean.

SB: When and how did you hear about Medjugorje for the first time?

RR: In Trinidad a lot was going on in regard to Medjugorje, and then already from the first days of the apparitions. One of the pilgrims invited me to come as a priest. I only responded to the invitation in 1988. I was very happy and satisfied with my first visit to Medjugorje, because I experienced a renewal of faith and life by the faith of the pilgrims. A special grace of Medjugorje is that the priests who come with a group, start to minister especially as priests, making themselves available for confession and for conversations. The greatest grace of Medjugorje really is confession. Pilgrims by their coming to Medjugorje become eager to be active in their own parishes - both in regard to prayer and the sacramental life, and parish activities in general. Due to all that I experienced with the people, I have to say that a special work of grace exists here and that Mary is present. I really believe that Our Lady is speaking here.

SB: What convinced you the most and helped you to accept Medjugorje?

RR: Again I have to say: It is the pilgrims who started to change their life here and decided to live the faith.

SB: Now you are in Medjugorje the second time and no longer as a priest, but as a bishop. Now what can you say?

RR: I decided this time to come and to be in silence and to remain ôincognitoö. I wanted to make a retreat here and to be in silence. However, that did not happen, because pilgrims sought me out for confession and I also preached. I understood that my role also as a priest has changed. The love of the faithful for a bishop especially touched me. Whoever loves a bishop, loves the Church. The Holy Spirit is at work here. Our Lady is work here. I personally want to be continually under Her protection.

SB: Would you like to say something from Medjugorje?

RR: What I am trying to realize in my life is simplicity. I think I have learned simplicity in suffering in my priesthood, and I have grown in profound love for God, Our Lady, the Church and complete surrender to Christ. All that I want is to do God will and Gods work. My message to the parish community, to the visionaries, to priests in the parish and to all pilgrims is that they be capable of surrendering their life completely to God and to be freed for love, that the gospel be lived in complete simplicity and beauty. I want for ll of us to know that Jesus is the King of our life. We Catholics must be capable of showing the world the beauty of our faith with the help of Our Lady. I would recommend to everyone to come to Medjugorje, because here they will deepen their faith for the Church and Our Lady and thus become good witnesses to others of the good news. And in Medjugorje the good news is: Peace.

SB: Thank you for this conversation and we promise you our prayers.

VISIT OF A BISHOP FROM BRAZIL

From March 3- 5th, 2000 Bishop Joao E. M. Terra was on a private visit in Medjugorje. He is the auxiliary bishop of Brasilia in Brazil. This was his second visit to Medjugorje.

A HEART FOR OUR LADY

On the path to Cross Mountain a group of Polish pilgrims from Krakow halted in prayer before the sculpture of Jesus resurrection and as a sign of love and gratitude toward Our Lady, made a large heart out of stones from the path around the one to whom they wrote out their wishes and prayers with the small stones. Truly extraordinary and touching.

SEMINARS IN "DOMUS PACIS"

During the past two weeks in the ôDomus Pacisö house of prayer Fr. Slavko Barbaric conducted two fasting and prayer seminars for young men in the Cenacle community who are being healed from drug dependency. About 80 young men took part in the seminars each of which lasted for a week.

In the same house of prayer from March 3-5th, Fr. Branimir Musa conducted a course for high school girls from Zagreb.

PRESS BULLETIN 138, March 8, 2000.

"Dear children!

February 25, 2000

THE REALITY OF TESTIFYING

At all times throughout history the Church has tirelessly repeated Jesus' command: "Go and make all nations my disciples!" With the water of baptism God bestows on man the grace of adoption, but also the duty of making others Christians. That is a universal command that holds equally for each one. So the human creature would not forget its order, God arouses him in various ways: through joy and sorrow, sickness and health, success and failure. So that he would not forget the necessity and duty of testifying God again uses various occasions. One of them is also this Jubilee Year 2000 of the birth of Christ. Another occasion is the special presence of Our Lady here in Medjugorje. And her latest message again brings this problem to reality. A Christian is a man for others or he is not a Christian at all. Others on the path of our life are for this that they lead us to Life - Christ. Opening ourselves to them, therefore, we purify our heart and permit God to fill it with this immeasurable love.

Fr. Branko Rados

N E W S

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

In February at the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 23 000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 608 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from home and abroad.

February, like January, is usually a month with the least number of pilgrims visiting. Yet, in spite of that, we recorded the visit of groups from: France, Lebanon, Ireland, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, USA, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Canada, England, Korea, Australia and, of course, Croatia.

MISSIONARY TRAVEL OF FR. SVETOZAR KRALJEVIC

At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and Centers of Peace, in February Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic visited the United States of America and England. Upon his return he said the following:

"Again and more than ever we realize that the priests from Medjugorje have to travel even to the most distant places in the world and get around to the prayer groups and communities that have come together for the purpose of personal and community Christian renewal, for a more intensive Christian living and for spreading the message that Blessed Virgin Mary has spoken through the visionaries in Medjugorje.

Already a tradition, a Marian conference is held every year in February (first Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in the California city of San Ramon, near San Francisco. The chief organizer is Anna Marie Maagdenburg with Rev. Richard J. Culver. Anna Maria is well known to us in Medjugorje for the expert and practical help that she unselfishly provides to young people with impaired hearing.

In this Jubilee Year the main theme of the meeting was "THE YEAR 2000 OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE". The principal participant was the Most Reverend bishop Kenneth D. Steiner. About 1200 participants with hearty applause welcomed his strong call to practical living of the holy sacraments and daily prayer. Listening to Bishop Steiner all of us again discovered how it is possible in a joyful and interesting manner to speak about the most serious truths of the Christian life. I spoke about pilgrimage as being prayer made incarnate. The believer on pilgrimage experiences the essence of prayer which biblically engages human life and helps the praying person especially to experience prayer and clearly to witness his Christianity to the world.

We all listened to the words of Fr. Rene Laurentin as to the words of one's beloved teacher. He spoke about the place, meaning, and nature of Marian calls in the modern Church and world. The words of visionary Ivan Dragicevic, full of courage and hope, were listened to by all with gratitude. The birth of his second daughter stirred a special feeling of respect in everyone.

The community of Medjugorje prayer groups held a retreat from February 18-20 in the town of Nuneaton near London. About 80 leaders and involved members of those communities gathered in the monastery of the Dominican Sisters. Daily Eucharistic celebration, praying the rosary, adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, meditation on the reality of the cross, sufferings, and death of our Lord, meditation on the Christian life and vocation that we have, were our themes that filled up those three days. The participants especially stressed how they realize that they need to organize these kinds of Christian, spiritual encounters to maintain the spirit that Mary began in the hearts of all and even more so to be able to live a Christian life in the modern world, full of temptations and doubts."

DAY OF THE SICK AND INFIRM

A day for sick and infirm people is designated in the program for the Jubilee year in the parish of Medjugorje and, that according to the recommendation of the bishops of Bosnia-Hercegovina, to be on February 11, the day of Our Lady of Lourdes. At the evening mass the parish church of St. James was full of sick and infirm people of the parish and of neighboring places. On every first Friday throughout this Jubilee Year the evening liturgy program will be dedicated to the sick. In future years in the parish of Medjugorje the day of Our Lady of Lourdes will be designated as a day for the sick and infirm.

"RADIO PRAYER GROUP"

Every Tuesday on the "Mir" Medjugorje radio station the program "Pray together with joyful hearts" is broadcast.

On Saturday February 19, the members of prayer groups for all parts of Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina gathered in Medjugorje for an unordinary way of prayer. In question, namely, is the group that participates every Tuesday in the prayer that Fr. Slavko Barbaric leads on the waves of the radio station "Mir" Medjugorje. The members are all those that the radio broadcast reaches, and wish also in this way to be connected with Our Lady's messages of peace and conversion by means of prayer. About 130 members from Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia came together. Their intention is to meet in prayer by means of radio not only on Tuesday, but all the more often also on pilgrimages to the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje.

REMEMBERING THE HOLY LAND

The Medjugorje parish group of pilgrims that went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November last year, gathered February 19th at the evening prayer program in the church of St. James, Medjugorje. The evening mass was presided at by Fr. Bozo Lujic, who was their guide in the Holy Land. In a moving sermon he reminded those present of the Divine footprints and the ways on which they made pilgrimage, stressing the healing activity of Jesus, both the bodily as well as the even more important way - the spiritual. Something that in this Jubilee Year we should not forget!

ON FOOT TO MEDJUGORJE

The Polish pilgrim Henrik Kozlowski stayed in Medjugorje some days on his journey to the Holy Land. Henry is 48 years old and has already made pilgrimage on foot to Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes and Fatima. The goal of his journeying on foot is to reach the Holy Land on March 23rd to meet with the Holy Father who will then be on pilgrimage in the homeland of Jesus.

PRESS BULLETIN 137, February 23, 2000.

"Dear children!

I call you, little children, to pray without ceasing. If you pray, you are closer to God and He will lead you on the way of peace and salvation. That is why I call you today to give peace to others. Only in God is there true peace. Open your hearts and become those who give a gift of peace and others will discover peace in you and through you and in this way you will witness God's peace and love which He gives you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

January 25, 2000

JUBILEE 2000 - A YEAR OF SOLIDARITY

Conversion, penance, making pilgrimage, and reconciliation are not acts that are only done inside the human person. The fruit of such a life becomes recognizable also in life and relationship toward others. Many years ago one heard about the idea of writing off the large debts of poor countries. The economic dependency of poor countries on highly developed and wealthy countries is becoming an ever greater social, community, and existential problem. Still, solidarity in an economic sense is only a part of the task that a Christian bears in today's world. The man of our times is living through many situations from which, if left only to himself, he can hardly get out of in the end. All the periods of life also have their own completely specific conditions. The Christian feeling of solidarity of the individual can really be demonstrated, developed and realized here. In the feeling of solidarity of every Christian toward the nearest one in need the richest yield of the Holy Year comes to maturity.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

VISIT OF BISHOP FROM THE CARIBBEAN

Msgr. Robert Rivas, bishop of Kingstown in the Caribbean Grenadine Islands came to Medjugorje for eight days in the first part of February. On February 13th Bishop Rivas preached to the assembled faithful at the evening mass. On that occasion he gave a testimony on his experience of faith and conversion that he experienced in meeting with a lady sick with leprosy.

In the next Bulletin we shall talk about the impressions of Bishop Rivas.

LEADERS' MEETING IN NEUM

In previous issues of the Bulletin we announced the Seventh Meeting for Leaders of Medjugorje Centers of Peace and Prayer Groups. This is the already the seventh year that the Medjugorje parish office is organizing the international meeting for leaders of prayer groups and of charitable and pilgrimage groups connected with Medjugorje. It will this time also be held in Neum at Hotel "Sunce" from March 19th to 24th, 2000 (Hotel "Sunce is renovated!). The theme of the seminar is: "Medjugorje - A Prophetic Thrust For the 21st Century." You can find the program for the seventh international meeting our web pages and you can also obtain it at the Information Office of the Shrine during your pilgrimage.

This meeting is the only opportunity for all leaders of pilgrim groups, and leaders of prayer groups spread throughout the whole world to meet together with those of us who are trying by our work here in Medjugorje to help them in their ministry. It is an opportunity for the exchange of experiences had so far as well as discussion about possible changes in working with pilgrims. Therefore we consider that this kind of meeting once a year is of exceptional importance first of all for the welfare of all the pilgrims who find their spiritual benefits in Medjugorje. The number of those registered so far is somewhat less that in previous years. We invite you once more this time to participate in this seminar which has proven to be exceptionally useful for all the participants. We ask you to register your participation in the prayer-educational seminar at the latest by March 10, 2000. You can register by fax at 00387-88-651-444 or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr (designated "For the Leaders' Meeting in or right at the Information Office of the Shrine.

We have assured simultaneous translation for all language groups. The price for lodging, transport and seminar is 315 DM per person for double room. Single supplement is 40 DM. Payment will be made to the Seminar organizer upon arrival at the hotel. There is possibility for organized transport from the Split airport to Hotel "Sunce" in Neum. All who need transport on March 19 should give notice of the exact time of arrival with flight number to the Association "Medjugorje-Mir" in Split by March 10, 2000 at the latest at fax number 00385-21-342-258. For the last day transport will be organized from Neum to Medjugorje. Radio and earphones for simultaneous translation should be brought along. Radio and earphones will also be made available during the seminar.

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GUIDES

On February 4th the annual meeting of the Association of Guides for pilgrims in the parish Medjugorje was held at the "Domus Pacis" House of Prayer. The meeting opened with a talk by Medjugorje pastor, Fr. Ivan Landeka. He informed the guides about the importance of the Jubilee Year, of spiritual growth and involvement in this Holy Year in their work with pilgrims. After meetings and discussions of groups and individuals the meeting ended with a Holy Mass presided by Fr. Ivan Landeka. This kind of all-day meeting is a chance for the guides in prayer and meditation to deepen their consciousness about the importance of their work and apostolate in the shrine of Medjugorje.

SEMINARS AT "DOMUS PACIS"

In the past two weeks at the "Domus Pacis" House of Prayer a seminar was held for the FRAMA youth of Hercegovina led by Fr. Miro Sego and a seminar for the humanitarian organization "Help" which was led by Fr. Branimir Musa. The Association "Help" works for the prevention of addiction among youth. Regular spiritual renewals in Medjugorje are part of their program.

NOTIFYING THE ARRIVAL OF GROUPS

With the coming of warmer days in Medjugorje the number of pilgrims also increases. We kindly request all of you that organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje to notify the information office of your group's arrival at fax number 00387-88-651-444 or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr That is very important to us for a more effective organization of pilgrimages.

PRESS BULLETIN 136, February 9, 2000.

"Dear children!

January 25, 2000

CHRISTIAN UNITY

Every year a Week of Prayer for Christian unity marks the end of January. Painful divisions and dissensions during the history of the Church have forced Christians to start thinking about each other differently. And not only about others, but also about ourselves. It would be wrong to think that only today's generation has come upon this idea. Every time divisions occurred or blood was spilt there was not a small number of those who suffered because of it and recalled Jesus' prayer and command - that all be one. Prayer for the unity of all who believe in Christ shows that divisions hurt us, that in the originating of divisions no one is without fault. In these times divisions hurt us even more strongly, especially there where Christians have become a minority. Great advances have been made: hostilities, habitual cursings, and anathematizings have been removed. The atmosphere is no longer poisoned. The task that remains for all to do, is to keep the Gospel. And the Gospel is best kept in the live human being that lives it.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

NUMBER OF HOLY COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During January in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 38,000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 722 concelebrations at holy mass by priests from home and abroad, that is 23 priests daily.

January is one of the months with the least number of visiting pilgrims. But in spite of that visiting groups came from Italy, Slovakia, France, Korea, USA, Central and South America, Australia, and, of course, Croatia.

SEMINARS AT 'DOMUS PACIS'

At the 'Domus Pacis' House of Prayer a seminar was held from January 21 - 23, 2000 for 40 young ladies. The Franciscan Sisters of the Hercegovina Franciscan Province organized and conducted the seminar.

From January 28 - 30 a seminar for married couples was also held there. It was conducted by Fr. Ivan Bradvica.

MISSIONARY TRAVEL OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC

At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims Fr. Slavko Barbaric visited in Germany from January 14 - 23, 2000. Upon his return, among other things, he also said this about his impressions:

"I held a series of prayer meetings in parish communities, the first of which was in the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Freising near Munich. Despite the very cold weather the church was filled with the faithful. Ten priests also came together for the concelebration. There was a beautiful atmosphere of prayer. After the prayer program there followed a talk and discussion with those present.

On Saturday and Sunday, January 15 - 16, a meeting with about 300 young people in Schäbisch-Gmünd was held at St. Bernard House which is directed by Father Hans Buob. We started the program already around 9:00. There was prayer, songs, talks, and an afternoon Medjugorje prayer program with a talk and testimonies of the young people about their personal encounters with Medjugorje and their conversions. After supper a part of the young people went home and others came. The program with a talk for them only began at 9:00 P.M. They stayed to pray the whole night arranged in groups. Especially noticeable was the group that carried the name "Totus tuus". They are very active and they gathered many young people from all of Germany. We finished the program on Sunday around noon. It is also worth mentioning a play that the young people put on Saturday night. They showed a real example of a family that was on the brink of breaking up. Life had become impossible. The mother was bitter about the behavior of her husband and children. There was no prayer in the family. Television, radio, departures and late arrivals, misunderstanding and quarrels were all that still kept them connected. The mother happened to find the rosary on which her grandmother used to pray and began to pray. Meanwhile they found out about Medjugorje and came on pilgrimage and everything changes. It was touching to watch, and the whole play was based on a real happening, how after a pilgrimage they begin to pray, to get rid of the television, and in the place where the television had been, they put the statue of Our Lady's that they brought from Medjugorje. The family starts to live happily and in peace. God comes back into their lives.

From Sunday January 16th to Thursday January 20th I was in Hochalting at St. Ulrich House. Father Hans Buob also directs this retreat house. About 70 participants gathered. The theme of the retreat was "The way with Mary to the Divine Heart." Talks, prayer, the Medjugorje evening program and adoration filled up the days. From every participant one could hear testimony about how pilgrimage to Medjugorje helped them to change their lives. Listening to their testimonies about the graced days in Medjugorje and everything that means for them, I wished that all the visionaries and parishioners could hear it, especially those who right in Medjugorje still do not understand the intervention of God's grace. We finished the retreat at noon on Thursday. While bidding farewell to the participants I constantly heard the same thing: 'Dovidjena u Medjugorju!' ('See you in Medjugorje!')

On Thursday, January 20th I went with Father Dietrich von Stockhausen to the parish community of Marksteinach near Schweinfurt. Before the evening prayer program we visited the family of Mr. Rudi Karg. With some of his friends he experienced a conversion in Medjugorje and because of that became very active in the collecting help during the war and after the war right up til today. Many faithful assembled in the modern church. Rudi is very musical and with this music group very beautifully accompanied the whole evening program, especially the adoration. After the program we stayed in pleasant company and then I found out more about the aid that he has organized with his friends. The first action is called "Windows for Mostar", and the other "Families Help Families" in which Rudi undertakes helping families from Kosovo. The first decision to get involved and help out was born in his heart and the hearts of his friends, when he visited Mostar, Jesenica and Rodo. They brought over 50 semi-trailer trucks to Mostar and 10 to Kupres. For Christmas 1998 they delivered over 2000 family packages and that many bags of clothing to the Franciscans for Kosovo through Pristina in Jakovici. Rudi and his friends are continuing to help. They invite individuals, families and factories to help. The people respond.

On Friday January 21st Father Dietrich and I went to Heroldsbach, began a course in prayer with the evening program for about 250 faithful. The theme of the meeting was: "Man as a pilgrim in search of God and the fullness of life." We also continued the program on Saturday. The day was filled with prayer and talks, the evening program and all night adoration in the apparition chapel. I met a man who recently celebrated the 50th year since he began to pray the whole night from Saturday to Sunday. Our Lady according to the statements of the visionaries asked for nocturnal prayer. He answered that call and has remained faithful. He spoke with me about the wealth of his experiences in prayer and joyful moments in prayer. Before ending our conversation he took a picture of Cardinal Stepinac out of his pocket and said some words in Croatian that he learned while he was on the front in Solun and met Croats from whom he learned them. He knows that Cardinal Stepinac was on the same front and he therefore particularly respects him. We finished the program with a solemn mass at noon on Sunday.

While saying our farewells with the participants of the prayer meeting at this place of prayer, many said, 'Dovidjena u Medjugorju!' ('See you in Medjugorje!')

PRESS BULLETIN 135, January 26, 2000.

"Dear children!

January 25, 2000

F A I T H

The society in which we live and the world which surrounds us do not, as in former times, mediate a Christian formed life. There is also the question whether everything that was presented and mediated as Christian was indeed Christian? The family today, which because of changed circumstances and the absence of a faith experience, is not the absolute means of mediating a faith-filled interpretation of and experience of the world. The institutions of social life and the media have a completely different field of interest. Thus it is all the more often left to each individual alone, although he springs from a Christian environment, to choose his own experience and behavior of faith. The long experience of the Church does not cease to proclaim the irreplaceable role of the family in the formation of every person. Here one, understandably, also has in mind the formation of spiritual content. Family community prayer and personal witnessing therefore also remain the rudimentary a-b-c's of all future Christian education.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

PASSING OF BISHOP PAUL ZANIC

The retired bishop of Mostar-Duvno, Msgr. Paul Zanic, passed away January 11, 2000 in Split. The deceased bishop was born May 20, 1918 in Kastel Novo near Split. He was ordained to the priesthood June 1, 1941 in Split and was named coadjutor bishop of Mostar-Duvno December 9, 1970. He was consecrated bishop May 2, 1971 in Mostar. As bishop ordinary he presided over the Hercegovina dioceses from September 14, 1980 to July 24, 1993. The corpse of the deceased, according to his personal wish, was buried in the family plot in Kastel Novo, Republic of Croatia January 13, 2000.

Grateful to God for his ministry, we invite all Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje to keep the beloved departed Bishop Zanic in their prayers.

"DOMUS PACIS" SEMINAR

From January 14 - 16, 2000 at the "Domus Pacis" house of prayer a seminar was held for members of the Franciscan Youth movement "FRAMA" of Hercegovina. Thirty three young people participated in the seminar, the theme of which was "The Eucharist in the Jubilee Year".

SEVENTH MEETING OF LEADERS OF CENTERS OF PEACE AND MEDJUGORJE PRAYER GROUPS

In previous issues of the Bulletin we announced the Seventh Meeting for Leaders of Medjugorje Centers of Peace and Prayer Groups. This is the already the seventh year that the Medjugorje parish office is organizing the international meeting for leaders of prayer groups and of charitable and pilgrimage groups connected with Medjugorje. It will this time also be held in Neum at Hotel "Sunce" from March 19th to 24th, 2000. The theme of the seminar is: "Medjugorje - A Prophetic Thrust For the 21st Century." You can find the program on our web pages and you can also obtain it at the Information Office of the Shrine during your pilgrimage.

Since the number of spaces is limited and each year the number of participants is always greater. we ask you to register your participation in the prayer-educational seminar as soon as possible and no later than the middle of February. You can register by fax at +387 88 651 444 or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr (designated "For the Leaders' Meeting in or right at the Information Office of the Shrine.

Simultaneous translation for all language groups will be organized. The price for lodging, transport and seminar is 315 DM per person for double room. Single supplement is 40 DM. Payment will be made to the Seminar organizer upon arrival at the hotel. There is possibility for transport from the Split airport to Hotel "Sunce" in Neum. All who need transport on March 19 should give notice of the flight number and exact time of arrival to the Association "Medjugorje-Mir" in Split no later than the middle of February. by fax +385 21 342 258. For the last day transport will be organized from Neum to Medjugorje. Radio and earphones for simultaneous translation should be brought along. Radio and earphones will also be made available during the seminar.

Program of the Seventh Meeting for Leaders of Centers of Peace and Medjugorje Prayer Groups

Theme: "Medjugorje - A Prophetic Thrust For the 21st Century"

Hotel "Sunce" Neum, March 19 - 24, 2000

Sunday, March 19, 2000

Assembly

19:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Tomislav Pervan, Provincial of the Hercegovina Franciscans )

20:00 Supper

Monday, March 20, 2000

07:30 Morning prayer

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Lecture: "Prophets in Sacred Scripture and the Tradition of the Church." Fr. Franjo Vidovic

10:00 Intermission

10:30 Group discussion on the theme of the lecture

12:00 Lunch

15:00 Meeting with the lecturer

16:00 Intermission

16:30 Meeting with the Franciscans (Fr. Ivan Landeka, Fr. Slavko Barbaric, Fr. Miljenko Stojic, Fr. Leonard Orec, Fr. Jozo Zovko, Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic, Fr. Branimir Musa. . .)

17:30 Rosary; 18:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Jozo Zovko) Dinner

20:30 Miscellaneous announcements

Tuesday, March 21, 2000

07:30 Morning prayer

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Lecture: "The Position of Christians in Modern Civilization."

10:00 Intermission

10:30 Group discussion on the theme of the lecture

12:00 Lunch

15:00 Meeting with the Lecturer

16:00 Intermission

16:30 Meeting with the representatives of Medjugorje Tourist Agencies

17:30 Rosary; 18:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Ivan Bradvica ) Dinner

20:30 Adoration (Fr. Ivan Landeka)

Wednesday, March 22, 2000

07:30 Morning prayer

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Lecture: "The Prophetic Characteristics of Medjugorje", Alfons Sarrach

10:00 Intermission

10:30 Group discussion on the theme of the lecture

12:00 Lunch

15:00 Meeting with the Lecturer

14:00 Intermission

14:30 Group Discussion - Resolutions

17:30 Rosary; 18:00 Holy Mass (Fr. Svetozar Kraljevic) Dinner

20:30 Community Meeting - Resolutions (Declaration)

Thursday, March 23, 2000 - Day of Prayer

07:30 Morning prayer

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Lecture, Discussion, Prayer

12:00 Lunch

15:00 Lecture, Discussion

17:30 Rosary; 18:00 Mass (Fr. Slavko Barbaric) Dinner

Friday, March 24, 2000

07:30 Morning prayer

08:00 Breakfast

09:00 Departure for Medjugorje

Departure for Apparition Hill

(Departure for Krizevac - optional)

Lecturers for this year's seminar are:

Fr. Franjo Vidovic, - born February 19, 1960 in Crnkovci, near Osijek, Croatia. He completed elementary school in 1975 in Zagreb. In June 1979 he graduated from the Franciscan Classical Gymnasium in Visoko. On July 15, 1979 he entered the novitiate of the Hercegovina Franciscan Province in Mostar.

From 1980 - 1984 he was imprisoned in the Zenica prison sentenced for "anti-communist" activity. He obtained his diploma in philosophy-theology studies in 1987 and obtained a Masters degree in theology at Augsburg University in 1991 and in 1992 did pastoral work in Hercegovina at the monastery of Humac. During 1992 he was active as a military chaplain for units of the Croatian Armed Forces. He received a Doctorate in biblical theology in 1997 at the University of Graz in Austria. Presently he is engaged in pastoral work in Weissenstein in Austria. He works in a rehabilitation station and teaches Biblical theology of the New Testament at the Jesuit Philosophical Faculty of the in Zagreb.

Sabino Palumbieri was born 1934 in Lavello (Potenza). He is a member of the Congregation of Salesian Fathers. He was ordained priest in 1961. After his diploma in philosophy and theology, he obtained a doctorate in the field of anthropology. Currently he works as a professor at the Salesian Papal University (UPS). An essayist and journalist, he writes numerous studies from the anthropological viewpoint about the significant sources for events of our times. He is the founder of the "TR-2000" Society (Witnesses of the Resurrection for Jubilee 2000), and the organizer of national movements with interpersonal cultural ties and humanistic-Christian activities. He is also the organizer a new style of popular devotion among people, "Via Lucis" (The Way of Light) which is spreading throughout the whole world.

Alfons Sarrach - born 1927 in the then free state of Danzig, and grew up in the German-Polish tradition. In 1939 during the Nazi regime he was taken away along with his family to a concentration camp. After World War II he studied philosophy, theology and psychology in Rome and Paris. In 1965 he became a free lance journalist, and later was editor in chief for several daily newspapers. He is the author of numerous publications and books. In 1992 he published the book, The Prophetic Thrust of Medjugorje, which attempts to penetrate more profoundly into the secret of the great impetus which, starting in 1981, is coming from the little place of Medjugorje in Hercegovina and which has helped millions of people in the whole world again to find a sense of the future, after a century during which hatred reigned in many states.

PRESS BULLETIN 134, January 12, 2000.

"Dear children!

This is the time of grace. Little children, today in a special way with little Jesus, whom I hold in my embrace, I am giving you the possibility to decide for peace. Through your 'yes' for peace and your decision for God, a new possibility for peace is opened. Only in this way, little children, this century will be for you a time of peace and well-being. Therefore, put little newborn Jesus in the first place in your life and He will lead you on the way of salvation. Thank you for having responded to my call."

December 25, 1999

THE CULTURE OF SILENCE

The Jubilee Year that has begun is, among other things, also called the Lord's "Year of Grace." It has in mind the very broad field of human life and activity which grace encompasses. Still grace is not an inexpensive gift, because it can be threatened, fragile. It is the legacy of God, an undeserved gift. Precisely for that reason with regard to grace there is also a wonderful process between man and God. The primordial human yearning - begun anew - finds in grace the possibility of its realization. In the newer time in Christian spirituality there is all the more talk about the "culture of silence". That culture is generated and formed in the interior and means: to stop dead, to recollect oneself, to take up penance, to want steps of conversion and prayer. Such steps bear works by which we visibly cling to God. Then neither our neighbors nor their difficulties are any bother to us or any "foul play".

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During December at the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 67,000 Holy Communions were distributed and at holy masses there were 1,064 concelebrations by priests from home and abroad, that is, 34 priest per day.

During December the most numerous groups were from Korea, Austria, Italy, England, USA, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Brazil, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Letonia, Lebanon, Holland, Poland and, of course, Croatia.

During 1999 in the parish of Medjugorje there were 1, 030, 000 Holy Communions distributed while there were 23, 472 concelebrations by priests at holy masses.

"DOMUS PACIS" - AT THE END OF A YEAR

On Saturday December 18 in the "Domus Pacis" house of prayer there gathered for the so-called "Christmas Dinner" all the co-workers of that house who during the year word with pilgrims while they stay for the seminars. During 1999, namely, there were held 57 seminars of various content. The venerable Franciscan Sisters organize monthly meetings for young girls, the

Franciscans for FRAMA (Franciscan Youth) of Hercegovina, the humanitarian organization "Help" which aids youth in the fight against and prevention of addiction. The organizer and leader of these is Fr. Slavko Barbaric.

Also on this occasion we thank all for their cooperation and we recommend them to your prayers for 2000 also to be fruitful for all those who will participate in one or more of this really interesting meetings.

THE NEW YEAR

As already for a number of years in a row now, so also this year there was held a prayer vigil for the New Year. It began with prayer at 10 PM and ended with a midnight Holy Mass. About 5000 faithful were present. Again for this occasion the most numerous were the youth coming from practically all European countries and the USA. Thus the parishioners and the pilgrims together saw the Old Year out and ushered in the New Year singing and praying for the peace so much needed for modern man in today's world. How profound the experience is for those who for once await the New Year in Medjugorje in prayer, is shown by the fact that the number of pilgrims for that occasions increases from year to year. All those who come once, come back again. In this uncertain and unpeaceful world youth are still deciding the entrust their future to God.

From December 29th to January 1 st a prayer seminar was conducted for the young members of "Friends of the Talented Fund". They are, namely, the members of the fore-mentioned Foundation which helps them during their studies at different Universities in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia. Already for some years these young people want to start the New Year in the joy of prayer and community. About 70 students from Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Republic of Croatia participated in the seminary. The "Friends of the Talented Fund" organized the seminary and it was conducted by Fr. Slavko Barbaric.

ELEVENTH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER MEETING

The Eleventh International Youth Prayer Meeting will be held from July 31 - August 6, 2000.

The theme of the meeting is: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

Mon July 31: 6:00 PM Rosary

7:00 PM Mass

10:00 PM Introduction of groups and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

THEME OF EACH DAY

1. Tue. Aug 1 "The Father's plan - to send Emmanuel!"

4:00 PM Testimonies

6:00 PM Rosary 7:00 Holy Mass

10:00 - 11:30 PM Adoration

2. Wed Aug 2 "Mary - Mother of Emmanuel!"

9:00 AM Morning Prayer

4:00 PM Testimonies

6:00 PM Rosary 7:00 Holy Mass

10:00 - 11:30 PM Adoration

3. Thu Aug 3 - "Jesus - Bread of Life - Way of Bread!"

9:00 AM Morning Prayer

4:00 PM Testimonies

6:00 PM Rosary 7:00 Holy Mass

10:00 - 11:30 PM Adoration

After evening mass Eucharistic Procession through the parish and silent adoration.

4. Fri Aug 4 - "Eucharist - healing for the wounds of soul and body!"

9:00 AM Morning Prayer

4:00 PM Testimonies

6:00 PM Rosary 7:00 Holy Mass

Sr. Elvira, foundress of "Cenacolo"community

9:30 PM Program of Sr. Elvira's community: "Jesus, healer of soul and body!"

5. Sat Aug 5 - "Dear Children, Fall in love with Jesus in the Eucharist!"

9:00 AM Morning Prayer

4:00 PM Testimonies

6:00 PM Rosary 7:00 Holy Mass

6. Sun Aug 6 Cross Mountain: "Go home and become bread for the life of the world!"

3:00 AM Rosary going up Cross Mountain

5:00 AM Holy Mass on Cross Mountain

Presenters at the youth meeting are: Primo Martinuzzi, Wayne Weible, Fr. Francesco Carlino, Fr. Selwaine, Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, Don Cosimo Cavaluzzo, Fr. Jozo Zovko, the visionaries, Fr. Slavko Barbaric and other witnesses.

We recommend you bring along:

1. ear phones and small FM radio

2. Bible

3. umbrella

Persons with classical instruments (violin, flute oboe, etc.), should give notice by fax number 00387-88-651-888. They will be given a room at "Domus Pacis". It is necessary to provide: name and surname, address, age, experience and type of instrument. You will get an answer to your offer.

Groups participating in the Youth Prayer Meeting should not plan any other programs during the week of the youth meeting.

Eucharistic adoration will be take place during the entire meeting.

During the Youth Prayer Meeting from Tuesday to Saturday there will be no morning masses for pilgrims. All pilgrims will there therefore celebrate together at the evening mass. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

BULLETIN 2000.

December 25, 2000

November 25, 2000

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

OCTOBER – THE MONTH OF OUR LADY

TOGETHER WITH THE BISHOPS OF THE WORLD, THE HOLY FATHER DEDICATED THE THIRD MILLENNIUM TO OUR LADY

THE FEAST DAY OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

During the Big Jubilee year, the evening prayer program on the first Friday of every month is dedicated especially to the sick.

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRATIONS

VISIT OF ITALIAN BISHOP

PRAYER MEETINGS IN BELGIUM AND GERMANY

FEASTS OF MARY’S NATIVITY AND EXALTATION OF THE CROSS

FR. IVAN LANDEKA LEAVES MEDJUGORJE - MEDJUGORJE HAS A NEW PASTOR

JUBILEE 2000 AND MARY

SEMINARS AT “DOMUS PACIS”

SEMINAR FOR GUIDES

VIDEO TAPES OF THE YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL

FRAMA OF HERCEGOVINA IN ROME

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL

Monday February 26, 2001

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

STATEMENT OF THE PRIESTS

Medjugorje, June 30 - July 6, 2000. Participants in the fifth Retreat for Priests

SEMINAR FOR INNER HEALING

THE HEREAFTER

Fra Ivan Landeka

N E W S

THE DONORS CONFERENCE

MILITARY PILGRIMAGE TO MEĐUGORJE

SEMINAR FOR PRIESTS

PRIEST

THE “PEACE MARCH”

THE ANNUAL APPARITION OF OUR LADY TO THE VISIONARY, IVANKA

VISIT OF A LITHUANIAN BISHOP

NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODE

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON THE VISIONARIES

MAY IN MEDJUGORJE

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

SEMINARS AT “DOMUS PACIS”