News archive

Greek Catholic Nuns from Ukraine came to Medjugorje

Group of 64 Greek Catholic Nuns, members of fourteen different orders from Ukraine, came to Medjugorje for the first time from March 10 to March 15, 2012. Fr. Petro Kobalj is the organiser of this pilgrimage and he regularly participates in the Seminar for Priests that is organised in Medjugorje every summer. “These nuns wished to come to Medjugorje so they could witness about this place in Ukraine, since many of them work in the houses of mercy. They wanted to learn prayers and to bring that to the convents where they work and live. Here, in Medjugorje, they were able to see what does the living church mean”, said Fr. Kobalj.
Sr. Maria, Sr. Ljubomira, Sr. Tadeja and Sr. Nazarija spoke about their experience of Medjugorje. Sr. Marija is the member of the Order of St. Joseph and she told us that she cannot describe with words what she felt in Medjugorje. “I think it was a miracle that happened to me. Before I came to Medjugorje, I had huge pain in my back. Doctors did everything they could. One of the nuns that lives with me was encouraging me and she was saying how everything was going to be all right and I should go to Medjugorje. I told her that I could not walk, and especially not travel. I felt pain while we were travelling, but thanks to dear God I was able to come to Medjugorje.” She said that she experienced a great miracle since she was able to climb Cross Mountain. Sr. Ljubomira from the Order of Servants of the Immaculate Virgin Mary witnessed that they have one prayer group thanks to Medjugorje.
“I am especially grateful to the Queen of Peace, since I deeply felt her presence, she restored peace in my heart”, added Sr. Ljubomira.

The annual apparition of our Lady to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo on march 18, 2012

The visionary Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo had daily apparitions from June 24th 1981 to December 25th 1982. During the last daily apparition, Our Lady gave her the 10th secret, and told her that she would appear to her once a year, on the 18th of March.  It has been this way through the years. Several thousand pilgrims gathered in prayer of the Rosary at the 'Blue Cross'. The apparition lasted from  14:00 to 14:05.
Dear children! I am coming among you because I desire to be your mother - your intercessor. I desire to be the bond between you and the Heavenly Father - your mediatrix. I desire to take you by the hand and to walk with you in the battle against the impure spirit. My children, consecrate yourselves to me completely. I will take your lives into my motherly hands and I will teach them peace and love, and then I will give them over to my Son. I am asking of you to pray and fast because only in this way will you know how to witness my Son in the right way through my motherly heart. Pray for your shepherds that, united in my Son, they can always joyfully proclaim the Word of God.  Thank you.

Bishop from Mozambique in Medjugorje

Mons. Adriano Langa, Bishop of Diocese Inhambane from Mozambique, came to his second visit to Medjugorje. He came in the mid nineties for the first time, and it was just out of the curiosity. It was because Friars from Herzegovina Franciscan Province, who work in Kongo in missions, spoke to him about Medjugorje. In his interview for radio station Medjugorje, he said: “This second trip is my own initiative, since I got to know Medjugorje as the place of prayer and I wanted to come because of the prayer. I spent my days in silence. My daily programme was to attend the morning Holy Mass, then to pray the Way of the Cross and to finish with the evening prayer programme. I keep repeating to everyone that Medjugorje is the place that one needs to get to know, since it is here that we received invitation to prayer, this is really the place of the encounter with God”, said the bishop from Mozambique.

Members of the community “Totus Tuus” in Medjugorje

Around 50 young people from Germany, members of the community “Totus Tuus”, Marian lay community, arrived to Medjugorje. Fr. Joachim Federhen came with them and he was our guest at radio station “Mir” Medjugorje. He works as the assistant parish priest in one of the parishes but he also belongs to the community “Totus Tuus” , where he received his vocation. The establishment of this community is related to Medjugorje. One young married couple from Germany came for a holiday to Croatia and decided to visit Medjugorje as a part of that trip. They did not have any connections with God nor with the Church, but here, in Medjugorje, love of God completely touched their hearts and they both realised that they need to change their lives completely. When they returned home, they started praying in their family and they got to know the meaning of Our Lady’s messages. Soon afterwards they made contact with their parish community and after a while, little prayer community was formed. Their goal was to encourage others to live genuine life as faithful. In 1994, they decided to organise a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for young people.

78 th Anniversary of building of cross on Cross Mountain

On Friday, March 16th 2012 there will be 78th anniversary of building of cross on Cross Mountain and celebration of first Holy Mass under that same cross. Only 52 days passed ever since the day when decision for the cross to be built on the highest hill in the area, January 21st 1934 due to occasion of Jubilee Year of Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and decision was given to parishioners by their parish priest Fr. Bernardin Smoljan, until the day when cross was finally completed. Engineer Simun Boras from Mostar built the construction plan for the Cross, and Ante Dugandzic Redzo was monitoring all the works of construction.

The 19th International Meeting of Organisers of Pilgrimages, Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje Prayer and Charity Groups finished

The 19th International Meeting of Organisers of Pilgrimages, Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje Prayer and Charity Groups that was held in Medjugorje from March 4 to March 8, 2012 gathered more than 300 participants from Brazil, Ireland, England, the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, France, Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Croatia and largest number of participants was from Italy. The theme of the Meeting was: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” The participants took part in lectures, conversations with lecturers and priests from Medjugorje as well as in the evening prayer programme and other venues that were organised for them. The lecturers were: Fr. Marinko Sakota, Fr. Ante Vuckovic and Fr. Dario Dodig. The coordinator of the retreat was Fr. Danko Perutina.

19th INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR ORGANISERS OF PILGRIMAGES, LEADERS OF PEACE CENTRES AND MEDJUGORJE PRAYER AND CHARITY GROUPS

The nineteenth International Meeting for Organisers of Pilgrimages, Leaders of Peace Centres and Međugorje Prayer and Charity Groups will be held in Medjugorje from the 4th to the 8th of March 2012. The theme of the gathering is:

 “…I do belive, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 24)

Statistics for February, 2012.

Number of Holy Communions: 21.000

Number of priests that concelebrated at Holy Masses: 729  (25 per day)

Lent spiritual renewal of Regional Fraternity of the Third Franciscan Order held in Medjugorje

Herzegovinian Regional Fraternity of the Third Franciscan Order organised spiritual renewal at the beginning of the Lent that was held in Medjugorje on February 25, 2012. More than 350 members of the Third Franciscan Order from more than 9 different Herzegovinian parishes came to Medjugorje. Fr. Danko Perutina, the host of this renewal, greeted all who came and welcomed them to Medjugorje. After that, Regional Spiritual Assistant, Fr. Josip Vlasic gave a lecture on theme: “As Fraternity and with Fraternity through the doors of the faith” where he emphasised the importance of life in the Fraternity. All participants of this renewal participated in the evening prayer programme that is held in the church of St. James. Dr. Fr. Ivan Sesar, the Provincial of Herzegovina Franciscan Province, celebrated the evening Holy Mass along with nine other priests that concelebrated. Fr. Petar Vlasic, the parish priest, greeted all of the participants at the end of the evening Holy Mass and the retreat was completed after the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Lent 2012

This year the Lent will start on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and that is the period of forty-day preparation for Easter. During that time we meditate on Christ’s passion, especially while in the prayer of the Way of the Cross. That devotion is going to be held in the church with the following schedule:
Fridays: the Way of the Cross on Cross Mountain at 2 p.m. and after the evening Holy Mass in the church of St. James
Sundays: before the main Holy Mass at 10.30 a.m. and again after the evening Holy Mass at 6 p.m.
 

Mr. Rateb Rabie, President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation on visit to Medjugorje

Mr. Rateb Rabie, KCHS, President of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, spoke with reporters for Radio MIR Medjugorje during his visit to Medjugorje.
Mr. Rateb is a Christian from Palestine, born in Jordan. His parents were forced to leave Jerusalem in 1948 and they had to immigrate to Jordan. He himself immigrated later to the United States where he got married and lived there for 35 years. Mr. Rabie is the citizen of the United States.
Regarding his life’s journey he said: "I was a businessman who was only consumed with the idea of gaining power and money. At that time, I received an invitation to return to the Holy Land and felt that I needed to do something for Christians and peace in that country.
Three years after I returned from that trip, I realised that I had to choose between continuing with my job and successful business career and pursuing the mission for the Christians in the Holy Land. I knew I could not do both of those tasks at the same time. I left everything I did and I completely devoted myself to this new ministry and I can say that I am happy now.
I have four daughters and at first my family questioned my decision because they could not understand why I decided to found this non-profit organisation. It took time, but finally the Foundation was formed that engaged the entire international community.

Commemoration Day of Murdered Franciscans

2nd Commemoration Days of Murdered Herzegovinian Franciscans were held in Siroki Brijeg from February 4 to February 7, when we commemorated 67th anniversary of brutal execution of Herzegovinian Franciscans.
On Friday, February 10, we are celebrating Memorial of Blessed Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac and it is also the day when we remember all murdered Franciscans from the parish of Medjugorje. Holy Mass at 6 p.m. is going to be celebrated for the following Franciscans who were brutally murdered during the Second World War: Fr. Krizan Galic, Fr. Jozo Bencun, Fr. Marko Dragicevic, Fr. Mariofil Sivric, Fr. Grgo Vasilj and Fr. Jenko Vasilj. We will also remember and pray for all of the parishioners who were murdered during the First World War, the Second World War and during the recent Homeland War.

Snow in Medjugorje

This February we are experiencing real winter with really low temperatures and snow all over the country. On Wednesday, February 1st, it started snowing and heavy snow on Friday completely blocked all of the roads and towns around Herzegovina and Dalmatia. This weather will remain even in the days that are coming. Along with one football club that came to prepare for the spring season in Medjugorje, there are groups of pilgrims from Spain, the United States, Peru, Korea and Italy. They are all able to see amazing change in the nature around Medjugorje parish. (photos)

Statistics for January, 2012.

Number of Holy Communions: 54.700

Number of priests that concelebrated at Holy Masses: 1122  (36 per day)

The spiritual retreat held in parish of Medjugorje

 The spiritual retreat was held in Medjugorje from January 27 to January 29, 2012 and it was held by Professor Tomislav Ivancic from Zagreb. Besides the regular evening prayer programme, Prof. Ivancic conducted several lectures for parishioners, employees of the Parish Office, the Information Centre, as well as for the owners of hotels and for the children and the youth.
He also celebrated two Holy Masses on Sunday morning, one for children at 9.30 a.m. and the main one at 11 a.m. The retreat ended with that Holy Mass. He gave interview for radio “Mir” Medjugorje and said that purpose of every retreat is to plant good seed for personal life and soul in order for our faith to grow stronger. “It is very important to open ourselves to God’s grace and to listen to everything God says to us. Medjugorje opens the mystery of Heaven and that is why it is so fascinating to us!”
Parishioners from neighbouring parishes participated in this retreat as well.