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June 02, 1999

P E N T E C O S T

"They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, 'Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia ...' " (Acts 2, 7-9). The miracle of the young Church truly began at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit filled the Christians with such strength that the language of the Gospel of Jesus became the mother tongue of all, regardless from which nation they came and what language they spoke. In order to confirm this miracle, St. Luke specified a multitude of nations.

Our Lady was a direct witness of and participated in these events and She gives witness thereof. Her message of May 25th - that we convert and believe more firmly in God - is an invitation which Christians can only follow as the first Christians did - in that the language of the Word of God becomes the permanent mother tongue of all Christians. Her presence in these times is an opportunity for the Church to consequently follow in the footsteps of the Lord.

Father Ivan Landeka

N E W S

THE NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS

During the month of May 88,000 faithful received holy Communion in the Shrine of the Queen of Peace and 2,128 priests from Croatia and abroad concelebrated in holy Masses.

The pilgrims who visited Medjugorje during the month of May came from the following countries: Poland, Austria, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, France, England, Hungary, Belgium, Slovenia, Vietnam, Rumania, Brazil, the Netherlands, Reunion, Australia, Lebanon, Ireland, South-Africa, USA and, of course, Korea.

THE DAY OF "THE MOTHERS' VILLAGE"

The "Mothers' Village" in Bijakovii in the parish of Medjugorje -- where deprived children and young mothers and mothers-to-be are given a new home -- celebrated the "Mothers' Village Day" on May 22nd. On this occasion, the children also celebrated "Mothers' Day" which, according to the calendar, had already taken place some days earlier. However, this fact did not keep the children from showing their deepest feelings with songs and presentations, the feelings we all have - the love for the mother. They also did not forget the heavenly Mother, Mary. On the contrary, with songs they dedicated themselves and their earthly mothers to Mary. Participating in this festive program were the children from the Mothers' Village, as well as children from the Kindergarten of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, which works in conjunction with the Mothers' Village.

After the program, the parents of the children who are attending the Kindergarten went to see the house of the Franciscan sisters who live with and care for the children. It is their love and and care that the children need and depend on because most of them have been left without one or both of their parents. At this warmhearted meeting, one could feel the harmony among the children, among those who live with their families and those who, unfortunately, do not have families. Once again, the children taught us that the boundaries between human relations are only created by adults.

The feast which was interwoven with the love and joy of the children ended with the celebration of holy Mass, attended by the children of the Village and the Franciscan sisters, as well as some pilgrims who are friends of the Village. Holy Mass was celebrated by Father Slavko Barbari, the founder and director of this great humanitarian project, and members of the Franciscan Youth from the parish of Medjugorje sang under the direction of Father Branko Radoš.

SEMINARS IN "DOMUS PACIS"

During May, a fasting and prayer retreat took place in "Domus Pacis" for a group of 50 pilgrims from the USA. The retreat was led by Father Slavko Barbari.

From May 21st to 23rd a seminar for the Franciscan Youth was also organized at "Domus Pacis". This seminar was led by Father Ante Ivankovi.

THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER MEETING, 1999 NOTICE TO ALLYOUTH GROUP LEADERS

Every youth group leader is asked to cooperate with the organizers of the Youth activities and to be responsible for the following:

1) to have his group be on time for each of the programs;

2) to make sure that the members of his group behave decently during the entire week of the Youth meeting both at the Sanctuary and outside;

3) to make sure that the members of his group are always dressed decently and appropriately;

4) not to organize any other meetings aside from the set program of the Youth activities;

5) to spend free time with his group;

6) to have the members of his group maintain cleanliness at the Sanctuary and on the mountains and;

7) to make sure that the members of his group do not stay out late at night but return to where they are staying.

8) Each group leader should register with the Information Center on arrival to Medjugorje.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation !

Youth Prayer Meeting Organizers

Published by: INFORMATIVNI CENTAR MIR - Svetiste Kraljice mira (Information Center MIR - Shrine of the Queen of Peace), 88266 Medjugorje, BiH, fax number: +387-88-651-444.
Director: fra Miljenko Stojic.
You can receive the latest issue of the Press Bulletin at any time on your own fax machine in the tone mode by dialing the
Robofax in our Information Center at +387 88 65 15 55.
E-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr; Internet: http://www.medjugorje.hr
Published every other Wednesday.

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Last Modified 06/02/99