124
August 25, 1999

WHAT IS LASTING

The time in which we live is not merely characterized by the fact of transitoriness. Transience is already an old theme to which nothing special can be added. In this time characterized by speed of change and multitude of news, another question arises, the question about what is l a s t i n g, about what is not subject to change. No matter how much we have become used to the new, we look for that which has stability and for something with which we can be forever connected.

As Christians we cannot accept that everything which begins in time also has its end in time. From that aspect we do not obtain our stability. We have celebrated the feast of Mary's Assumption (body and soul assumed into Heaven). That means then that the Kingdom of God is non-transient and stable. Among those who have lived it body and soul, Mary has a special place. For us who believe it, the task is the same as what Mary lived - to live it soul and body.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

FEAST OF ASSUMPTION CELEBRATED

On the feast of the Assumption, August 15th, about 20 thousand pilgrims from every continent visited the parish of Medjugorje. Among them should be mentioned by all means the great number of Croatian pilgrims who came bare-foot on pilgrimage to Mary, Queen of Peace, from the various parts of our homeland. The feast itself was preceded by a novena of prayer during which at the evening prayer program a great number of the faithful gathered for the sacrament of reconciliation. Due to the variety of language groups Holy Masses during the day were celebrated in nine languages. The Rosary was prayed on Apparition Hill in the afternoon. And beside those language differences the pilgrims were connected by prayer and petitions addressed to Mary, first of all, in prayer for the peace we need so much. The solemn evening mass along with 68 concelebrants was celebrated by Fr. Gabriel Mioc who in his inspirational sermon called on the assembled faithful to follow the example of Mary, the Mother of God in their own life, first of all by unbounded confidence in and surrender to the will of God.

ARCHBISHOP OF SEOUL IN MEDJUGORJE

Archbishop Paul Kim Tchang-Ryeol, of Seoul, South Korea, visited Medjugorje from August 6 - 10, 1999 with three priests from his archdiocese (Rhee Dae Won, Chang Daee Ik and Chang Keung Sun). Following the thousands of Koreans who come on pilgrimage every year to the Queen of Peace, he came to get acquainted with this place of pilgrimage and the prayer and liturgical life of the pilgrims. As a pilgrim he prayed especially for his Church and the elimination of tensions between Koreans who are divided into two states.

POLISH BISHOP IN MEDJUGORJE

In the first part of August Msgr. Tadeusz Werno, Bishop of Koszalina, Poland was here on a private visit to Medjugorje.

We will publish his impressions in the next number of the Press Bulletin.

SEMINAR ON INNER HEALING

This year also from August 16 - 21, a seminar on inner healing was held in Medjugorje. About 200 faithful from Southern Croatia and central Bosnia-Hercegovina participated in the seminar which was aimed in a special way at people having family difficulties. The seminar on inner healing was conducted by Fr. James Manjrighal and Sr. Margarita Valappila from India. The impressions of all those who spent those five days in prayer and mediation were powerful. Therefore we believe that also in future years there will be an opportunity to meet in Medjugorje for such a seminar.

SEMINAR FOR GUIDES

Due to the interest of so many who would like to work as guides in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, the Association of Pilgrim Guides in the parish of Medjugorje is organizing an educational seminar from August 23 - 27, 1999. After the seminar has been conducted, examinations will be held. All those who finish the seminar successfully acquire the possibility of membership in the Association of Pilgrim Guides, and the possibility thereby of working with pilgrim groups. All those, namely, who wish to work as guides in the shrine have to be known to have acquired sufficient knowledge to be able to provide reliable information to the pilgrims with whom they will work in the future.

The young applicants will listen to lectures on five subjects: The Messages of Holy Scripture (Fr. Miljenko Stojic), The Messages of Christianity (Fr. Milan Loncar), History of the Church in Croatia (Fr. Ivan Maric), The Messages of Our Lady (Fr. Slavko Barbaric) and Tourism and Pilgrimage in the Medjugorje Events(Maria Dugandzic).

We take this opportunity to request all those who lead groups to Medjugorje to hire a local guide who can help them a great deal during their stay in Medjugorje and, what is most important, are people who are prepared and trained to provide trustworthy information who do their job in cooperation with the Information Center according to the Parish office of Medjugorje.

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 08/25/99