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January 26, 1999

"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

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.

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 conduct this kind of exceptionally important meeting once a year first of all for the welfare of all pilgrims who find their spiritual benefits in Medjugorje. We invite you this time once more to participate in the work of the seminar which has proven to be exceptionally useful for all the participants.

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, 1999
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.

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 01/26/2000