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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 00387-88-651-988 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.

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 04/21/2000