145
June 14, 2000

"Dear children! I rejoice with you and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal. Pray, little children, that the Holy Spirit may come to dwell in you in fullness, so that you may be able to witness in joy to all those who are far from faith. Especially, little children, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that in the spirit of love, every day and in each situation, you may be closer to your fellow-man; and that in wisdom and love you may overcome every difficulty. I am with you and I intercede for each of you before Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call." May 25, 2000

THE MODEL OF FAITH IN GOD’S WORD

Immediately before the 19th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions it is necessary to return to the basic and central contents of Our Lady’s messages. It is necessary to renew them and to calling them to mind so as to preserve the authentic heritage of Our Lady that she is bestowing on us. That heritage is the heritage of her Son which the Church received, which it must live and proclaim. According the testimony of the visionaries in the first encounters Our Lady appeared to them with the child Jesus and under the cross. In that light are understandable her calls to conversion, prayer, fasting and reconciliation. In the light of those first apparitions also the response of millions of pilgrims and of the parish can be understood. From the patristic period of the Church Mary has been held up as the model of faith and obedience to God’s world. That model of the Church is speaking today through the apparitions and events in the parish of Medjugorje and through the response of Christians throughout the world.

Fr. Ivan Landeka

N E W S

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRATIONS

During May in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 102,000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 2470 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from home and abroad, that is an average of 80 priests daily.

A great number of pilgrims indeed chose May for pilgrimage to Medjugorje since that is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The most numerous groups were from: Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, USA, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Slovenia, Korea, Ireland, Germany, France, Reunion, Belgium, England, Canada, Lebanon, Australia, Romania, South Africa, Philippines, Switzerland, Singapore, Malta, Russia, Latvia, Indonesia and, of course, Croatia. Among the native pilgrims and pilgrimages we also take note of about 200 sick and disabled persons from Zagreb, Djakovo, Osijek and Zadar. Their pilgrimage was organized by the “Truth and Light” community.

VISIT OF BRAZILIAN BISHOP

From June 1st to 4th Msgr Waldemar Chaves de Araujo was here from Brazil with a group of pilgrims. Before his departure from Medjugorje Msgr. Araujo spoke with Fr. Slavko Barbaric. We present here the full conversation.

S.B.:Your excellency, would you say something to our readers about yourself?

WCH: I am Msgr. Waldemar Chaves de Araujo, Bishop of the diocese of Sao Joao del Rei in Brazil. I studied in Brazil and in Belgium. The situation in my diocese is good. I have developed good relations with my priests, religious and laity and we have various groups of active people who are working on different levels. In my diocese there are about 300,000 faithful with 304 communities. I came on pilgrimage with a small group from Brazil that has made the pilgrimage here to this place dedicated to Mary’s presence. We pray together, meditate and remain in silence. This is my first time in Medjugorje.

S.B.:When and how for the first time did you hear about Medjugorje and what is your experience?

WCH:I read reports from Medjugorje about he apparitions and all that was happening, and I spoke with people came here on pilgrimage. I believe that Our Lady is appearing here. She is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. She desires to help us. That is why I came with this group and why we are living these days conscious that she is present with us in a special way as Mother. My experience is that this indeed is a real place of prayer. I can say that I have always nurtured devotion to Mary, but here I have renewed and deepened it still more. Really, I have no difficulties believing that She is appearing here. God is working here how He wants to and when He wants to and He has decided to work in this manner to work in Medjugorje.

S.B.:Do you have some message for the parishioners, the pilgrims and people in general?

WCH:My message from Medjugorje is a message of hope. Whoever decides for a true devotion to Mary and does what She says, will meet Jesus, and Jesus give hope. Whoever starts living the sacraments, as I saw they are lived here - the celebration of mass, confessions, adoration, prayer - will have his life path filled with hope and peace. With Mary our path is sure. Accept what she says, she knows the Way, she knows her Son and will help us on our path to the final homeland in heaven. May God bless you all. I shall pray for all of you.

NOTICE ABOUT THE ‘VIA LUCIS’

In Bulletin No. 114 Fr. Ivan Landeka in his meditation wrote about an “. . .interesting prayer movement, better said, a new form of devotion. . .” that is called ‘Via Lucis’ [The Way of Light].

Having read that text many have written us asking where and how they can better get acquainted with this form of devotion. For all those interested we have searched and obtained the following data: The person responsible for the internationalization of that movement is Mr. Piano Franco from Rome, and all information about the devotion ‘Via Lucis’ can be obtained on the web pages of the movement: http://www.vialucis.net

THE MALTESE ORDER IN MEDJUGORJE

The Maltese Order from Germany already for the third year is providing medical aid to pilgrims in Medjugorje. So for more than 4,000 persons, both from the parish and from pilgrims, have sought their help. This year also they shall be with us in Medjugorje. The Maltese Order is active also in Lourdes, Rome and many other pilgrimage places throughout Europe and the world.

All pilgrims who during their stay in Medjugorje require medical help can find it with the personnel of the Maltese Order in front of the church were it says “MALTESER”. The personnel of the “Malteser” will provide medical services to the pilgrims and in their office which is located on the left side of the road that leads from the Church toward Cross Mountain, from 9:00 till 21:00 and during the night for urgent cases.

On this occasion we wish to thank them in the name of all those who during this summer will feel the need for their help and we want to bless their apostolate.

MEETING OF CHILDRENS’ CHOIRS

In Tomislavgrad on May 28th the first meeting of Childrens’ Choirs from Hercegovina was held. The youngsters from nine parishes sang and among them were the “Doves of Peace” from Medjugorje directed by Sr. Slavica Kozul. Even though the purpose of this kind of meeting is for the youngsters to meet and sing together sing to the glory of the Lord, it is no less important that the “Doves of Peace”, according to the opinion of the judges, were the most successful in the performance of their pieces of music.

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.

---

Last Modified 06/14/2000