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June 28, 2000
MEDITATION
"Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. The one who prays is not afraid of the future. Little children do not forget, I am with you and I love you all. Thank you for having responded to my call." June 25, 2000
PRIEST
Cardinal Joseph Bernardin immediately before his death wrote that the sense of priesthood is to be to others a brother, friend, and sojourner. This, continues Bernardin, I wish to witness to others. The three aspects of community mentioned are not an easy task. Therefore, they demand a toilsome and painful learning of service. For the fifth year in a row in Medjugorje a retreat for priests is being arranged. This year about 200 priests from Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and abroad will spend the week from June 30th to July 6th in prayer and brotherhood learning still better to be brothers, friends and sojourners to others. They recognize their own mission in the example of Jesus Christ. “The Priest in the School of Mary”, as these priests’ meetings in Medjugorje are called is sill one more contribution to the growth of that consciousness that Christ sends them to be to others, brothers, friends and sojourners.
Fr. Ivan Landeka
N E W S
CELEBRATING THE 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY’S APPARITIONS IN THE PARISH OF MEDJUGORJE
During the last 19 years Our Lady’s presence in the parish of Medjugorje has spread through the pilgrims to the whole world. In spite of the events of war that struck our homeland, now, thank God, Our Lady’s message of peace has reached to the farthest corners of the world and made Medjugorje a world parish. That was confirmed by the presence of more than 100 000 of the faithful who visited Medjugorje for the 19th anniversary. We will report only those with the most numerous groups: Germany, Italy, Canada, Reunion, Ireland, Belgium, Slovenia, Portugal, USA, France, Singapore, Italy, Argentina, Slovakia, Hungary, England, Holland, Poland, Korea, Switzerland, Czech Republic and, of course, Croatia. Exceptionally numerous were also our pilgrims from home many of whom came barefoot to Medjugorje to pray to Mary, Queen of Peace, for peace.
Because of the different language groups holy masses on the mornings of the 24th and 25th of June were celebrated in 15 languages. During the same two days of the 24th and 25th of June, 66 000 Holy Communions were distributed.
The evening mass of the 24th of June for the vigil was presided by Fr. Miljenko Steko with 125 priests concelebrating. There were about 15 000 of the faithful present at the holy mass.
The evening mass on the anniversary itself was presided by Fr. Mate Dragicevic. About 30 000 of the faithful participated and 150 priests concelebrated from twenty countries.
THE "PEACE MARCH"
On June 24th, the vigil of the 19th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions, the “Peace March” was held for the ninth year in a row. It began at 6:00 with a prayer and blessing of the pilgrims in front of the Franciscan monastery in Humac. The pilgrims, about 3000 of them, set out for Medjugorje at 6:00. Priests from various countries carried the Blessed Sacrament and Fr. Slavko Barbaric led the “Peace March”. After their arrival in Medjugorje, the pilgrims gathered in front of the church for a brief community prayer. The idea for the “Peace March” was born in the hearts of the Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje during the most intense days of the way in 1992. That prayer march of 13 kilometers is a response to unrest, violence, and hatred, and an incentive to authentic peace and reconciliation which are also the basic messages of Our Lady.
THE ANNUAL APPARITION OF OUR LADY TO THE VISIONARY, IVANKA
The visionary Ivanka Ivankovic Elez had her regular annual apparition June 25, 2000. Vicka, Marija, and Ivan according to their testimony still have the daily apparition, while Mirjana, Ivanka and Jakov have an apparition once a year.
On the occasion of her last daily apparition May 7, 1985 Our Lady confided to Ivanka her 10th secret, and told her that for the duration of her entire life she would have an apparition once a year and that on the anniversary of the apparitions. Thus it was also this year. The apparition lasted 7 minutes and Ivanka had it in her family home. Present for the apparition were only Ivanka’s family, husband and three children.
Our Lady gave the following message: "I introduced myself as 'Queen of Peace.' Again I call you to peace, fasting, prayer. Renew family prayer and receive my blessing."
Ivanka told us that Our Lady was happy and that she spoke to her about the sixth secret.
VISIT OF A LITHUANIAN BISHOP
Msgr. Kauneckas Jonas visited Medjugorje June 19th with a group of 30 students of theology and the same day also participated with all of his seminarians at the evening prayer program in the church of St. James. Msgr. Kauneckas , was named bishop June 13th this year and will be consecrated as auxiliary bishop of the Lithuanian city of Telsiai.
NEW TELEPHONE AREA CODE
In the following quarter the telephone area codes will be changed in the regions of Bosnia-Hercegovina. In place of 088 still valid for a couple months, all those who now call Medjugorje will use 036. It is already possible to use 036.
The more important telephone numbers at the shrine of the Queen of Peace are:
Information Office: 00387-36-651-988
Parish Office: 00387-36-650-206; 650-310; 651-333
Fax: 00387-36-651-444
Radio: 00387-36-651-100; fax 651-300
Automatic Message: 060-325-325. By calling this number you can hear the latest message of Our Lady in Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, as well as also the meditation and the news from Medjugorje which is updated every Wednesday.
Published by: INFORMATIVNI CENTAR MIR - Svetiste Kraljice Mira (Information Center MIR - Shrine of the Queen of Peace), 88266 Medjugorje.
Director: fra Miljenko Stojic.
Information Office: 00387-36-651-988
Parish Office: 00387-36-650-206; 650-310; 651-333
Fax: 00387-36-651-444
Radio: 00387-36-651-100; fax 651-300
E-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr; Internet: http://www.medjugorje.hr
Automatic Message: 060-325-325. By calling this number you can hear the latest message of Our Lady in Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, as well as also the meditation and the news from Medjugorje which is updated every Wednesday.
Last Modified 07/11/2000