149
August 9, 2000
MEDITATION
"Dear children! Do not forget that you are here on earth on the way to eternity and that your home is in Heaven. That is why, little children, be open to God’s love and leave egoism and sin. May your joy be only in discovering God in daily prayer. That is why, make good use of this time and pray, pray, pray; and God is near to you in prayer and through prayer.Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of July 25, 2000
REST
"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while!" (Mk 6:31) So Jesus says to his disciples. During these summer days a lot of people talk about rest. Some, where they will go and how they will spend their vacation. Others will say, not again this year is it possible for us to go anywhere. Pupils, students, retired workers talk about a rest. Vacation is all the more tied to traveling and all the more connected with periods when there are no special obligations. Rest as a part of everyday is not sufficiently observed. And, maybe right there is the origin of many kinds of fatigue. From the beginnings of civilization rest is linked to both religious and pious contents and makes the rest complete. Sabbath in Judaism, Sunday in Christianity are unthinkable without religious content.
Fr. Ivan Landeka
N E W S
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
During July in the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje 88,500 Holy Communions were distributed and at holy mass there were 3238 concelebrations by priests from home and abroad, that is, 104 priests daily.
Some of the countries from which pilgrims came during July to visit Medjugorje are: USA, Canada, Australia, England, Ireland, Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Litva, Letonia, Korea, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and, of course, Croatia.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL
The traditional eleventh international youth prayer festival was held from July 31- August 6, 2000. The theme of this year’s festival, at which about 15000 youth participated, was “The Word Became Flesh and Dwelt Among Us”. The festival began July 31st with the evening prayer program. Minor themes on which the youth discussed and meditated were:
- “The Father’s Plan - to send Emmanuel!”
- “Mary - Mother of Emmanuel!”
- “Jesus - Bread of life - way of bread!”
- “Eucharist - medicine for wounds of soul and body!”
- “Dear children, fall in love with Jesus in the Eucharist!”
- “Go home and become bread for the life of the world!”
On the evening of August 4th the young men of the Cenacle community presented their ways of healing with a musical drama performance “Jesus, healer of the wounds of soul and body!”
Speakers at the youth meeting were: Primo Martinuzzi, Wayne Weible, Fr. Francesco Carlino, Fr. Selwaine, Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, Don Cosimo Cavaluzzo, Fr. Jozo Zovko, Fr.Slavko Barbaric and other priests.
The Medjugorje visionaries also spoke to the youth about their experience.
The seminar ended on Cross Mountain with holy mass on August 6th, the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. There is a symbolic connection of the last day of the prayer meeting and the feast day that the Church commemorates that day. Many young people, namely, after a week spent in prayer, song, community and recollection go back to their home countries really transfigured. Proof of that is the already eleventh meeting of this kind. And all those in the future we place in the hands of God’s Providence commending them also to your prayers.
EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR LEADERS OF CENTERS OF PEACE AND MEDJUGORJE PRAYER GROUPS
The Medjugorje parish office is organizing the eighth meeting for leaders of centers of peace, charitable, and prayer groups which will take place in Medjugorje from February 26 - March 1, 2001. The theme of the meeting is
THEME: “PEACE AND RECONCILIATION”
Monday February 26, 2001
08:30 Morning prayer
09:00 Lecture: “The Message of Peace and Reconciliation”, Dr. Fr. Božo Lujić
10:00 Intermission
10:30 Meeting and Discussion with the lecturer
12:00 Dinner
15:00 Meeting with the Franciscans
17:00 Evening Prayer Program in Church.
Tuesday, February 27, 2001
08:30 Morning prayer
09:00 Lecture: “Medjugorje in service of the Church and the world - 20 years”, Dr. Fr. Ljudevit Rupćić
10:00 Intermission
10:30 Meeting and Discussion with the lecturer
12:00 Dinner
15:00 Departure for Hill of Apparitions
17:00 Evening Prayer Program in Church.
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Ash Wednesday: Day of Prayer: Fr. Slavko Barbarić and Fr. Jozo Zovko
09:00 Lecture, Prayer, Discussion
10:00 Intermission
10:30 Group discussion on the theme of the lecture
12:00 Dinner (bread and water)
14:00 Departure for Križevac
17:00 Evening Prayer Program in Church.
21:00 - 22:00 Adoration
Thursday, March 1, 2001
08:30 Morning Prayer
09:00 Experiences of the Participants
11:00 Holy Mass - Fr. Ivan Landeka
Community Dinner
Lecturers for this year’s seminar are:
Dr. Fr. Božo Lujic - born 1946 in Osječak, Odžak. In 1966 he entered the Franciscan Order, Province of Sarajevo. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1974. He completed his study of theology in 1974 at the Franciscan School of Theology in Sarajevo, and in 1977 obtained his Masters’ Degree at the Theology Faculty in Ljubljana. In 1982 he obtained his doctorate at the same Faculty on the theme: “Experience of God and man in the book of Jeremiah.” He continued special biblical studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome where he obtained his licentiate in Biblical Science, after which he studied for a short time at the Franciscan Studium Biblicum in Jerusalem. He also received a diploma in German language and literature at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo in 1984. Since 1977 he teaches biblical theology and exegesis at the Franciscan School of Theology in Sarajevo and since 1993 he also lectures at the Catechetical Institute as also at the Institute for Theological Culture of the Laity of the Theological Faculty in Zagreb and at the Evangelical Theological Faculty in Zagreb.
Dr. Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic - born 1920 in Hardomilje, Ljubuški, he entered the Franciscan Order in the Province of Hercegovina in 1939 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946. He completed his study of theology in 1947 at the Theological Faculty in Zagreb. He obtained his doctorate in 1958 and was tenured at the same Faculty in 1971. From 1958 to 1988 he taught New Testament exegesis at the Franciscan School of Theology in Sarajevo and for some time also at the Theological Faculty in Zagreb. Under the Yugo-communistic regime he was imprisoned in 1945 and in 1947 and from 1952 till 1956. He was a member of the Theological Commission for the Bishops’ Conference of ex-Yugoslavia. He translated the New Testament from the original languages into the Croatian language. His translation has undergone numerous editions. He has published many books, studies and articles in Croatian, German, Italian, French and English and he has conducted many lectures at numerous congresses and symposia in Europe and America.
The Eighth Meeting for Leaders of Medjugorje Centers of Peace, prayer groups and charitable groups connected to Medjugorje will be held in the New Hall in Medjugorje from February 26th to March 1st, 2000. The theme of this meeting for the 20th anniversary is:“Peace and Reconciliation”
The number of places is limited by the space, and every year the number of participants is greater. Therefore, we ask you to register your participation in the prayer-educational seminar as soon as possible and no later than the end of December, 2000. You can register by fax at 00387-36-651-444 or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr or also in person at the Information Office of the Shrine or by way of telephone at 00387-36-651-988
Simultaneous translation will be organized for all language groups. The fee for the seminar is 120 DM per person. Included in the fee are the expenses of organization and the work of the seminar (speakers, translation of texts, simultaneous translation and the community dinner on the last day) Upon paying the fee at the beginning of the seminar each participant will receive accreditation that enables him to participate in the work of the seminar. Each one must personally arrange for their own lodging in Medjugorje. We believe that will not be a difficulty for you since you have been coming to Medjugorje for many years and you have your friends and acquaintances there. Radio and earphones for simultaneous translation should be brought along. Radio and earphones will also be made available during the seminar.
We are already happy in advance of your reservations and of this meeting for the 20th anniversary of Our Lady’s apparitions in the parish of Medjugorje!
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 08/09/2000