16
July 05, 1995
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND CONCELEBRANTS
At the shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje during the month of June 84 000 Holy Communions were distributed and there were 1958 concelebrations at Holy Mass by priests from both home and abroad.
14TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR LADY'S APPARITIONS
A novena was observed in preparation for the anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions and, as in all previous years, after the evening mass the Medjugorje visionaries prayed Our Lady's prayer the "Magnificat" and seven Our Fathers with the congregation. A great number of the faithful came for the holy sacrament of reconciliation. At the "Domus Pacis" house of prayer a week of fast and prayer was organized by Fr. Slavko Barbari with 35 participants from home and abroad.
On the day of the anniversary, June 25, about 60,000 pilgrims visited the shine of the Queen of Peace. Several thousand Croatian youth, some bare footed, marched several hundred kilometers to this shrine praying for peace. The largest number of pilgrims from abroad were from Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, America and Australia. The group from Australia was led by retired bishop, Henry Kennedy. During these days we have once more witnessed that in the world the Croatian language has become a prayer language of the Church and our country has become Our Lady's home. The parishioners first realized that, then both young and old pilgrims from the whole world and, thereby, the parish of Medjugorje entered into the history of the universal church as a place of conversion and prayer.
VENERATION OF OUR LADY`S STATUE BEGUN IN CIVITAVECCHIA
According to the Bishop's own testimony, a statue of the Medjugorje Madonna has been weeping On June 16, after months of scientific investigations, it was returned to the Bishop of Civitavecchia. By the expressinstruction of our Holy Father Pope John Paul II, Bishop Girolamo Grillo has exposed the statue for the veneration of the faithful.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. JOZO ZOVKO
In the course of his missionary journey held at the end of June, during which he spoke of Our Lady's messages directed to the world, Fr. Jozo Zovko met with numerous Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje in several Italian cities. In addition, he met with the four following bishops: Bishop Aliprandi from Cuneo, Bishop Masseroni from Mondovi, Bishop Bettazzi from Ivrea and Bishop Micchiardi, auxiliary bishop of Torino.
THE HOLY FATHER IN MEDJUGORJE?
During the month of June the President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr. Franjo Tudjman, visited Australia and New Zealand. On June 25, the very day of the anniversary, he met with the Croatians of Sydney. Having received information that the Holy Father wishes to visit Medjugorje, he said on that occasion: "The Catholic Church has played a central role in the history of the Croatian people. It has also been with the people in today`s time of rebirth." ( Sl. Dalmacija, June 26, 1995)
CHILDRENS` VILLAGE OPENED
On June 27 Fr. Mate Dragicevic, Vicar Provincial of the Hercegovina Franciscans, blessed and solemnly opened the first four facilities in the Childrens' Village in Medjugorje. It is intended for war orphaned children as well as for children with psycho-physical obstacles to development. Care for the children will be provided by the Mostar Province of the Franciscan School Sisters.
Construction of this humanitarian project is being financed exclusively with the donations of benefactors. In this way, therefore, we heartily thank all the people who sensed the importance of this project and helped in its partial realization.
MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF FR. SLAVKO BARBARIC
At the invitation of Medjugorje pilgrims and friends of Medjugorje, Fr. Slavko Barbaric will visit the following Centers of Peace:
August 26 - 30 London, England
September 15 - 24 Linz, Austria; Fulda, Germany
October 6 - 14 Quito, Ecuador; Passau, Germany
October 27 - 29 Dublin, Ireland
November 14 - 20 Italy
F R U I T S - SPIRITUAL VOCATIONS
On June 18, 1995 Fr. Peter Dugandzic celebrated his First Mass in Medjugorje. Here is what he said on that occasion: "My name is Peter Dugandzic. I am from New York. I was born on Long Island in New York and grew up there. I came to Medjugorje for the first time in 1986. My family background is from the area of Medjugorje. I have a degree in psychology. At first I worked with computers and then with people as a psychologist, and now I will work as a priest.
Before coming to Medjugorje I was not faithful in going to church. I was happy in my work. I earned a lot of money and because of my work I traveled all through America. One time my aunt told me they were going to the old country. I wanted to go too. After that she also told me about Medjugorje, that a group of six children were seeing Our Lady. At that time I reacted like a psychologist: "Well, good! Just let them look at Our Lady!" We came to Medjugorje. Something started to happen in my soul that I didn't understand. I began praying. which I never did before. I also meditated a lot. Little by little the desire to become a priest began to germinate inside of me. Now finally I am a priest and I am grateful to God and other people."
NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Heather Parsons: "A LIGHT BETWEEN THE HILLS", Robert Andrew Press, Dublin 1994, 176 pp.
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 11/25/2002