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May 26, 2002
MEDITATION
"Dear children! Today I call you to put prayer in the first place in your life. Pray and may prayer, little children, be a joy for you. I am with you and intercede for all of you, and you, little children, be joyful carriers of my messages. May your life with me be joy. Thank you for having responded to my call." May 25, 2002
THE EYES OF MEDJUGORJE
We know well the famous proverb, which states that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. It is really true: The eyes reflect our inner reality. Almost without any effort, we can read in the eyes the reality of life of each person. In the eyes of a brother or of a sister, we can see if we are accepted, loved, noticed… The look cannot hide lies; the eyes always give the contours of truth.
To see the eyes of the pilgrims in Medjugorje is a special experience. To look at someone eye-to-eye is a great mystery, accessible to everyone. It seems to me that the faithful in Medjugorje have a special brilliance in their eyes. In this shrine, after the encounter with God, eyes become a sparkling reflect of the interior. They become signs of hope, of warmth, of faith… And although people mostly arrive here with a cheerless look, tired of life, oppressed and with a negative image of themselves, everything changes here. A believer changes here; and not only the believer, but also any person that opens the heart, the eyes and the soul. Under the shelter of the Queen of Peace, the pilgrim lifts up his eyes towards the source of light, towards heaven, which is the source of the most excellent radiance. Climbing the Medjugorje hills, reciting the rosary, seeking the way to the peak, they lift themselves up into the heights and change. It is difficult to remain indifferent here.
In this shrine, for 21 years now, pilgrims meet God face-to-face, eye-to-eye. It happens in a special way in the confessional. Here, they leave their past, reject the old man and put on the new man. In the confessional, they leave darkness and enter into the space of light, which is visible in every eye. This is why it is so fitting to call Medjugorje, “the confessional of the world”.
This is how it has gone in Medjugorje for 21 years now. Medjugorje walks forward with its fruits and its witnesses. The springtime of life that Our Lady is talking about in the message of April 25th, can be felt here more than anywhere else. This is why we can say that – in Medjugorje – there is only one season: springtime. God always plants new seeds here, which bring fruit a hundredfold. And the eyes of the faithful, with their brilliance, seem to watch over the nights of Medjugorje and chase away darkness and despair. May these eyes and the spiritual spring of Medjugorje continue to rouse us towards the fullness of life, to which Our Lady calls us. And something else: See you eye to eye on June 25, the day when our Mother is with us in a very special way.
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of April, 90,000 communions were distributed and 2,004 priests from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims were here from Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, England, Hungary, France, the USA, Belgium, Haiti, Philippines, Malta, Slovenia, Ireland, Luxemburg, Poland, Greece, Lithuania, Korea, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Lebanon, Switzerland, Latvia, Tahiti, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO OLOVO
The traditional parish pilgrimage to Our Lady of Olovo in Central Bosnia, the oldest Marian shrine in Europe, took place also this year on May 1st, in honour of the beginning of May devotions. Parishioners of Medjugorje, who usually receive pilgrims from all over the world, became pilgrims in their turn, and joined several hundreds of others.
The solemn Eucharistic celebration, concelebrated by 63 priests, was presided by his Eminence, Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Archbishop of Vrhbosna (Sarajevo).
IVO POGORELIC CAME TO MEDJUGORJE
Among the pilgrims of Medjugorje, there are often those who have professionally reached a planetary success On May 1st, 2002, Ivo Pogorelic, a world famous Croatian pianist, came to pray in Medjugorje. Together with his friends, he went to pray the way of the Cross on Krizevac, and then visited the Community “Cenacolo” and “Mother’s Village”. He told a Croatian weekly paper about his experience in Medjugorje:
“The way towards the cross on Cross Mountain is long and arduous, but when you are up there, you understand that these were only physical obstacles that you have to overcome to achieve inner balance and peace. This is my second visit to Medjugorje. This time, it was similar and nevertheless different. Both times, independently of the number of people who surrounded me, I was completely alone, lost in my own thoughts. Although the way to the Apparition Hill is easier and shorter, again you are within a crowd and nevertheless – alone with yourself…”
THE FIRST OFFICIAL CROATIAN STUDENTS’ PILGRIMAGE
On May 4th and 5th, 2002, 150 students from the University of Zagreb came for the first official organised students’ pilgrimage from Croatia to Medjugorje on the level of the University. The pilgrimage was accompanied by Fr. Miljanko Steko, a Herzegovinian Franciscan, spiritual father of the seminarians from Herzegovina studying in Zagreb.
This is what the students told about the significance of this pilgrimage:
“The idea was born in the hearts of the students themselves, who expressed a desire to have, among other programmes, a programme of spiritual renewal, spiritual development. We thought about a Marian Shrine, why not Medjugorje? We found marvellous encouragement from the Students’ Board of the University of Zagreb, and the crown of all is in fact the support of Zagreb Franciscans, without whom we certainly would not have succeeded in having such a rich spiritual programme. In Zagreb and in Croatia in general, Medjugorje increasingly attracts, especially young people… They want to draw strength from Our Lady’s source of spirituality, which is present here. This kind of pilgrimages will surely become a tradition among Croatian students…”
They went to pray on the Apparition Hill, the Cross Mountain, visited the “Cenacolo” community and participated in the evening prayer programme in the church.
FIRST COMMUNION IN MEDJUGORJE
In the parish of Medjugorje, First Communion is traditionally given on the first Sunday in May. This year, on May 5th, 2002, sixty-six girls and boys received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. A day before, they made their First Holy Confession. Their parents and catechists accompanied children on their way of preparation with the Eucharistic Jesus. Holy Mass was presided by Fr. Drago Vujevic. On this day, a very special atmosphere reigned in the whole parish, because children carry within themselves a breeze of life and of joy. Many local and foreign pilgrims joined the children and their parents in this celebration.
A BISHOP FROM KENYA ON PRIVATE VISIT TO MEDJUGORJE
From May 6 to 10, 2002, Msgr. Silas S. Njiru, Bishop of Meru (Kenya), came for a private visit to Medjugorje. We shall write about his impressions in the next issue of the Bulletin.
AMBASSADORS IN MEDJUGORJE
H. E. Mr. Li Shuyuan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited Medjugorje on April 23rd, 2002. He was received by the Pastor, Fr. Branko Rados, who took him around the Shrine. Mr. Shuyuan also visited “Mother’s Village” and the “Community of the Cenacolo”, and expressed his satisfaction about what he had seen and experienced.
Through the organisation of the ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia-Herzegovina and invited by the Tourist Office of Medjugorje-Bijakovici, eighteen Ambassadors accredited in Bosnia and Herzegovina visited Medjugorje on May 11, 2002. The Ambassadors visited the Shrine, and Fr. Branko Rados, pastor of Medjugorje spoke to them about the events.
In the name of the Tourist Office of Medjugorje-Bijakovici welcomed them Mr. Zeljko Vasilj, Director. He spoke to them about some difficulties that meet the pilgrims, linked to the system of visas. He asked their help in resolving this question, so important for the pilgrims.
SEMINARS IN “DOMUS PACIS”
In the month of April, a “Prayer and Fasting” seminar for pilgrims from Lithuania and from Ukraine was held in the house of prayer “Domus Pacis”.
There was also a time of recollection for parents, tutors and children with difficulties in their development.
The Herzegovinian Franciscan School sisters continue to gather once a month young girls on the theme “Seek Peace and Pursue it”.
Contact for “Prayer and Fasting” seminars: Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, Zupni ured Medjugorje, Gospin trg 1, 88266 Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Fax: 00 387 36 651 444)
THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR PRIESTS
The 7th International Meeting for Priests, “PRIEST AT THE SERVICE OF HEALING AND DELIVERANCE”, takes place in Medjugorje from July 1st (morning) to July 6th (noon) 2002. Many priests who do not have access to Internet may not have been informed about the existence of such an international meeting in Medjugorje. Therefore, we kindly ask all Organisers of pilgrimages, Prayer Groups and Centres for Peace to diffuse this information as largely as possible by all means at your disposition, so that as many priests as possible may participate. We also kindly ask you, as much as it is possible, to materially help priests who wish to come, but who do not have the necessary funds for such a journey. Thank you, and may the Lord and Our Lady, Queen of Peace, bless all your efforts in spreading Gospa’s message of peace.
You may make reservations (as soon as possible) by e-mail: lidija.paris@medjugorje.hr, in the Information Booth personally, by phone/fax: +387-36-651-988 or by e-mail: informacije@medjugorje.hr.
In place of financial payment, we ask the priests to kindly celebrate five Mass intentions. The ACCOMMODATION for all the priests IS A GIFT FROM THE PARISHIONERS, WHO WILL RECEIVE THEM IN THEIR HOMES.
To bring with you: An alb and stole, a Bible, a small radio and headphones with an FM frequency (for simultaneous translation
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER MEETING - MLADIFEST 13
The 13th International Youth Prayer Meeting - MLADIFEST 13 – on the theme, “WITH MARY WITNESS PEACE AND JOY”, will take place from July 31st to August 6th, 2002.
More about it: see www.medjugorje.hr under International meetings, MLADIFEST 13.
SPREADING OF INFORMATION FROM THE SHRINE AND COPYRIGHT
As we have already underlined on several occasions, the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje and the Information Centre “Mir” Medjugorje are the only official voice and source of authentic information from Medjugorje.
We appeal to all of you to spread the information from the Shrine, and we encourage all the friends of Medjugorje to use the materials they find on this web page. When you use these materials, (texts, photos and others) it is obligatory to mention the source, i.e. © Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje, www.medjugorje.hr. We kindly ask you to do so.
We thank you for all that you are doing to spread Our Lady’s message of peace!
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 05/27/2002