194
January 26, 2004
MEDITATION
"Dear children! Also today I call you to pray. Pray, little children, in a special way for all those who have not come to know God’s love. Pray that their hearts may open and draw closer to my heart and the Heart of my Son Jesus, so that we can transform them into people of peace and love. Thank you for having responded to my call." January 25, 2004
HUMAN BEING AND TIME
A philosopher noted that the difference between human beings and other creatures consists in their capacity to re-emerge from the river of time, which is passing. Water carries away everything; only human beings are able to fill the time and to give to it a meaning according to the plan of God. Having that in sight, we ask the question: do we re-emerge from the torrent of time or the torrent carries us away, and we do not even realise from where we come and where we go? It is really easy for us to get lost in daily work, in the abundance of our obligations, needs and worries, running from one appointment to another, from one duty to another, losing orientation in time and in space - and what is worst of all – moving away from God and losing the concept of His presence.
We begin a new year of our life, but we still seem to live in what is old and over: our personal history, unfinished work, unaccomplished promises, uncompleted projects, unpaid bills, missed attempts... The world and the consumer society oppress us and impose their own logic to us. In such an environment, it is difficult for us to position ourselves, and - as Christians - we neglect our identity and our spiritual orientation. In the "modern" world and in the conscience of the "modern" man, God seems little by little to disappear from our hearts and to lose in value.
A spiritual writer had written: "The desert in the hearts causes chaos in the world" Thinking of that, we should not be astonished that there are so many wars and so much evil. Why divorce, immorality, abuse in family, drugs, crimes? We feel all that, we seek answers, but at the same time we seem not to want to receive them from Jesus. We know that Jesus is moderate and concrete, that He asks for a maximum of love, forgiveness and sacrifice. With Him, there is no compromise. Jesus is demanding.
In such a world, in such a mentality, Medjugorje is a light in the night, a place of opening up to God. Here, under the protection of Our Lady, the pilgrim realizes that - without God - we are poor and lost in the world. Gospa feels this very well, this is why she is here, and this is why she does not give up her children. We, the Christians, have to work for a better world, a world where there is more justice. We have to be another Christ and the voice of hope for the others, we have to bear witness and shout where there is silence about God, we have to bring the values of God to our time. We will not be able to do it without the renewal of our personal sacramental life, because it is through the sacraments that God gives us the means for salvation and the force for the road.
Let us make the decision to take this step, to fulfil the task that God has given us in this world.
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of December 2003, 69,000 communions were distributed and 1,089 priests from this country and abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
In 2003, 1,179,000 communions were distributed and 27,498 priests concelebrated in Medjugorje.
In December, pilgrims were here from France, the USA, Italy, Austria, England, Lithuania, Korea, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Canada, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
RADIO “MIR” MEDJUGORJE TRANSMITS THROUGH SATELLITE
Beginning with Christmas, December 25, 2003, Radio Mir Medjugorje begins to transmit its program live trough a satellite. You can listen to our radio and to the voice from Medjugorje in Europe, in the Near East and in North Africa. Radio “Mir” Medjugorje offers a rich daily schedule, and we recommend to you especially the direct transmission of the liturgical prayer program (Holy Mass, Rosary and Adoration) from St. James’ church, at 5 pm.
How to find us and how to listen to our Radio? Name of the satellite: HOT BIRD 6 Position: 13° E (degrees east) Transponder No. 90 Reception frequency: 12 520 MHz Polarization: Y (vertical) Symbol rate: 27 500 FEC (Forward Error Correction): 3/4 Covering: Europe, Near East and North Africa How can you support us in this project?
As this project requires important financial expenses, we feel free to ask all the friends of the Queen of Peace – Medjugorje, all our listeners and all those who want to spread Our Lady’s message and the voice from Medjugorje, to support us with their donations. Only with your help will we be able to reach you and your continent.
How to send your donations? For donations from abroad: Informativni centar MiR Medjugorje Zagrebacka banka BH - D.D. Mostar Swift: ZABA BA 22 / 7100-48-06-027746 For donations from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Our account number at Zagrebacka banka: 3381202200130247 Thank you for your love and the spreading of Our Lady’s messages!
ANNUAL MEETING AND RECOLLECTION FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS OF THE FUND “FRA SLAVKO BARBARIC”
The Association “Fra Slavko Barbaric” organised in Medjugorje on December 29, 2003, “The Students’ Day”.
Several conferences were given: “The Bible speaks to us in images”, by Dr. Fr. Ivan Dugandzic, “What the Croatians hold in their coffer” by Branka Separovic, and “Sacrifice is in the foundations” by Prof. Dr. Zvonimir Separovic. There was also an exhibition of paintings created during the Art Colony “Medjugorje 2003”. The program was accompanied by music, performed by scholarship recipients of the Association. The participants assisted at the Evening Prayer Programme at St. James’ Parish church. From December 29 to January 1st, the Association also organised a seminar of spiritual recollection for students.
Those who wish to help in the realisation of the goals of this Fund may contact the Fund on the following address: Fund “Fra Slavko Barbaric” – Medjugorje / 88266 Medjugorje / BiH / PP 29 / Tel/Fax: +387 36 651 549 / e-mail: studenti.talenti@tel.net.ba
NEW YEAR IN MEDJUGORJE
This year, several thousands pilgrims from numerous countries and from all the continents gathered together for the New Year’s Vigil. The Vigil was presided by Fr. Mario Knezovic and Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic. About one hundred priests concelebrated Mass with them. Pilgrims and parishioners were accommodated also in the New Hall and under the tent, where they could follow on a large screen whatever was happening in the church. The vigil and Holy Mass lasted from 10 pm to 1 am, and they were translated into several languages.
In our restless world, where sometimes everything seems to be hopeless, this large crowd of the faithful, especially of young people who represent the majority in Medjugorje for the New Year, are a sign of hope for a better world.
On the first day of the year, Marijana Zovko, a pilgrim from Germany, gave a concert of spiritual music in the parish church.
THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR MARRIED COUPLES
The 4th International Meeting for Married Couples will take place in Medjugorje from February 11 to 14, 2004. The theme is, “The fruit of peace is love and the fruit of love is forgiveness.” (Message of January 25, 1996) Bring with you: a small FM radio with headphones (for simultaneous translation) and a Bible.
All the meetings will take place in the New Hall behind the church. Participation per couple: 30 €. You may make reservations by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr, or at the Information Office personally, or by phone/fax: +387-36-651-988 (for Marija Dugandzic). The number of participants is limited because of the available space in the Hall, se we ask you to send your registration as soon as possible. All the participants are invited to individually provide their accommodation in Medjugorje.
THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR LEADERS OF PEACE CENTERS AND MEDJUGORJE PRAYER, PILGRIM AND CHARITY GROUPS
The 11th International Meeting for Leaders of Peace Centers and Medjugorje Prayer, Pilgrim and Charity groups will take place in the New Hall in Medjugorje from February 22 – 26, 2004. The theme of this meting will be, “Penance and Contemporary Men”.
The number of places is limited, and the number of participants is increasing from year to year. This is why we ask you kindly to make your registration as soon as possible. You can send your registrations by Tel/fax + 387 36 651 988 (for Marija Dugandzic) or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr, or personally in the Information Office.
Simultaneous translation is available for all language groups. This is why we ask you kindly to take with you a small FM radio with headphones.
The price of the seminar is 60 € per person. This includes all the fees for the organization and running of the seminar (lecturers, translations of texts, simultaneous translation and lunch the last day). When you register and pay at the beginning of the seminar, you will receive a badge, which will allow you to participate in the seminar. We ask you kindly to organize personally your accommodation in Medjugorje. We believe that this is not a problem for you, because you have come to Medjugorje for many years now and have friends and acquaintances here.
We are looking forward to your reservations and to welcoming you at this meeting!
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 01/26/2004