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August 26, 2004

"Dear children! I call you all to conversion of heart. Decide, as in the first days of my coming here, for a complete change of your life. In this way, little children, you will have the strength to kneel and to open your hearts before God. God will hear your prayers and answer them. Before God, I intercede for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." August 25, 2004

WE DESIRE TO SEE JESUS...
ABOUT THE 15TH YOUTH FESTIVAL IN MEDJUGORJE

We have just lived another magnificent gathering of young people, enthusiastic, enchanted, full of faith and optimism. We shall not speak here about numbers and statistics, although they are not insignificant. General impression: a true Pentecostal atmosphere. A new Pentecost in Medjugorje. No trace of fear, of anxiety, of pessimism, which – as an epidemic - are spreading in the Church of the northern hemisphere. While observing this meeting during six days and while reflecting on it, we can imagine and almost see with our own eyes the biblical images around Jesus: people speak about Jesus, crowds hasten from everywhere; He is attracting, teaching, healing every disease and weakness in the people. The Eucharistic celebrations made us think of Jesus on the Mount of the Beatitudes.

While internal problems of all kinds accumulate in the institutional Church in Europe and in America, these young people represent a guarantee and a testimony against resignation and fear. Twenty years ago, the Holy Father understood this in a prophetic way: in the young people, he saw the force of the Church to come, and this is why, through them, he is trying to inject to the Church a vaccine against asthenia, despair, pessimism, depression and lassitude that are spreading within. The Church of young people is the Church of the future, the budding Church, the Church that believes in tomorrow, the Church that is neither bending its knees nor abandoning itself to gloomy thoughts; it is the Church that seeks and finds strength and consolation in Jesus Christ, in prayer, in the Eucharist, in the Adoration, in the sacrament of the reconciliation.

Everything is so simple; nobody is disturbing or hindering anyone. There is no need of hundreds of police officers or of security forces, as it is happening in the stages; everything is filled with an atmosphere of interiority, of opening, of prayer and of singing. Without publicity, without big posters, without advertisement. Medjugorje is not counting on that. Medjugorje speaks for itself; Medjugorje is in itself a magnet, which is attracting and focusing catholic forces from the four corners of the world. If we look at the expenses that are made for certain projects to be announced, at which point certain things are advertised, and how much time and money are spent to carry out certain gatherings, we can say for this Festival in Medjugorje that it is a perfect spectacle arranged by Heaven.

We wish to see Jesus? This is possible only through us, through you and me. Are we ready to dare? Mary says that she desires to draw us towards her Son, so that each one of us may find one’s place in this triangle between her and Jesus. Medjugorje is a permanent mission of Heaven.

Dr. Fr. Tomislav Pervan

NEWS

NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS

During the month of July, 95000 communions were distributed and 4145 priests from this country and from abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.

In July, pilgrims were here from: Italy, France, Poland, Belgium, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the USA, Slovenia, Germany, New Zealand, Hungary, Rumania, Austria, Mexico, England, Korea, Canada, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, India, Netherlands, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

FEAST OF ST. JAMES, PATRON SAINT OF THE PARISH

On July 25, feast of St. James the Apostle, the parish of Medjugorje celebrated its patron saint. In the morning, according to the custom, the Eucharistic celebration began and ended by the singing the litany of All the Saints and a procession with the statue of the Patron Saint, which was carried by the residents of Miletina. Holy Mass was celebrated in the little park near the church. It was presided by Fr. Branimir Musa, and concelebrated by the Herzegovinian provincial Fr. Slavko Soldo, the pastor of Medjugorje Fr. Branko Rados, and other priests.

The evening Mass, which gathered together several thousands of faithful and numerous foreign priests, was presided by Fr. Tomislav Pervan.

15th INTERNATIONAL YOUTH PRAYER FESTIVAL

The International Youth Prayer Meeting in Medjugorje took place this year from August 1 to 6. About 25,000 young people from all over the world gathered together. There were also about 400 priests, who accompanied their young parishioners to this meeting. The theme of the meeting was, “We desire to see Jesus”. During the evening prayer programme, numerous other pilgrims joined young people, and about 30,000 faithful participated in the programme each evening.

Lecturers and witnesses invited young people to come to know Jesus Christ who is a brother for each one of us and the Saviour of humanity, and whom young people need so much today.

This meeting was another exceptional spiritual experience for all young people who participated. This is why we invite them to come next year again to Medjugorje and to renew their fidelity to God, to the Holy Father and to the Church.

The meeting was simultaneously translated into seventeen languages.

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION

Several thousands of local and foreign pilgrims came to Medjugorje for the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the morning, Masses were celebrated in about ten languages. The solemn evening Mass was presided by Fr. Dario Dodig, and concelebrated by 54 priests. Also this year, numerous Croatian pilgrims came on bare feet. They were arriving already during the night, after having walked many kilometres.

SEMINARS IN "DOMUS PACIS"

There were two "Prayer and Fasting" seminars led by Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic for pilgrims from Poland and from Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In the same house, there was a time of recollection for a group of young people from Montenegro led by Fr. Franjo Dusaj.

THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL MEETING FOR MARRIED COUPLES

The 5th International Meeting for Married Couples will take place in Medjugorje in the New Hall from November 3 to 6, 2004. The theme of the seminar is “How to heal the marriage and the family?” It is recommended to ring with you: a small FM radio with headphones (for simultaneous translation) and a Bible.

Participation per couple: 30 €. You may make reservations by e-mail: seminar.marija@medjugorje.hr or by fax +387-36-651-999. 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, latest by the end of September. All the participants are invited to individually provide their accommodation in 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.

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Last Modified 08/30/2004