date: 05.06.2006.
The Italian bicycle club “Avis-Aido“ from Grumello del Monte near Bergamo, organised a non-stop cycle relay pursuit from Our Lady’s Shrine at Boldesico to our Lady’s Medjugorje, to take place from the 1st to the 4th of June. The goal of this sport-cum-religious endeavour was the promotion of peace.
They left at dawn on June 1st, after Mass and a blessing in Boldesico. They journeyed non-stop for 920 kilometres. On arriving at the site of the old parish church in Medjugorje, a ceremony crowned their undertaking. In the presence of Dr. Fr. Ivan Sesar, parish priest of Medjugorje, they planted an olive tree, symbol of peace, and they set free two white doves from a cage.
The entourage consisted of 16 cyclists divided into 4 relays, together with their back-up logistic team led by the president of the cycle club, M. Angelo Bonomelli, and the mayor, Alessandro Cottini.
The “Avis-Aido” cycle club organises a similar relay pursuit every year. They have already cycled to San Giovanni Rotondo, Assisi, Sorano, Loretto and Lourdes, and their selected symbolisms are always connected to the spiritual significance of their chosen destination.
