date: 24.02.2019.
The Apostolic Visitor with the special role for the parish of Medjugorje, Mons. Henryk Hoser spent some time with the members of the prayer groups deriving from Medjugorje and was also the main celebrant of the Holy Mass on this occasion, in concelebration of many priests and the parish priest, Fr. Marinko Sakota.
There are 22 prayer communities present in Medjugorje and Archbishop Hoser called them all “one big Medjugorje community”.
''St. Peter the Apostle gives us the example with some instructions on how we are to live in the Church, to tend the flock, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Not to lord it over those assigned to them, but to be examples to the flock. The leaders of the community have the primary role of serving the community'', said Mons. Hoser, who spoke also about how to maintain the spirit of the fellowship in our communities. He said that each one of us, in order to live responsibly in the communities needs to have some outer criteria that would estimate his behaviour and actions.
''The first and the most important reference is the Gospel and there we know that our thoughts and actions needs to be immersed in it, when our thoughts and actions need to be in accordance to the Gospel and the teaching of Jesus Christ, while the additional reference is Ten Commandments, and finally the constitution of every specific community. If our behaviour is right and if we live according to Ten Commandments, to the Gospel and to the constitution, while being obedient to the Gospel, to the Church and to Christ, we would be on the right path...'', said Mons. Hoser.
He also said that the general criteria for the healthy environment and holiness of the community are love, joy and peace, while three personal criteria are patience, kindness and goodness. Lastly, he added another three criteria for good functioning of the community, and those are faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
''All of these nine things I mentioned are the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel tells us while we walk in the spirit, we live in the spirit, once we receive those gifts the fruits need to be reflected too'', said at the end of his homily Mons. Hoser and finished with the words ''Sapienti sat!''
The photos are available
here.
