Međugorje
-159, February 26 2001
"Dear children! . That
is why pray, pray, pray until you comprehend God’s love for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." February
25, 2001 |
THE DIRECTION AND THE GOAL (on the
way of preparation for Easter)
“It is enough to be naïve
to choose any direction. The one who wants to keep the chosen direction needs a
compass”. (K. Steinbach) The one who does not know the right direction is more
or less careless about the direction he is walking in. But the preparation for
Easter has the same characteristics and so it also needs a clear direction and a
visible goal. Without knowing one or the other, the preparation for Easter –
the time of Lent – becomes a burden that brings nothing. The first step in the
direction of Easter is to hear the word of the Scripture: “Come back to the
Lord with your whole heart!” Listening to these words, we have to feel that
this good news for us. Feeling that this is good news for us means to begin to
have an Easter preparation and an Easter celebration. The Acts of the Apostles
call Jesus the leader of the way into life. Jesus himself says: “I am the Way,
the Truth and the Life”. He is the way towards the goal and
is the compass. He leads us into life. To walk with Him means to walk
towards life. This is why the call to conversion, manifested by ashes on Ash
Wednesday, is joyfully, good news for us.
Fra
Ivan Landeka
In the month of January, 35.000 communions were distributed and 568
priests concelebrated the Mass in Medjugorje.
During the year 2000, in the parish of Medjugorje 1,084.000 communions
had been distributed, and 24.258 priests from this country and from abroad
concelebrated Mass.
ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF GUIDES
At the service of the pilgrims of
Medjugorje, the Annual Assembly of the Guide Association, took place in the
house of prayer “Domus Pacis”. The spiritual guide of the meeting was Fr.
Ljubo Kurtović. The pastor, Dr. fra Ivan Sesar, listened to the Annual Report
and to daily joys and concerns of guides in their service of pilgrims. They also
gave some useful advice regarding their work. About 60 guides - qualified for
this service – organize, receive and accompany the pilgrims around Medjugorje
during their pilgrimage here. This year marks the 10th anniversary of
The Guide Association existence and its service.
In Medjugorje, thanks to the initiative of fra Slavko Barbarić, the first international seminar “Couples in the School of the Holy Family” was held. Fifty couples from three continents speaking Croatian, English, German, Polish, Czech and Korean attended the seminar. They spent four days in the school of the Holy Family, in the school of Mary. In common prayer in the conference hall, in the church and on the hills, through conferences given by Franciscan friars; through testimonies given by couples who had experienced the intercession of Mary, they received the message: - to be converted, means to give God the first place in their lives, - to consecrate their family to God and to abandon themselves and their families into His hands. The message was also - to renew family prayer, (especially the prayer of the rosary), - to invoke the Holy Spirit, - to pray for peace in their hearts, in their desires, in their families and in the world, - to also discover love in their hearts in order to forgive in the family so that they could then be able to love and forgive others; - to read the Bible, in order to learn how God loves His people, - to fast, - to encourage old people to pray and to teach the young, at last to be an example. If they live these messages, they will become the joy of Jesus and the family will really bring forth holiness that renews the world.
In the concluding homily, the pastor, dr. fra Ivan Sesar underlined:
“If our families follow the example of the Holy Family, where all members had
respect, time, love, and patience for each other, they will have no reason to
fear the future…”
The Parish
on pilgrimage to St. Blase in Dubrovnik
Every year, on February 3rd,
the parishioners of Medjugorje go to Dubrovnik for the feast of St. Blase,
Patron Saint of the city. This year, there were about hundred parishioners. One
of the pilgrims shared his reflection: “Every year, Dubrovnik solemnly
celebrates the feast of St. Blase, Patron Saint of the city.” In a solemn
procession with relics of St. Blase, the town seemed to define itself, its faith,
its values. St. Blase is the pride and the identity of Dubrovnik, but also its
duty.
SEMINARS AT “DOMUS PACIS”
Franciscan sisters from
Herzegovina gathered about 50 young girls from Herzegovina during two week-ends
for spiritual renewal in the house of prayer “Domus Pacis”. The title of the
spiritual renewal was: “You are my friends”.
Fra Dario Dodig directed a
spiritual renewal for Franciscan Youth from Herzegovina from February 16 to 18
as well.
In Medjugorje, Mary leads us
patiently and lovingly towards Jesus, teaching us how to become a son or a
daughter, a disciple, a friend, a co-worker, an apostle, so that the world may
know the One whom the Father has sent. These seminars are a good occasion to
learn this, and the great interest of young people are proof of it.
REGISTRATION OF PILGRIMAGES AND CONTACT WITH GUIDES
Registration of pilgrimages prior
to arrival is necessary for the parish in order to better assist the needs of
the pilgrims. All relative information can be obtained in the Information
Office, by e-mail: informacije@medjugorje.hr
or by phone: 00 387 36 651 988. In the same office, you can obtain all
information about the availability, work and service of local guides.
The 6th International Meeting for
Priests
The 6th International Meeting for
Priests "THE PRIEST – SERVANT OF THE DIVINE MERCY” takes place from 2nd
of July (evening) to 7th of July the (afternoon) 2001.
Things to bring with you:
Small radio and head-phones with an fm frequency (it can be purchased
here for 2 Mass intentions).
A Bible and Latin Breviary, if possible.
An alb and stole.
Payment: 5 Mass-intentions.
You may make reservations:
by fax: 00387-36-651-888
by E-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr
In the Information Office personally or by phone: 00387-36-651-988
YOUR ACCOMODATION IS A GIFT FROM THE PARISHIONERS. When you arrive in
Medjugorje, check in at the Parish Office in order to receive the name of the
family you will stay with, and which will take care of you for the duration of
the meeting.
Speakers:
Mgr Robert Rivas, bishop of
Kingstown - was born in Trinidad, Tobago on June 7, 1943. He entered the
Dominican order at the age of 18. He did his novitiate and Studies in Ireland.
He was ordained in 1971. He attended the Angelicum in Rome and there received
his Baccalaureate license in Theology. He returned to Ireland and studied
Communications, Radio and Television production. He returned to Trinidad and
worked in different parishes over a 7-year period. He was then appointed
Director of Communications and later become Novice Master for the Dominicans in
Formation, which he did for 10 years. In the early 1980's he was given an
appointment in the Caribbean as the first Dominican to be the Assistant to the
Master of the Dominican order in Rome for the promotion of Dominican life in the
Caribbean. The dream of this appointment was to have the first Dominican
province in the Caribbean. After 4 years he was appointed diocese Bishop after
19 years as a priest. His job includes working with the elderly, working very
closely with the youth in drug programs, Formation in Faith of Catholics on the
islands and a wide range of involvement of the Catholic Church in social issues.
He presently travels the world speaking to the youth, directing retreats for
priests and preaching the Gospel.
Fr. France Špelič -
was born on September 24th 1927 in Slovenia. He joined the Liberation Army when
he was not yet 15 years of age (during World war II), and was trained to be an
Atheist and Communist. In 1946 he married and had a family during which time he
became an officer in the Communist party. Later he resigned from his position as
an officer and became a teacher. In 1954 he began reading the Holy Bible and
because of this, he decided to withdraw from the Communist party. The
consequences for this were very severe and there was constant interrogation and
harassment by the communists. Nevertheless, he continued in his journey of faith
and eventually had a calling to be a priest. Without any hope of becoming a
priest, he still started to study Theology at the age of 41. Father Špelič
came to Medjugorje for the first time in 1987 and it was here that he believed
his ‘true conversion’ began. In the fifth year of his study his wife became
ill with Multiple Sclerosis. He took care of her until her death on December
24th 1992. In spite of many obstacles and opposition, on November 21st 1993, at
the age of 66, he became a priest. Presently he lives in Slovenia where a shrine
to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, has been erected known as Kurešček, where many
pilgrims go for prayer and faith renewal. He has written an autobiography of his
life and conversion experiences.
Fr. Bennet Tierney was born
on November 24, 1954 in Limerick, Ireland. He joined the Legionaries of Christ
in 1973 and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1985. He studied at the
Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and received a degree in Philosophy. He
also has a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical University Regina
Apostolorum in Rome. He worked as Vocational Director in Spain for 3 years and
then as the Director of “Regnum Christi” in Mexico for 8 years. He is the
founder and Director of “Centro Empresarial” in Mexico. He has lead
Spiritual Exercises for lay people and priests since 1985. His experience also
included directing conferences and seminars for Seminary Formators in Italy for
6 years. He has written several publications on Bioethics and Genetic Testing. (The
Legionaries of Christ is a religious community, which was founded in 1941 and
has over 500 priests and 2500 seminarians from 40 different nationalities in it.
“Regnum Christi” the apostolic lay movement under the Legionaries of Christ
has over 50.000 members.)
Fr. Jacques Philippe -
Father Jacques Philippe is a priest of the community of the Beatitudes. For ten
years, he was responsible for their foundation in Rome. During these years, he
directed many retreats and led missions in Italy and in the Eastern European
countries. He has written several books on spirituality: on the prayer of the
heart and prayer in general, how to receive peace of heart and how to live in
the Holy Spirit. He is currently working on a new book about mercy and the
freedom of the heart. After his time in Rome, he became a member of the General
Council and responsible for priests and seminarians of the Community of the
Beatitudes as well as for the novitiate house in France, for three years. After
a training in Canon Law, he was working on questions of the Statutes of the
community. One year ago, after having been member of the general council for ten
years, he was discharged from this service in order to have more time to direct
retreats, to write books and to serve as spiritual director.