Međugorje – 164,
July 26
2001
"Dear
children! In this time of grace, I
call you to come even closer to God through your personal prayer. Make good
use of the time of rest and give your soul and your eyes rest in God. Find
peace in nature and you will discover God the Creator Whom you will be able to
give thanks to for all creatures; then you will find joy in your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."
July 25, 2001
FROM THE BEGINNING
Each
one of us has omitted to complete and to develop something in his life’s
knowledge and art. Often, we regret it, especially when it seems to us that
precisely this would have helped us in certain circumstances. What mostly
impedes the growth in diverse areas of life is the impossibility or the lack of
determination to start something from the beginning. Young people and adults
have some kind of fear, when they have to start something almost from the
beginning, especially in the area where we think that we have learned how to do
it. It is difficult to start from the beginning even when we know that we can
succeed only if we start from the very beginning.
All
this concerns also the religious knowledge and experience. To mend what we
already have acquired and lived creates an uneasiness in us. To start from the
very beginning in our religious practice is painful. What will be the reaction
of others? Will we succeed, will the others understand it in the right way?
Pilgrims
bear witness that in Medjugorje they make an exceptional experience, and that
– in their religious practice – sometimes they started some things from the
very beginning, sometimes from zero, and that this does not push them away, but
brings them closer to Medjugorje. Precisely this will gather this year, in the
beginning of August, thousands of young people.
Fra
Ivan Landeka
NUMBER
OF CUMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of June, 180.000 communions were distributed and 3651 priests from the country and from abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims
were here from Romania, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Korea, Germany, France, Canada,
Austria, USA, Slovakia, Switzerland, Slovenia, Holland, Yugoslavia, South Africa,
Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, Vietnam, Portugal, The Czech
Republic, England, Ireland, Lebanon, Scotland, Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
The
9th Military Pilgrimage took place in the shrine of Medjugorje, as
every year, on June 28th.
Militaries
participated in the prayer of the Rosary, and the central point was the evening
Holy Mass presided by fra Danko Perutina, who delivered the homily.
In
time of war, soldiers recognized Medjugorje as a place of prayer, of peace and
reconciliation. They continue to see it as such and, as they said in one
previous pilgrimage: “In
spite of military
forces, which govern the world, only in God can man feel secure”. Their coming
this year confirms it.
DIAMOND
AND GOLDEN MASSES OF HERCEGOVINIAN FRIARS
On
the feast of St. Peter and Paul, apostles, in the parish church of Medjugorje,
fra Vinko Dragićević celebrated his diamond priestly jubilee, and his brother,
fra Marko Dragićević, celebrated his golden jubilee. Both of them are born in
the parish of Medjugorje. They were joined by fra Leonard Oreč, former parish
priest of Medjugorje, and fra Dobroslav Begić, former vicar in the parish of
Medjugorje, who also celebrated their golden jubilee.
In
a solemn Holy Mass, concelebrated by many priests, numerous faithful thanked God
and these tireless friars for their selfless service during many years, when
they were often persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
A
NEW PROVINCIAL FOR THE HERCEGOVINIAN FRANCISCAN PROVINCE
End
of June, fra Slavko Soldo, until now superior of the Franciscan hercegovinian
custodia in the USA, born in Medjugorje, was elected new provincial of
Hercegovina. In this service, he succeeds the former provincial, fra Tomislav
Pervan, who is known by many pilgrims as parish priest of Medjugorje from 1982
to 1988.
In
the name of all the pilgrims and all the friends of Medjugorje, we invoke the
blessing of God on the new provincial, on the new government of our Province,
and on their service.
July
1st, a traditional meeting of choirs of Hercegovina took place in the
parish church of Medjugorje. With their singing, they embellished the
Eucharistic celebration, after which followed the official programme, presenting
six choirs. In the overfilled parish Church, the assistance enjoyed the beauty
of sacred music. At the beginning of the concert, the parish priest of
Medjugorje greeted the singers and encouraged them to continue in their musical
art.
The
Sixth international meeting of priests took place July 2 to 7, 2001. There were
243 priests from 36 countries (United Arabic Emirates, Montenegro, Nigeria,
Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Vietnam, Hungary, India, Uganda, South Africa, The
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Canada, Rumania, El Salvador, Mexico,
Argentina, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, France,
Australia, USA, England, Belgium, Austria, Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina). The
theme was “Priest – Servant of the Divine Mercy”.
This
year’s preachers were Mgr Robert Rivas, bishop of Kingstown, F. France Spelič,
F. Bennet Tierney, F. Jacques Philippe, F. Jozo Zovko and Sr. Elvira Petrozzi.
They
meditated and spoke about “The life God wants from a priest”, “Prayer –
a way towards God’s Mercy”, “Priorities in priestly life”, “Priest, a
mystery of Divine Mercy”.
During
six days, priests were attending the conferences, sharing, praying and
celebrating the Eucharist in communion with the people of God. The day before
last, they climbed the Cross Mountain praying the Way of the Cross, and the last
day, they celebrated the Morning Prayer at the tomb of fra Slavko Barbarić, who
initiated these Priests Meetings in 1996.
The
meeting was coordinated by fra Ljubo Kurtović.
From
year to year, the number of priests who choose to make their annual retreat in
Medjugorje, under the protection of Our Blessed Mother – the Queen of Peace,
is growing. The abundance of fruits of this meeting can be seen in the Statement
they adopted at the end of the retreat:
“We,
priests from diverse countries, are gathered for the Sixth Retreat for Priests
with the theme: “Priest – servant of the Divine Mercy”. We attended
conferences given by Mgr Robert Rivas, F. France Spelič, F. Bennet Tierney, F.
Jacques Philippe, F. Jozo Zovko and Sr. Elvira Petrozzi.
We
want to express our gratitude to the Lord for having called us into His
priesthood. Christ confided us His all-powerful and infinite mercy and love to
give them to our brothers and sisters. We are encouraged and strengthened by the
motherly intercession of the Queen of Peace at this source of grace, who calls
us to her Heart to lead us to Her son Jesus, being fed at the source of life,
the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
We
thank the Lord for His infinite trust in spite of all our weaknesses, refusals
and limits. We implore the Lord to give us the experience of forgiveness of our
sins, so that we may give forgiveness to others. We promise our fidelity to the
Lord in the announcing of his Good News, which was given and confided to us, to
bring fruit in the hearts of those who listen to it.
We
want to and we decide to grow in holiness, and to seek to know the Lord more and
more through prayer, who gives himself to us, so that we may give ourselves to
others from day to day without reserve.
Mary
gathers us here from all over the world, from diverse colours and races, diverse
languages and nationalities, to make us her children, leading us to Jesus
Christ. Here, we can hear her voice telling us: “Do whatever he tells you!”
(John 2,5). Here, we experienced the beauty of belonging to the Lord and to His
Church. We experienced the truth of “how good it is and how pleasant where
brethren dwell as one” (Ps 133/132, 1).
We
renewed our love and our Yes to the Lord and to His Church. We want to discover
the merciful face of Christ through personal sanctification, so that the
infinite treasure of His Mercy may be seen through our lives.
We
express our availability to witness for the Lord to all who are erring and
seeking peace, love and happiness far away from the Lord.
We
put the whole Church, the whole world and ourselves under the protection and the
powerful intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace, that
she may protect us and guide as her beloved children.
Medjugorje,
July 2 to 7 2001
243
priests participants of the 6th International retreat for priests
They
also addressed a letter to the Holy Father:
Dear
Holy Father,
The
6th International Meeting of Priests in Medjugorje, which attracted
about 250 priests, sends You greetings and our filial love.
Our
Conference this year was on the Priest – Servant of the Divine Mercy, and we
listened to Mary’s call to do works of mercy out of love. As we return to our
various countries and communities, where we minister to our people, we return as
missionaries of Mercy.
At Medjugorje, we prayed
for You and asked Our Blessed Mother to care for You in a special way in Your
pastoral ministry to the whole Church.
We
now express our loyalty to You and our availability to serving the Church. May
Mary, the Queen of Peace and Mother of Mercy, smile at You today. God bless!
Sincerely
in Christ,
Signed:
Bishop
Robert Rivas, Kingstown, St. Vincent
F.
Jacques Philippe, Community of Beatitudes
F.
Bennet Tierney, Legionary of Christ
F.
France Spelič
For
the Parish of Medjugorje: fra Ivan Sesar, Parish priest
All
the priests, participants in the retreat
A
group of 25 cyclists from the parish Riolo Terme, Ravenna, came to Medjugorje on
June 6th. After many hundreds of kilometres on bicycle to reach the
shrine of Medjugorje, they climbed the Apparition Hill and the Križevac. After
the evening prayer programme, they returned home content with this experience,
which was very strong, because of the great heat of the journey. But, “there
is no real pilgrimage without a real effort, and this is what brings the true
joy. We will come back”, said the Italian cyclists.
A
documentary film about the life and the work of fra Slavko Barbarić “In
Gospa’s name” has recently been published by Michael Mayr, a German
producer. The documentary can be found in the Parish Office in Medjugorje. There
is also a new web page about Father Slavko’s life and work, by the same
producer. The web-address is: www.paterslavko.de
We
inform all those who want to participate in the International Meeting for
Leaders of Medjugorje Prayer, Pilgrim and Charity groups “Pray, pray,
pray…” announced for February 10 to 14, 2002, that the meeting will take
place February 17 to 21, 2002.
You
can send your registrations by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr
, by fax: + 387 36 651 300 (for Marija Dugandžić), or in the Information
Office personally or by phone: + 387 36 651 988. The programme and all
information about this seminar can be found on our web-pages: www.medjugorje.hr
or in the Bulletin 162 from May 26, 2001. (Note the change of dates: February
17 to 21,2002)