Bulletin
186
Medjugorje,
May 26th, 2003
“Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer.
Renew your personal prayer, and in a special way pray to the Holy
Spirit to help you pray with the heart. I
intercede for all of you, little children, and call all of you to conversion.
If you convert, all those around you will also be renewed and prayer
will be a joy for them. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
May 25, 2003
Nowadays, people
try so hard to gain the affection of other people! They use many different ways
to reach other people, to convey their messages, opinions, feelings, and
position… Our society unfortunately also uses some means of communication that
are not permissible. We see how absurd that is when some groups, nations, even
states, proclaim peace, freedom and wealth – by means of armament, economical
exploitation, unjust laws - whilst denying others the right to the same human
dignity, which they claim for themselves.
In such confusion,
we all are the victims. There is no winner, because most precious what is in men
is being trampled down: the right to life and freedom given by God.
If we consider
Medjugorje and Our Lady’s apparitions in this context, it is good to notice
the ways Our Lady chooses to transmit the messages from heaven to humanity. Her
coming among men, her children, does not correspond to the logic of human
thought and acting. Now in Medjugorje, and before this at other sites of
apparition, she approaches men in a motherly way: with love. The intention of a
mother is not to capture the child, to posses it through her message and her
incentives. She invites a child to live freely and joyfully the message of Jesus.
The message never tries to rule over men, but invites them to choose themselves
their own way. In this way, Our Lady only summarises the words of Jesus about
following Him freely on his way. Through her motherly words, Our Lady transmits
the message of her heart to our hearts. We can see it most clearly in the words
of each message, when she calls us “little children”.
Many hearts all
over the world have heard and recognised her words. People feel her love, which
invites us to love God and our neighbour. This is why Medjugorje is a place
where the faithful feel free, accepted, and more than this: loved. But pilgrims
should not stop at this point. We have to spread the message in the same way, by
the same means, with the same intention, to other hearts. In this transmission,
led by the example of God himself, we should never be aggressive, obtrusive or
garish. The character of Medjugorje does not allow us to pressure others to
believe what we believe or accept at any prize the message of Our Lady that
resounded in our ears, and made us come closer to Jesus.
If - through Mary - God approaches us, sinful
people, with so much heart and love, how could we have the right to be different in our encounters with our brothers
and sisters? Let our heart send to others only a message of the heart and of
love.
Fr. Mario Knezovic
NEWS
NUMBER OF COMMUNIONS AND NUMBER OF CONCELEBRANTS
During the month of April
2003, 95,000 communions were distributed and 1,622 priests from this country and
abroad concelebrated Holy Mass in Medjugorje.
Pilgrims were here from
Germany, Italy, France, La Reunion, Poland, Korea, Slovenia, South Africa, the
USA, Mexico, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Argentina, the Czech
Republic, Honduras, India, New Zealand, Lebanon, Slovakia, Ireland, Romania,
Latvia, Hungary, Canada, Switzerland, Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Blessing
of a New Chalice
The new chalice for
Eucharistic celebrations at the outside altar was blessed and for the first time
used on Easter Sunday 2003. It weights 6 kg, is made of massive silver and
covered with gold, and it is the work of the sculptor Joakim Jaki Gregov, a
Franciscan from Zadar, who fashioned several works of art for the Shrine of
Medjugorje. The chalice represents St. Francis elevating the cup with the
bloodless sacrifice.
The
Ambassador for Argentina on private visit to Medjugorje
Mr. Carlos A. Martese,
Ambassador for Argentina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, came on a private visit to
Medjugorje on Saturday, May 3, 2003. He came with his wife and two other people.
After the visit of the Shrine, they met Fr. Branko Rados, the pastor, who spoke
to them about the events of Medjugorje. Mr. Martese was deeply impressed by his
visit. He also climbed Apparition Hill, and said he would come again.
First
Communion
On Sunday, May 4th, 2003, 83 children from
the Parish Medjugorje received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion in St.
James’ parish church. Holy Mass was presided by Fr. Franjo Music and
concelebrated by the pastor, Fr. Branko Rados, Fr. Petar Vlasic and other
priests. The occasion was embellished by the singing of the “Little Doves of
Peace” choir under the direction of Sr. Slavica Kozul. The day before, the
children also made their First Holy Confession. Their
parents and catechists accompanied the children on the path, preparing them for
the Eucharistic Jesus. On
this day, a very special atmosphere reigned in the whole parish. Many local and
foreign pilgrims joined the children and their parents in this celebration.
Msgr.
Luigi Bommarito, Retired Archbishop of Catania (Italy), on Private Visit to
Medjugorje
Msgr. Luigi Bommarito,
retired Archbishop of Catania (Italy), was on private visit to Medjugorje from
May 1 to 4, 2003. Mr. Domenico Volpini, a political deputy, accompanied him.
Msgr. Bommarito participated in the prayer programme of the Shrine, and on
Sunday, May 4th, he presided Holy Mass for Italian pilgrims.
Seminars
in “Domus Pacis”
Over the last month, there
was one “Prayer and Fasting” seminar for pilgrims from Ukraine. There was
also a recollection seminar for Altar Boys from Herzegovina, led by Fr. Dario
Dodig, and a recollection seminar for lay people form Zagreb organised by the
“Legion of Mary”.
For “Prayer and Fasting”
seminars, contact Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, Zupni ured Medjugorje, Gospin trg 1, 88266
Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Fax: 00 387 36 651 444)
a
Brochure About the Rosary
The Shrine of the Queen of
Peace in Medjugorje published a brochure in which it invites the faithful to
pray the Rosary. This call is based on the Holy Father’s invitation to pray
the Rosary and on Our Lady’s messages in Fatima and Medjugorje.
Based on the Bible, the
brochure presents the Joyful Mysteries, the Mysteries of Light, the Sorrowful
and the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, and explains how to pray the Rosary.
It invites the faithful to
pray daily, especially for the following intentions: for spiritual and religious
renewal; for the renewal of love, fidelity and peace in the families; for the
birth of children who have been conceived; for the return of expulsed and exiled
to their homes; for the rebuilding of destroyed homes; for a life worthy of men;
for a just society; for the construction of a better world.
The 11th
International Meeting for Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje Prayer,
Pilgrim and Charity groups
The 11th
International Meeting for Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje Prayer,
Pilgrim and Charity groups will take place in the New Hall in Medjugorje from
February 22 – 26, 2004. The theme of this meting will be,
“Penance and
Contemporary Men”
Sunday, February 22,
2004
14:00 - Registration
17:00 - Evening Prayer
Program in Church
Monday, February 23,
2004
09:00 - Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
09:30 - Lecture:
“Penance in Holy Scripture and in Our Lady’s Messages” – dr. Fr. Jozo
Vasilj, OFM
10:15 -
Intermission
10:45 - Meeting
and discussion with the lecturer
11:30 -
“Humanitarian Activities Linked to the Apparitions of Medjugorje” – Fr.
Ivan Landeka, OFM
Meeting and discussion with the
lecturer about humanitarian activities
15:00 - Meeting
with the Franciscans
17:00 - Evening
Prayer Program in Church
20:30 -
Meeting of the participants with the Parish priest
Tuesday, February 24,
2004
09:00 - Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
09:30 - Lecture:
“Penance – a Powerful Weapon Against Evil” – Dr. Fr. Slavko Topic,
OFM
10:30 -
Intermission
11:00 - Meeting
and Discussion with the lecturer
15:00 – Rosary
on Apparition Hill
17:00 - Evening
Prayer Program in Church
Ash Wednesday, February
25, 2004
Day of Prayer: Fr. Jozo
Zovko, OFM and Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic, OFM
09:00 – Prayer,
lectures, sharing…
12:00 - Lunch for
all the participants (bread and water)
14:00 – Way of
the Cross on Krizevac (Cross Mountain)
17:00 - Evening
Prayer Program in Church
21:00 - 22:00 -
Adoration
Thursday, February 26,
2004
09:00 - Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament
09:30 -
Experiences of the Participants
11:00 - Holy Mass
– Fr. Branko Rados, OFM, Parish Priest
Lunch for all the
participants
Lecturers
Dr. Fr. Jozo Vasilj, OFM, was born in 1943 in Medjugorje, BiH. In 1962,
he entered the Franciscan Order in the province of Herzegovina, and in 1969, he
was ordained a priest. He studied theology in Schwaz in Austria, continued with
post-graduate studies in the Social sciences in 1976, and he completed a
doctorate in 1980 at the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome. He was
assistant parish priest in Capljina, then professor at the Catechetical
Institute of the Theological Faculty in Zagreb, and at the Philosophical-Theological
Institute of the Jesuits in Zagreb. From 1981 to 1984, he was General Secretary
of the Conference of the Higher Religious Superiors of Ex-Yugoslavia, and member
of the Secretary Board from 1984 to 1987. He was elected the Provincial of the
Herzegovinian Franciscan Province in 1988, and in 1989 he resigned and went as a
missionary to Congo, where he taught at the Philosophical-Theological Institute
John XXIII in Kolwezi, and was also a Rector of the Franciscan Theology
Institute. From 1998 to 2000, he was the Provincial of the Province of St. Benedict
the African in Congo and the Central African Republic. He participated at
numerous seminars and symposiums all over the world. Since 2002, he is professor
at the Pedagogical Faculty of the University in Mostar and at the Theological
Institute in Mostar.
Dr. Fr. Slavko
Topic, OFM, was born in 1940 in Bukovica, BiH. In 1960, he
entered the Franciscan Order in the province of Bosnia, and in 1966, he was
ordained a priest. He finished his studies of theology in Sarajevo. He also
studied Church Music at the Institute for Church Music in Zagreb, the Pontifical
Institute for Church Music in Rome, and the Institute for Musical Sciences of
the Faculty of Philosophy in Cologne. He graduated Church Music at the
Pontifical Musical Institute in Rome, where he also continued his Post-graduate
degree. He completed his doctorate in Cologne in 1985.
He was assistant parish
priest in several parishes in his province, and was also a Novice Master. As a
professor, he taught at the seminary and at the Franciscan and Diocesan Theology
Institute in Sarajevo. He has published articles and texts in several magazines.
As a priest and a professor, he was interested in spiritual questions of
deliverance from evil. He gave several conferences and seminars about the danger
of Satanism and of Occult phenomena.
At present, he is
Professor at the Franciscan Theology Institute in Sarajevo and Vicar of St Paul’s
Monastery in Sarajevo.
The 11th
International Meeting for Leaders of Peace Centres and Medjugorje Prayer,
Pilgrim and Charity groups will take place in the New Hall in Medjugorje from
February 22 – 26, 2004. The number of places is limited, and the number of
participants is increasing from year to year. This is why we ask you kindly to make
your registration as soon as possible, at the latest by the end of November
2003. You can send your registrations by Tel/fax + 387 36 651 988 (for
Marija Dugandzic) or by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr,
or personally in the Information Office.
Simultaneous
translation is available for all language groups. This is why we ask you kindly
to take with you a small FM radio with headphones.
The price of the seminar is 60 € per person. This includes all the fees for the organisation and running of the seminar (lecturers, translations of texts, simultaneous translation and lunch the last day). When you register and pay at the beginning of the seminar, you will receive a badge, which will allow you to participate in the seminar. We ask you kindly to organise personally your accommodation in Medjugorje. We believe that this is not a problem for you, because you have come to Medjugorje for many years now and have friends and acquaintances here.
We are looking forward to
your reservations and to welcoming you at this meeting!
The
8th International Meeting for Priests
The 8th
International meeting for priests will take place in Medjugorje from June 30 to July 5,
2003. The theme of the meeting is, “Servant
of the Eucharist”.
You may make reservations by e-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr , at the Information Office personally, or by phone/fax:
+387-36-651-988 (for Marija Dugandzic).
We
ask all priests who have arranged their own accommodation with a family in
Medjugorje to note in their application the name and the phone number of the
family where they will be staying. We will arrange accommodation for all the
priests who have no direct contacts and have not arranged their own
accommodation.
Instead
of a monetary payment, we ask you to kindly celebrate five Mass intentions.
It
is necessary to bring with you: your celebret given by your superior, an alb
and stole, a Bible, and a small FM radio with headphones (for
simultaneous translation).
You can find the programme for this meeting on
our web-page www.medjugorje.hr
.
Many
priests who do not have access to the Internet may not have been informed about
the existence of this international meeting in Medjugorje. Therefore, we kindly
ask all Organisers of pilgrimages, Prayer Groups and Centres for Peace to
publish this information as widely as possible by all means at their disposal,
so that as many priests as possible may participate. As much as possible, we
also kindly ask you to financially assist the priests who would like to come but
do not have the necessary funds for such a journey.
We
thank you in advance and pray for God’s blessing and the blessing of the Queen
of Peace upon you and your work.