Instructions for pilgrims/organizers

Notes and information for pilgrims

DEAR PILGRIMS!

On behalf of all the priests serving in this parish, I warmly welcome you who come to Međugorje as spiritual group leaders or as pilgrims. To make your stay in our community as pleasant and fruitful as possible, I wish to give you certain guidelines. I sincerely ask you to read them carefully and follow them:

1.

Holy Masses are celebrated in the parish church, in the Adoration chapel, and in the John Paul II Hall, all arranged in coordination with the Information Office and the religious sisters who oversee the sacristy. According to Church regulations, it is forbidden to celebrate Holy Mass in guesthouses, private homes where you stay, on the hills, or in chapels located within the parish territory of Međugorje.

For clarification or any information, you may contact the Information Office by phone/fax:+387 36 651 988or by e-mail:informacije@medjugorje.hr

2.

Prayer gatherings in the parish area may only be organized with the permission of the parish priest.

3.

Only priests serving in the parish have permission to hold meetings and address pilgrims in church spaces. All others must obtain permission from the parish priest.

4.

No one is authorized to "pray over other persons" either inside the church or around the church grounds.

5.

If you are a priest, you are invited to concelebrate the evening Holy Mass (please bring all necessary items: alb, stole, celebret...), and if you have the faculty for confession, to be available to pilgrims for confession in your native language or a language you speak.

6.

Every priest who wishes to hear confessions or concelebrate Masses must have a valid celebret. With this celebret, he must register at the Information Office where he will receive registration allowing him to hear confessions and concelebrate Mass. Priests without registration will not be permitted to concelebrate the Eucharist.

7.

Pilgrimage group leaders arrange meetings with priests at the Sanctuary Information Office.

8.

The use of personal sound systems in the church space is prohibited.

9.

We ask pilgrimage groups to take a guide who is professionally trained in leading pilgrimage groups in Medjugorje. Guide services can be requested at the Sanctuary Information Office.

10.

We kindly ask pilgrimage group leaders to announce the arrival of their group and the number of pilgrims at the Sanctuary Information Office, by phone/fax:+387 36 651 988or by e-mail:informacije@medjugorje.hr

11.

Please do not organize any other programs during the evening program at the sanctuary.

12.

The area around the church, on Podbrdo and Križevac, is a place of prayer. Please respect it as such by observing proper behavior and dress (shoulders and knees must always be covered) that does not disturb others in prayer and recollection. Please also keep the area clean.

13.

Do not light candles on Podbrdo or Križevac. Candles may only be lit at the specially designated place on the west side of the church, near the wooden cross. Do not leave votive objects or pictures on Podbrdo or Križevac.

14.

Smoking is not allowed in the church or in the prayer area around it.

15.

Aware of the greatness of God’s presence, and to protect the prayerful atmosphere and recollection, photography is not permitted during Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

16.

It is forbidden to collect any alms except during Holy Mass. If you notice someone doing so at another time, please inform the Sanctuary Information Office.

17.

Mass intentions, vows, or voluntary contributions for the maintenance of this sacred space can be left at the Parish Office. Thank you!

With God's blessing,

Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, OFM, Pastor

Broadcast and translation of the evening prayer program

The evening prayer program from the parish church of St. James is broadcast and translated throughout the year into nine world languages: Croatian, German, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Polish, Slovak, and Russian. During special parish events, it is translated into about twenty languages.

In this way, all pilgrims from the mentioned language areas can follow the evening Holy Mass in their own language. This system is a blessing for all pilgrims and a unique service that enables the pilgrim to participate prayerfully in the communal liturgy.

To maintain this system, we invite everyone to make a support payment for its operation when registering groups. Payments can be made at the Information Office upon group registration or to the Mir Međugorje Information Center’s bank account with the note: support ICMM.

The amount of support for the translation and broadcast of the prayer program is 2.00 euros per person for the entire pilgrimage. We sincerely thank you for all contributions!

Instructions for priests

General guidelines and recommendations for priests in Međugorje

DEAR PRIESTS, WELCOME TO MEĐUGORJE!

On behalf of all the priests serving in this parish, we warmly welcome you. To make your stay in our community as pleasant and spiritually fruitful as possible, please adhere to the following instructions:

1.

Please fully observe the Church regulations provided by the Code of Canon Law, liturgical norms, and instructions from Church authorities regarding priestly life and ministry.

2.

To participate in the liturgical life, it is necessary to have a recommendation letter (celebret) from your ordinary or superior, not older than one year (cf. canon 903).

3.

Bring with you the sacred vestments (alb and stole). Celebrating the Eucharist is not permitted without the prescribed liturgical attire (cf. canon 929).

4.

If you have the necessary faculties, you may concelebrate at Holy Masses or celebrate Mass in your own language according to the schedule. If you wish to preside or preach, please contact the parish office. Please arrive on time for Mass — priests who are late cannot concelebrate.

5.

The Holy Mass may only be celebrated in places officially approved by ecclesiastical authorities. Celebrating Masses in guesthouses, private homes, on hills, or in chapels without approval is prohibited (cf. Episcopal Ordinariate Mostar no. 525/99).

6.

The central liturgical part of the day is the evening prayer program. You are invited to concelebrate if you have a valid celebret. Before Mass, please register in the Record Book in the sacristy.

7.

If you have the faculty to hear confessions, be available to pilgrims for the Sacrament of Penance. For the sacrament, use the alb and stole and hear confessions within the confessionals (cf. canon 964).

8.

With your group, you may organize prayer meetings in appropriate places (Apparition Hill, Calvary, area around the Risen One), taking care not to disturb other pilgrims.

9.

During the communal evening program, organizing other prayer meetings within the parish territory is not permitted.

10.

Meetings and addresses to pilgrims in the church space may only be conducted by priests who have canonical mission in the parish. Others require prior permission from the pastor.

11.

Without the consent of the pastor, organizing “prayers for healing” or “prayers over other persons” is not permitted. If you have permission, strictly observe the Church’s regulations.

With God's blessing,

Parish Office Međugorje