THE MEDJGUGORJE PILGRIMAGE
SEPTEMBER 2013
Medjugorje Centre ( North East
) – Editorial Team
A sigh of relief comes when we are officially through
to departures at
Many new faces were amongst the Pilgrims travelling to
Medjugorje.
We were privileged
to be led by Fr.Martin Morris accompanied by Fr.Jeff Dodds Fr.Jim
Angus and Fr.Simon Firth from
What a welcome
sight, to be met by our guide Slava at
Slava from Mostar is one of the original guides of Medjugorje from the first days of the apparitions. She has experienced the oppression from the Communist Regime and the persecution of the 1991-95 war in Bosnia Herzegovina.
She has believed and marvelled at the proclamation from the Visionaries that Mary the Mother of God was appearing in Medjugorje from 1981. Over many years she has developed a protective close friendship with them.
Nothing is ever a problem for Slava, she meets the needs of The North East Pilgrimage and secretly, we are her favourite group. Thank God for her gifts, she is a talented interpreter and knowledgeable guide. When dealing with the sick her compassion is extraordinary.
We were awoken each morning at 6am by the peels of the Angelus Bells from the Parish Church of St. James, followed by the early morning bells calling the locals to Mass. Immediately, we realise we are in a Holy Place.
Each day we were blessed by the warmth of the sun, temperatures soaring to 38 degrees.
We all follow
the programme of the Medjugorje Parish, listening to the interesting Homilies
of the English Speaking
Sometimes it was a struggle to find a seat in St. James Church at the English Speaking Mass but we tried not to complain especially about the Italian Pilgrims who scramble and push to get into church for their Mass, which starts directly after the English Mass, but it was pointed out ‘who else in the world would squeeze and push to get into Church and hunger for God’
The ushers and doormen, daily, try and maintain a civil entry into Church, to which we are truly thankful, especially the ones from The North East Group who volunteered a number of times to maintain the dignity of the crowds.
We were given a
warm and friendly welcome from Stephen (Stjepo) a
young American musician director of music for the English Mass accompanied by
Anna Shawl from the
Medjugorje is known as the Reconciliation Centre of the world. Pure dedication is portrayed by Priests from all nations as they sit for hours hearing confession, giving healing absolution to thousands of Pilgrims. They are true Servants of Christ and a true example to us all.
The experience of Medjugorje in the Presence of Our Blessed Mother gives strength and affirmation to the Priesthood and our Shepherds in an ever changing world.
The annual visit to The Cenacolo Community, Rehabilitation
Centre for Addicts, always restores our faith in mankind. Cenacolo
founded by Sister Elvira provides healing to Young People.
We listened to the testimonies of a two young men healed of addiction, through the power of prayer, Reconciliation, Friendship and Work.
Living on Devine
Providence, the Cenacolo Communities have developed
throughout the world. We were amazed to learn later that one of our North East
local priests Monsignor Ronnie Brown, during his pilgrimage to
It was an early start, with the crowds, the morning we met the Visionary Vicka, she prayed with us all and gave us an account of the apparitions and Our Lady calling us all back to God. Some of us were privileged to shake her hand as she struggled to get through the crowds. Vicka portrays an image of calm, as her smiling face radiates joy. The North East Priests were invited to join her privately for prayers. The grace of God reflects in her.
Afterwards we
drove to the beautiful Church in the Mountains at Tihaljina
to
The beautiful statue of Our Lady at Tihaljina is said by the Visionaries to be the nearest resemblance they have seen to the beauty of Our Lady, but they also say she is far more beautiful than anything earthly.
Although, Medjugorje has become more commercialised over 32 years, with the erection of new buildings to accommodate the Pilgrims and the Children Seers have also grown into adults, but the definite atmosphere of Peace remains and surrounds us, as we walk in the sultry sunshine across the fields to the Blue Cross in Prayer.
The Rosary is prayed on the rugged climb up Podbrodo – (Apparition Hill)
The suffering of
Christ is depicted during the Stations of the Cross on the climb to the top of
As the Evening
Programme commences, thousands of Pilgrims from all nations gather in the cool open
air, for Rosary, Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. The phenomenal experience
of every nation gathered together brings a sense of belonging to the great
Church in
Finally, on our
return journey we visited
The final Pilgrimage Mass was celebrated in The Church of St.Blaze Dubrovnik; ending with a Blessing with the relic of St. Blaze in this beautiful Church.
Passing tourists from the street joined us, more and more coming forward for the Eucharist and increasing numbers as the Blessing of the Throat commenced with the Relic of St.Blaze. Enough Blessings to share and a reminder of Christ Feeding the 5,000.
Medjugorje Centre North East have journeyed and facilitated a Pilgrimage from the late 1980’s. Obviously, there is always a tinge of sadness, recalling some of our loved ones no longer with us and some now too frail to undertake the long journey.
How Blessed we all have been to have been accompanied by such wonderful Shepherds, Priests of our Church, who have supported us on our journey and experienced the message from the Queen of Peace. Sadly missed, but we are richer to have known them - Fr. Brendan Hodgson OP, Fr. Slavco Barbaric OFM, Fr. John McCaffery OFM, Fr.Tom Cass, Fr. Vincent Melia, to name just a few and more recently, we are still raw and grieve for Fr.Ciaran McDonnell and Fr. Eddie Gibbons. There are so many of us, so very grateful to have encountered them on our journey and now they are at Peace with the Lord.
Along with so many fellow Pilgrims, wonderful friends have shaped our lives and encouraged us. We are confident they still make the journey with us and pray for us.
Their love for Our Blessed Mother of Medjugorje Queen of Peace from Christ Jesus Son of God always reassures us of Love and Hope for the world offered in the Message of Peace shared with us, when Our Lady appears to the Children in this Living Shrine of Medjugorje.
Medjugorje Centre North East.
Organised by
Medjugorje Pilgrimages Ltd,
Number One
Travel,