This month, Fr. Zvonimir Pavičić, the parish priest of Medjugorje, is visiting Latin America for the first time, and he started his visit in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay, where he was welcomed already at the airport with typical Paraguayan music and dances, and on his face you could see the surprise and joy of affection of those present.
The morning was spent in a meeting between Br. Zvonimir and the Metropolitan Archbishop of Asunción and the Primate of Paraguay, Msgr. Adalbert Martínez Flores. Also present were the deans of the 12 deaneries of Asunción, who were invited by the cardinal himself to this meeting. Only two of them made a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.
Paraguay is a Catholic country with 80 percent of the population professing this faith. Bishop Adalbert Martínez Flores was appointed cardinal by Pope Francis last year, becoming the first cardinal in the history of the Church in Paraguay.
Brother Zvonimir Pavičić spoke to them about Pope Francis and the Church’s official position on Medjugorje. He said that in 2017 he sent the apostolic visitor, Msgr. Henryk Hoser, who later died, and was replaced by Msgr. Aldo Cavalli. He emphasized that it is very important to know that since 2019, the Pope has allowed dioceses and parishes to organize pilgrimages to Medjugorje, so now bishops and priests can freely make pilgrimages to Medjugorje.
The Archbishop was very interested in what Br. Zvonimir told him and the other priests present and asked him several questions about it. At the end of the meeting, Br. Zvonimir distributed the gifts he had brought from Medjugorje for this occasion.
“The first thing I realized is that it is a very simple country. I also saw that it is a poor country, but that it has a special beauty in it. As soon as we arrived at the airport, we were greeted by very friendly people. While we were driving here, we felt that it is a land of good people, and I think that feeling will remain,” said Br. Zvonimir, explaining that the reason for his arrival was the 12th Congress of the Queen of Peace, which is always attended by a priest connected to Medjugorje.
“When we talk about the messages of the Blessed Virgin, the main message is the invitation to conversion. Because when a person converts, when he returns to God, he has peace in his heart. So, although the Virgin in Medjugorje presented herself as the Queen of Peace, I think that conversion is the most important message,” said Br. Zvonimir, who also met with Bishop Ignacio Gogorza, and with him were the head and associates of the Međugorje Center Foundation in Paraguay, Mina Fretes, Rocío Ortiz, Julia Jacobo, Father Julio Rolón and parish priest Father Federico Gayoso.
In the afternoon, a Holy Mass was celebrated in the parish of Little Jesus, led by Msgr. Ignacio Gogorza, and Br. Zvonimir preached and at the end shared with those present the images of Our Lady that he had brought from Medjugorje, and a day later in La Colmen he participated in the 12th Congress of Mary, the Queen of Peace in Paraguay
This Congress began with the welcome of Bishop Ignacio Gogorza to the participants, and a documentary film about Medjugorje was also shown. Br. Zvonimir gave a catechesis, and the people almost did not let him speak because they applauded him after every sentence he addressed to the audience at the beginning.
Br. Zvonimir also spoke about the five stones that Our Lady left us and emphasized that “the Virgin came to Medjugorje to invite us to choose God”, and the day ended after Holy Mass with adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Sacrament with Br. Zvonimir’s meditations, and a four-hour prayer the program reminded everyone of the Medjugorje prayer program in the church of St. James.
On the feast of Christ the King of the Universe, last Sunday, November 26, the parish priest of Medjugorje ended his visit to Paraguay. The Holy Mass was led this time by Bishop Ignacio Gogorza, and Fr. Zvonimir preached about what kind of king Christ is and what kind of example He gives us.
After the end of the 12th national congress, a six-kilometer long procession was held with the statue of the Queen of Peace, and at the end, Br. Zvonimir said that “peace is a symbol of God’s blessing” and that “those who have peace in their hearts will be able to give it to others.”
After his visit to Paraguay, Br. Zvonimir Pavičić traveled to Uruguay, where he will stay until December 1st, and in organization by the Međugorje Center, he will participate in prayer, Holy Masses, catechesis, and then a trip to Bolivia will follow.
