The USA, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, El Salvador, Brazil, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Poland, Puerto Rico, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are the countries from which more than 200 participants came to the 29th International Spiritual Retreat for pilgrimage organizers, leaders of peace centers, prayer and charity groups related to Medjugorje.
“Mary truly chose the better part…” (Lk 10, 42) In Our Lady’s school, is the theme of this, as well as of all this year’s spiritual retreat in Medjugorje.
The lecturer at this spiritual retreat, which began with an evening prayer program in the church of St. James in Medjugorje is the parish priest of Medjugorje, Br. Zvonimir Pavičić.
“Once a year, we all gather so as to, through the spiritual retreat, we would renew that fervor of proclaiming the Good News and our service to the Lord and Our Lady in Medjugorje. Last year I didn’t know them much, and this year I already know them a lot, and this is actually a sign of how much we cooperate, how much we work together to bring pilgrims to Medjugorje. It is not only about bringing pilgrims, but about the penetration of Medjugorje into the world, because from some places where I have been, people will probably never be able to come to Medjugorje, because of the length of the journey, high prices and all that, but they live Medjugorje in their midst, they organize prayer programs in their parish such as Medjugorje, prayer of the rosary, adoration, Eucharist… They encourage people to come, to pray to God, to live according to God’s commandments… And in fact, this is how they become the ones who restore their parish community little by little, then it goes and wider and wider,” said Br. Zvonimir Pavičić, pointing out that this is a beautiful event because everyone who has a service is together in Medjugorje.
“We are all asking for God’s blessing and for the Lord to restore us, so that right here where it all began, we find strength for the future days and for our apostolate, that is, for our service to others,” said Br. Zvonimir Pavičić.
In addition to Br. Zvonimir, who led this spiritual retreat, on the first day of the all-day program, the participants were addressed by the Apostolic Visitor with a special role for the parish of Medjugorje, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli, and the provincial of the Herzegovina Franciscan Province, Br. Jozo Grbeš.
In the following days, participation in the evening prayer program in the church of St. James and lectures, participants will also pray on Apparition Hill, Cross Mountain… This spiritual renewal ends with a Holy Mass on Friday at 11 a.m.
