"Our Lady of Joy" Pilgrimage to Medjugorje: A Message of Peace The scorching afternoon of June 24, 1981 is remembered and celebrated not only by the inhabitants of the Medjugorje area, in the heart of Herzegovina, but by the entire Catholic world. On that day six children witnessed the appearance of a beautiful, young woman at a place called Podbrdo. She presented herself as the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace. Every afternoon since then the Virgin Mary has appeared to them and through them send the world messages of peace in an effort to return our confused planet to the path of God, to life in peace with God and one's loved ones. Since that miraculous day in Medjugorje mention has been heard of other unexplainable, supernatural events which have transpired there.

Interesting responses and thoughts by our priests during this 22nd anniversary...

Fr. Rene Laurentin from France, Theologian & Mariologist, visited again in May '03. When asked, "What can you say now about the Apparitions?" "What strikes me about Our Lady's messages is that they are an echo of the Gospel, they say nothing new, they just repeat to our deaf ears what we have forgotten, what we do not want or are not able to hear any more: ..to pray..have a strong faith in God..to fast and read the scriptures. The whole church agrees about this. This is undisputable about the messages these past 22 years. Let each one of us judge for ourselves, and let the church judge for all of us. There are positive signs that many can recognize, that our Pope admits, speaking several times to me about this.. there are good fruits, deep and permanent conversions. (Fr. Rene has been most instrumental (positively) in the investigation of the Marian Apparitions of Gianna Talone Sullivan in Emmitsburg, Maryland.)

Comments and thoughts from: The Vice Juridical Vicar of New York's diocese, Rev. William Elder (has visited 17 times). QUESTION: "What would be the influence of Medjugorje on your parish here in New York City?"
"We have a Marian prayer group here in Manhattan and have experienced a little bit of Medjugorje. The city has suffered much these past 2 years, and the 'message of Medjugorje' needs to be heard, and it is really difficult. I think that is why Our Blessed Lady calls me back so often. When we visit we receive that peace very deeply and powerfully, then we can bring it back. We have met many whose lives were influenced by Medjugorje. Our Lady works through all the pilgrims who have visited. We wish we could get more people to come and listen at our prayer group here at Saints Cyril and Methodius at the entrance of the Lincoln Tunnel.

"There is a lot of talk about 'peace' here in the USA, Americans are very frightened.. afraid to travel and afraid there will be more acts of terrorism in our country; they try to solve that problem by doing something practical: more police, more metal detectors, more precautions, but we need to realize that - - what is going to bring 'peace' - - is opening our hearts to God's presence and God's love."

In concluding, Fr. Elder stated, "the church looks at Medjugorje now as a 'work in progress'. I understand the official church: waiting, observing, slowly and carefully. Rome is just observing and letting things happen. The church in her wisdom knows that . . if this is from God, which I believe personally, it will work out and the difficulties will be surmounted. In difficulty, one becomes stronger, and I think that Medjugorje has become stronger. People travel there because they feel personally called. That is what the faith is all about."

10 yr. Anniversary into war-torn Bosnia

Nov '03 many in our diocese will remember ten (10) yrs ago the very first BOSNIA RELIEF VISIT made with Norma Vickery and her 2 sisters along with the Solimento family to a region still very much at war, in fact the war didn't end until March '94 and within that period, groups from our diocese traveled 3 times with items of food, funds, clothes, medical supplies/instruments and items for the newly born infants ... all spirited by a dear American Nun who is still working with the needy, especially the elderly, who many of us visited numerous times ... Sister Muriel Geisler ... My Parish, St. Pius X and Fr Farano contributed tremendously to the effort .. Other parishes as well .. Angie DiSiena, Joan Starks, Anne Richmond and my wife Marcy were so instrumental in this work. Later in '96 an Air Force Freighter left Scotia Air Base with 8 tons of varied supplies to TUZLA, which was trucked down to Sarajevo to the Sisters of Charity ... many of us traveled at that time to deliver it to these dear nuns working with refugees .. we were blessed to have a young man and father from Citluk who was our friend, translator and driver, Pero Dugandzic ... 1994 was a busy time for us, five (5) relief trips were made and of course others continued into the late nineties. REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES so many of us will long remember..

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ... A DAY OF TRAGEDY WHICH HAS AFFECTED OUR WORLD, MY WORLD .. EVERYONE'S WORLD ..

JUST TWO (2) YEARS LATER . . .

The flags are still waving and we're still singing patriotic songs... attendance in our parishes and churches of all faiths have ebbed back to Pre-911. We all remember 'standing room only' for just three (3) Sundays. It's going to take more than waving flags and singing patriotic songs to return our nation to a forgiving God.

What has happened since?

++	The criminal actions by corporate C.E.O.'s AND the unemployment affecting thousands of families.
++	Corporate close-downs and major layoffs especially airline companies, again affecting thousands of famlies.....THIS A DIRECT RESULT OF 911.
++	Anthrax scare
++	Unsetteled and plunging stock market
++	The hurtful scandal in our faith and Church
++	The realization of 'moral break-down' in seminaries.
++	Our involvement in Afghanistan
++	Freedom in Iraq

NONE OF THE ABOVE WAS NEWSWORTHY TWO YEAR AGO.
There surely has been a 'degree of success' by those (Al-Qaida) who choose horror and panic in dealing with our country.

OUR MAY '04 PILGRIMAGE.....

ONCE AGAIN.......we have returned from Our Lady's most special 'place'....Medugorje.... with Fr John Byrnes OSA formerly of St. Mary's in Waterford, NY. Pilgrims from California, Maryland and the Bronx joined us from Albany.

As we have each May, Ivan's family (Huanita , Dragan and their 2 beautiful children) is our host, truly a spiritual experience of prayer and reflection. Ivan again invited us to share with him as he visited with Blessed Mary in his chapel at 640pm May 21st.

We were most thrilled in planning the 'readings and the prayer of the faithful' with Fr Byrnes, the celebrant on May 18th. AGAIN, the bronze statue of 'The Risen Christ' is oozing an unexplained liquid as we had experienced two May's ago when we visited.

Ivan has been invited to be with us as he has thrice before just after Easter 2005....AND there is an interest for a pilgrimage in August...sooooooo pass the word, and not keep this a secret.

In closing, may we all 'breathe life' into this dying world..and be filled with the complete fullness of Jesus and His Mother Mary.

A GIFT FROM SOUTH KOREA
On the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady (Sept. 8 '01) a white marble statue sculptured in Carrara Italy was placed on Apparition Hill by the young men of Sister Elvira's Community (Cenacolo Community) . . . a gift from the pilgrims of South Korea.

BALTIMORE ARCHDIOCESE DECISION BEING QUESTIONED

Criticism and concern over the negative conclusions of the decision are being voiced by Dr. Courtenay Bartholomew, a researcher from the Nat'l Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland who co-discovered the Aids virus; he has authored four (4) books on Mariology. Others include Fr. Rene Laurentin, Rev. Robert Faricy, SJ, Fr. Edward O'Connor now at Notre Dame, Rev. John B. Wang, a theologist from China and the Rev. Joseph Ianuzzi, Doctor in Mystical Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome.

On September 24, 2002 an investigation into the alleged Marian apparitions of Gianna Talone Sullivan since January 31, 1993 stated there was nothing supernatural going on. "We do not believe in the apparitions," so stated Msgr J.F. Kenny, Cardinal Keeler's delegate for Canonical Affairs. A petition is being sent to the Cardinal requesting scientific proof of Gianna's mental state when earlier tests were given her years prior when apparitions of Jesus and Mary were claimed by her while in Arizona. At that time a medical team from France was brought in by Fr. Rene Laurentin and they worked in laison with expert scientists from the University of San Francisco. The findings scientifically speaking were that Gianna did not suffer any mental or physical disorders, but truly entered into ecstatic encounters (experiences) when Our Lady visited with her.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 . . . A DAY OF TRAGEDY WHICH HAS AFFECTED OUR WORLD, MY WORLD . . EVERYONE'S WORLD . .

A PLEA TO OUR FRIENDS IN MEDJUGORJE . .

Faxed on September 14th, 2001 (Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

PRAISE BE JESUS AND HIS MOTHER MARY Dear IVAN & FAMILY..FR. SVET..SALVENKA JELAVIC.. MARTIN ILIC & FAMILY..PERO & FAMILY..NANCY & PATRICK LATTA The people of Croatia and Bosnia must now remember AMERICA in their daily prayers, as we in the early 90's during 'your trials of freedom'. Our world here has come to a sudden stop since Tuesday .. threats continue daily since the ruthless attack on innocent civilians, the number of dead will range somewhere near 4,000. There are 'bomb scares' and our government is most suspicious of 'continual attacks'. It will take a while for our people to have faith in traveling anywhere. All events as sports and festivals have been cancelled... we are 'shut down' in many ways and that includes the stock market. The only activity out people are involved in is 'praying', giving blood, funds and their support to the thousands of families and the brave rescue workers. I viewed the center of East Mostar in May '94, a sight I have always remembered.... areas of Manhattan reflect the very same image. Please remember us each day as Our Blessed Lady comes to visit you. May we all 'breathe life' into this 'dying world'... May we all be filled with the complete fullness of Jesus and his Mother Mary.... Lou Murnighan Albany, NY

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WARNINGS & PLEAS FROM OUR HOLY MOTHER . . .

March 25, 1990.."Satan is strong and with all his strength desires to destroy the peace which comes from God. Pray in a special way with me for peace".

Mary was giving the world 'warnings' of the trouble which started ten years after her first visit to the 'children of Medjugorje'.

July 25, 1991..one (1) month into the war in the former Yugoslavia.

"Dear Children! Today I invite you to pray for peace. At this time peace is being threatened in a special way, and I am seeking from you to renew fasting and prayer in your families. Dear children, I desire you to grasp the seriousness of the situation and that much of what will happen depends on your prayers and you are praying a little bit. Dear children, I am with you and I am inviting you to begin to pray and fast seriously as in the first days of my coming. Thank you for having responded to my call."

September 25, 2001 .. "Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer, especially today when Satan wants war and hatred. I call you anew, little children: pray and fast that God may give you peace. Witness peace to every heart and be carriers of peace in this world without peace. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you. And you do not be afraid because the one who prays is not afraid of evil and has no hatred in the heart. Thank you for having responded to my call."

"We must pray daily for President Bush, as it will take more than our President to turn our nation around".

Our Lady's Message from Medjugorje

ALLOW ME TO PLACE YOU ON MY MAILING LIST FOR OTHER PILGRIMAGES!

OUR INTERCESSOR IN HEAVEN .. Fr. Slavko Barbaric,O.F.M

"I rejoice with you and I desire to tell you that your brother Slavko has been born into heaven and intercedes for you." (Our Lady's Nov. 25, 2000 message)

Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M., died today, November 24, 2000, on the top of Mt. Krizevac. At 2:00 p.m. Fr. Slavko had led about 70 parishoners on the "Way of the Cross", as is the parish's custom on Fridays at this time of year. Upon reaching the top of My. Krizevac the sun came out and the rain stopped. A beautiful rainbow in the distance near the Church could be seen. As they started to descend, at about 3:50 p.m. local time, in front of, "The Resurrection" station, Father Slavko slipped and fell. He suffered a heart attack and died instantly. Fr. Svet accompanied his body down the mountain, along with the medical team that had been summoned.

Fr. Slavko was born March 11, 1946 in Dragicini, Bosnia-Hercegovina. A member of the Hercegovina Franciscan Province, he had joined St. James Parish in Medjugorje in 1982. Familiar to millions through his many books and articles on spiritual subjects, Fr. Slavko faithfully led the evening program of prayer in the parish. Often in the early mornings he could be found in prayer on Mt. Krizevac. He lead numerous spiritual retreats and presentations in Medjugorje and conducted meetings on the theme of the Medjugorje events in many parts of the world. A beloved son of the Gospa, Fr. Slavko faithfully served the needs of the Parish, and millions of pilgrims, all these years. He is a beloved priest to millions of pilgrims who journeyed to Medjugorje from every corner of the world.

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