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![]() | Guide through the Shrine of the Queen of Peace Medjugorje Date: March 27, 2004 Content of the article
“We bishops, after a three-year-long commission study accept Medjugorje as a holy place, as a shrine. This means that we have nothing against it if someone venerates the Mother of God in a manner also in agreement with the teaching and belief of the Church. Therefore, we are leaving that to further study. The Church does not hurry.” His Eminence Cardinal Dr. Franjo Kuharić, Archbishop of Zagreb (Glas Koncila, August 15, 1993) Different services and Institutions linked to the shrineDifferent servicesPresbyteryThe presbytery, built in 1892, immediately after the creation of the parish, was restored in 1990. At the time when the old parish church was still under construction, when it was unsuitable for use, as well as during the war in 1992, Holy Mass was celebrated in its cellar. The door of the presbytery is always open not only for the parishioners, but also for the pilgrims of the whole world. In the presbytery, in the room where he was killed by the communists, you can find the relief of Fr. Križan Galić. Information BoothThe Information Booth was created in 1991 and was re-established after the war in 1995. It serves the organisation of the pilgrim’s programme at the Shrine: it centralises the registration of pilgrimages, establishes contact with guides and organises meetings with Medjugorje Franciscans and visionaries. The Association of Guides, established for the bettering service to pilgrims, is tightly linked to the Information Booth. Souvenir ShopIn Medjugorje, as in other places of pilgrimages, pilgrims have the desire and the need to take home a souvenir of the experience they have made. Near the Presbytery is situated a Souvenir Shop, where pilgrims can find rosaries, crosses, medals, holy pictures, books, music, video/audio tapes, and other religious objects. First Aid StationThe First Aid Station, opened in spring 2003, is on the west side of the Shrine, near the parking. Medical Service of the Maltese Order helps pilgrims and parishioners daily from 9 am to 9 pm, from May 1st to November 1st.
ParkingThe parking lot, where pilgrims can leave their personal vehicles and busses, is on the west side of the Shrine. Institutions linked to the shrineDomus Pacis (House of Peace)“Domus Pacis” is a house of prayer, bought in 1990, where prayer seminars (especially “Prayer and Fasting Seminars”), retreats and recollection days for local and foreign pilgrims take place.
Mother’s VillageMother’s Village is an establishment for the education and care of abandoned and neglected children. It has existed since 1993. It emerged from the desire of its founder, Fr. Slavko Barbarić, to offer children and youth a planned, organised education, as well as care, so that they can develop physically, intellectually, morally, spiritually and culturally. Through Catholic contents and ideas, the collaborators offer them a condition of freedom, dignity, acceptance, and above all, love and understanding. The care of children was entrusted to the Franciscan School Sisters from Herzegovina, and to lay staff members. The establishment started its work officially on September 8, 1996. A Kindergarten, a Dentist’s Lab and a Physical Therapy Station are also on the Mother’s Village Campus.
St. Francis’ GardenSt. Francis’ Garden, a forest in the northwest part of Mother’s Village, was the last project of the late Fr. Slavko Barbarić, inspired by Our Lady’s message, where she tells us: “Go into nature and look how nature is awakening and it will be a help to you to open your hearts to the love of God, the Creator.” (April 25, 1993) Through patient work and care, a neglected pine forest grown on rocky ground became a beautiful natural place for recollection and recreation, prayer and education. There are also two little artificial lakes, didactical material for work with children, several domestic and wild animals and birds, as well as three ponies, which serve for hypotherapy (therapeutical riding adapted for handicapped children).
The Cenacolo Community![]() The “Cenacolo” Community was founded in Saluzzo (Italy) by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi in 1983, in order to help drug addicts. The main goal of the community is to discover and to live true values of Christian life. According to their words, their therapy is Jesus Christ, and the way of healing is prayer, work and friendship. Because of special graces, which young people in search of truth receive in Medjugorje, Sr. Elvira opened two houses here: a house for boys called “Field of Life”, in 1991, and a house for girls called “Field of Joy” in 2000. The boys of the “Cenacolo” community gladly receive pilgrims and give witness of their conversion and liberation from drug addiction. In conformity to Pope Urban VIII’ Decree and the directives of the Council Vatican II, the author declares not to have the intention to precede the judgment of the Church, to whom he submits himself fully. Words like “apparitions, messages” and similar have here the value of human witness. Prepared in June 2002
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