Medjugorje-Queen of Peace
Medjugorje is one of the most famous Catholic sanctuaries in the world, situated in the west of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the region Herzegovina, around 25 km southwest of Mostar and close to the Croatian border. Counts about 4300 inhabitants and is one of the most famous tourist centers, which annually visit millions of Catholics around the world.
Place has become famous thanks to apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, popularly known as Our Lady of Medjugorje and the Queen of Peace. Center of the Shrine of the Queen of Peace is the church of St. James in the center. This year in Medjugorje is celebrating 30 years of the phenomenon of apparitions. Virgin Mary appeared first time 24th June 1981 in the area called Apparition Hill, the hill Crnica in Medjugorje. Appeared at dusk in the form of lovely young woman with a child in her arms and imparted messages of peace, faith, love, prayer, repentance and fasting to six children who were on the hill in the moment of apparition.
„The biggest river of pilgrims come by sea, from Ancona in Italy to Split in Croatia, and even during the war years the ship was carrying passengers and humanitarian aid, and because of that was named the Queen of Peace. On the same line recently has sailed ferry Regina della Pace, an Italian versions of the same name, making the route from Ancona to Split, a kind of recorder on the issue of the Medjugorje pilgrimage.“
From the book „Medjugorje- 30 years of phenomenon“, Authors: Marijan Sivrić, Ivo Šcepanović
Calendar of pilgrims gathering, during day (a), week (b) and year (c)
Daily pilgrims gather in Medjugorje on the National Eucharistic celebration:
- Croatian speaking area at 7.30 during week days, on Saturdays at 7.30 and 13.00, on Sundays at 8.00 and 11.00
- Eastern countries at 8.00 during week days, at 7.00 on Sundays
- German speaking area at 9.00 during week days and on Sundays
- English speaking area at 10.00 during week days and at 12.00 on Sundays
- Italian speaking area at 11.00 during week days and at 10.00 on Sundays
- French speaking area at 12.00 during week days 13:00 on Sundays
Other nations celebrate the Eucharist on request.
Evening gathering of pilgrims begins at 17.00 in the winter time (summer in 18.00) prayer of joyful and the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary as a preparation for the Eucharistic celebration, which starts at 18.00 (19.00) and continues to the thanks giving and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary 20.00 (21.00).
Eucharist at another time is possible by arrangement with staff at the parish office.
Gathering of pilgrims during the week:
- Rosary on Apparition Hill on Sundays at 14.00 (in summer at 16.00);
- Prayer Way of the Cross on Križevac on Fridays at 14.00 (16.00);
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 21.00 (22.00);
- Eucharistic Adoration on Thursdays as thanks giving after the evening Eucharistic;
- Adoration of the Cross on Fridays as thanks giving after the evening Eucharistic.
Major annual gathering of pilgrims:
- On the bigger holidays of Our Lady such as the Annunciation, the Assumption, Little Lady;
- The Lord’s great feasts such as Christmas, New Year, Easter, Pentecost;
- Increased assembly are in May and October;
- The largest annual gathering is for the anniversary of the Apparitions (25th June ) and the feast of the Holy Cross (first Sunday after Little Lady).
In an extraordinary annual meeting can be counted:
- Alternative New Year’s Eve;
- International Peace March from Humac to Medjugorje 24th June;
- International Youth Prayer Meeting 31st July – 6th August
