NUMBER 265 : JULY 2013 : FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER MEDJUGORJE CENTRE NORTH EAST.

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1 NUMBER 265 : JULY 2013 : FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER MEDJUGORJE CENTRE NORTH EAST OUR MINISTRY To spread the messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, given through the visionaries in Medjugorje. PEACE CONVERSION FAITH PRAYER FASTING OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE PRAY FOR US

2 1 MEDJUGORJE AFTERNOON OF PRAYER led by Fr. Martin Morris ( Will now be held 2nd Sunday of the Month ) Sunday 14th July 2013 Sunday 11th August pm to 5.00pm Adoration 5.00pm to 6.00pm Rosary, Benediction and Reflection ST ALOYSIUS CHURCH PRINCE CONSORT ROAD HEBBURN TYNE AND WEAR NE31 1BE Our Lady Queen of Peace Annual Pilgrimage to Walsingham Led by Fr. Danko Perutina OFM ( Medjugorje ) Monday 26th August 2013 Starts 1.15pm Medjugorje Centre ( NE ) has invited Fr. Danko to the North East in August 2013 Fr. Corbett will host the event at St. Andrews Church Worswick Street Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UW Date and Time to be confirmed

3 2 OUR LADY S MESSAGE Given 25th June 2013 D ear children! With joy in the heart I love you all and call you to draw closer to my Immaculate Heart so I can draw you still closer to my Son Jesus, and that He can give you His peace and love, which are nourishment for each one of you. Open yourselves, little children, to prayer open yourselves to my love. I am your mother and cannot leave you alone in wandering and sin. You are called, little children, to be my children, my beloved children, so I can present you all to my Son. Thank you for having responded to my call. ur Blessed Mother O the Queen of Peace, come to us, "with joy in the heart." Each month for the last thirty two years our Blessed Mother has come to us and we have encountered her loving presence with us. Her coming to us at Medjugorje has been a source of great Joy for us and so Mary tells us that her heart is a heart of Joy. These are important opening words for the heavenly message we receive on the thirty second anniversary of the Medjugorje story. "With Joy in the heart." Mary's heart is joyful because she loves. Mary is joyful because she magnifies the Lord. Mary's heart is full of joy because, "I draw you closer to my immaculate heart." Mary has Joy in the heart because for thirty two years now a great living stream of faith has gone out from Medjugorje across the world, and hope has been reborn in so many people. Mary has joy in the heart because for thirty two years now, countless multitudes have encountered the joy of their risen Lord through the powerful intercession of the Queen of Peace. Let us share and marvel in Mary's joy, a joy that reinvigorates the Christian heart. his month's message we could T say is a perfect summary of what heaven has been teaching us for the past thirty two years. We are reminded that the love of our Blessed Mother "cannot leave you alone in wandering and sin." Medjugorje reminds us that we are not alone, that God exists and that Our Blessed Lady comes with the Gospel message of conversion to rescue humanity and to "draw us

4 3 closer into the heart of my son Jesus so that he can give you his peace and his love." ur Blessed Mother has been O with us all this time because humanity is wandering into a future without God. "I am your Mother and I cannot leave you alone." These words should move us to the core of our being. We are not alone, we are sons and daughters of God, we are precious, our lives have meaning in the plan of God, and so Mary comes to our rescue. Mary again tells us that our refuge, our safety is in her Immaculate Heart. We are safe in her heart because her heart is filled with Grace, with God. Her heart was always saying "yes" to God in all the events and circumstances of her life. Mary's heart is a humble and pure heart where we find refreshment and peace. It is in her Immaculate heart that we are led to Jesus and we experience his peace and joy. "With Joy in the heart." Mary's joy is a shared joy. it is not something she keeps to herself. It is a shared joy that she has poured out upon millions of her children for thirty two years. "A joy to be shared amongst the whole people." (Luke. 2:10) A joy that has made us part of a tremendous movement of faith in a world that, "is wandering in sin." Mary's joy is our joy, a joy that is anchored in God's saving work and promise of eternal life. So we are confident of our eternal life with him not because of our goodness but because of the Lord's goodness. Christian joy is a reality in our lives when we know we belong to the Lord. Christian joy enables us to feel the love and the mercy of the Father no matter what may happen. This is what made the prophet say, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." (Nehemiah 8;10) and what made St. Paul say, "I always pray with Joy to the Lord." (Philippians: 1:3-5) May we allow Mary's Joy to be our Joy too. May we marvel at her presence with us all this time as she comes to our assistance in these final times. Come O Holy Spirit of Joy and fill me with peace. God Bless Fr. Martin St. James Medjugorje

5 4 Our Lady s message to Mirjana June 02, 2013 D ear children, in this restless time, anew I am calling you to set out after my Son - to follow Him. I know of the pain, suffering and difficulties, but in my Son you will find rest; in Him you will find peace and salvation. My children, do not forget that my Son redeemed you by His Cross and enabled you, anew, to be children of God; to be able to, anew, call the Heavenly Father, "Father". To be worthy of the Father, love and forgive, because your Father is love and forgiveness. Pray and fast, because that is the way to your purification, it is the way of coming to know and becoming cognizant of the Heavenly Father. When you become cognizant of the Father, you will comprehend that He is all you need. I, as a mother, desire my children to be in a community of one single people where the Word of God is listened to and carried out.* Therefore, my children, set out after my Son. Be one with Him. Be God's children. Love your shepherds as my Son loved them when He called them to serve you. Thank you." *Our Lady said this resolutely and with emphasis. 22nd Peace Walk On Monday, June 24th 2013, thousands of pilgrims participated in the 22nd Peace Walk from Humac to Medjugorje. After the introduction speech, Guardian of the monastery in Humac, Fr. Velimir Mandic, blessed all pilgrims with the crucifix at the outside alter of church of St. Anthony in Humac. Pilgrims arrived in prayer and in song of praise in front of the church of St. James around 10 a.m. where Fr. Danko Perutina awaited for them. After the Walk, there was a prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction at the very end. This Peace Walk was initiated in 1992, by Hubert Liebherr, group leader from Germany. He was terrified by the war that began here and with few friends from abroad they decided to walk from Humac to Medjugorje, trusting to Our Lady who said that prayer and fasting could even stop the wars.

6 5 Africa St. Patrick s Missions May 2013 The following articles are re-printed with permission. Medjugorje Fact or fiction? Fr Brian Treacy asks the question If ever I mention the word Medjugorje to anyone, I notice their eyes beginning to glaze over, and they begin to wonder how they can get away as quickly as possible from this lunatic! This is especially true of religious priests, sisters, brothers, even the odd bishop. And in a way I do not blame them as the whole idea of Our Lady appearing for years in this tiny village in Bosnia and Herzegovina sound quite ludicrous, if not downright crazy. I went there first in 1985 as a total unbeliever, but I have to admit that it bowled me over. The visionaries at that stage were all kids ranging from thirteen to nineteen years, and I met them all, questioned them all, and was deeply impressed by them. They were just ordinary teenagers, one boy was heading for a game of football and another little girl was playing hopscotch on the footpath. I was also touched by the very relaxed atmosphere around the place. Most of all I think what touched me was the absence of any fanatical devotion. In fact the whole focus of the place is not at all on Mary or the visionaries, but on Christ and the Mass. Another thing that impresses very much is the amazing number who undergo some form of conversion people going to confession after years away, and coming back to some form of Christian living once more. People seem to go there more for spiritual healing than physical, and many seem to be touched in some very deep way. There are lots of stories of rather unexpected spiritual experiences, strange phenomena appearing they are way too numerous to simply reject out of hand. There is not great hype or pressure whatsoever; in fact the everyday atmosphere is very peaceful, relaxed and goodhumoured. So the question that arises now is whether Medjugorje is a gigantic fraud, or is it true? If it is the latter, then maybe we should take it a bit more seriously. I recently went back to visit Medjugorje after a break of over twenty years. For those who might be interested I am going to relate just two stories of Irish people whose lives were totally changed by a visit to Medjugorje. One was an Irish professional footballer who was dying. The other was a

7 6 Protestant journalist who was sent on assignment to cover the story for a Sunday Newspaper. There are many other stories that could be told such as that of a former Laois county footballer, who became a very wealthy man and whose horses won many big races in England but who developed serious problems with drink and drugs; or the two young ex- IRA men I met years ago, both of them not long out of prison, and now leading pilgrimages to Medjugorje. All these lives have been changed. Fr. Brian Treacy was ordained in 1965 and has ministered since then in the dioceses of Nakuru and Kericho in Kenya. At present he is chaplain of the Ukarimu Spirituality Centre in Molo, Kenya. Africa Magazine, St Partick s Missions - May 2013 Medjugorje In her own words Heather Parsons It should have been just another professional assignment for me as an Irish journalist, who also happened to be a Protestant. I thought I had been everywhere and seen it all, including interviews with Pope Paul VI and many pop and film stars of the day. Little did I realise that on June 24 th 1985 my life would be utterly changed. I knew a little of the story of Lourdes but really had no concept of devotion to Mary. So this was just another story for an Irish Sunday newspaper, as I thought. I had read a little of the so-called events of the reported apparitions to six young kids. My task was to interview these visionaries, the priests of the parish and the pilgrims and others. I had hoped to have some kind of a colourful story at least, but my interest was purely professional. A few hours after reaching Medjugorje I attended the evening Mass. There may have been ten thousand people attending, so of course there was no way of getting into the small church itself, but luckily I managed to get near the outside wall at the back of the church. There with my eyes closed I enjoyed the warmth of the setting sun, and listened with vague attention to the Croatian language Mass, relayed by loudspeaker to the huge crowd outside. Around the end of the Mass a group of young Italian children who had been playing nearby began to shout. I opened my eyes to see what had disturbed them. I saw them pointing towards the sky, and I looked to see what had caught their attention. Raising my hand tp shield my eyes, I looked into the sky, and all I can say is

8 7 that I was stunned. There..was the sun, spinning like a child s top. I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision but the phenomenon was still there. For the next forty minutes I watched, without difficulty and without shielding my eyes, as the sun danced and spun in the sky and as colours swirled out from behind the sun and circled it in hoops of green, blue and red. A cloud above and to the right of the sun moved away to reveal a word Peace written in English but in a kind of Celtic script. I realised at one shocked moment that there were tears streaming down my face, and the only coherent thought in my mind was one of total conviction that I was standing in the presence of God. Before the experience ended, I had seen the centre of the sun change to black and then to red, had seen a fountain of light spring from the spinning sun and a shining white figure appeared, which to me was instantly recognisable as the Risen Christ. Inexplicable, when this last appeared, people beside me were clutching at my arm, and asking me could I see the Host coming up out of the sun. No, was my reply for then the Host meant nothing to me but I asked could they not see the figure of Christ. And only later, the thought was it a coincidence that they had seen the Host, and I, a Protestant, had see the Body? Over the next few days, I tried to examine my experience objectively as a hard-bitten journalist. At the same time I was becoming aware of the extraordinary depth of the spirituality of the simple people who lived in this valley. Prayer was not just part of their lives, it was their life in this so peaceful place. And now for me God s presence slowly began to become a reality in my life. It was a week after I returned home before I had the courage to write the story just as I had experienced it, convinced as I was that most of those who read it would think I was either mad or lying just to get a sensational scoop. It took another three days before I had the courage to bring it to the news editor. And they printed it! Over the following months I had to face this experience, and to integrate it in some way into my personal life. Through it all I grew closer to God who I now knew loved me in a way that I had never before understood. The natural result of all this was a growing peace inside me, which of course was the message of the Queen of Peace. Three and a half years later I was

9 8 received into the Catholic Church and the belief in the presence and healing power of Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion has become the central part of my spiritual life. Medjugorje was the turning point. Africa Magazine, St Partick s Missions - May 2013 Fr Brian Treacy tells us the story of David Parks David Parks is a Dublinman who played professional football for clubs and for Ireland and sang professionally in his own band. In 1976, at the age of twenty-six, he was diagnosed with a serious case of Crohn s Disease, a serious bowel disease, and over the next thirteen years had about a dozen operations. Eventually he had to give up his job as bandleader and singer, and that meant there was no income coming into the home. I was totally confused in myself. I m not sure was it fear or worry or what. Five times I walked away from my home and my wife Ann and my son David, who was born with cystic fibrosis. Each time I came back, as Ann was a rock of strength. I don t know how she coped with me. She was a very devout Catholic, but I hadn t been to mass for years. The only time I prayed was before operations! I was desperate, but turning to God was not an option for me. On Monday 27 th February 1989, the Who s Who of Dublin s entertainment industry organised a benefit concert for David and his family. David had the feeling that it was also a kind of au revoir from them to him, but he sang as he never had sung before for them, despite his weakness and pain. At the end of the night a man came to him and asked him would he like to go to Medjugorje with his wife. I had vaguely heard of the place, but knew nothing about it, and certainly had no religious interest in it. But the man told me we would also be having a few days rest at a place called Cavtat, where Anne and I had spent our honeymoon. I told him we could not afford it, but he said two tickets would be ready for us from the group. They went, and the rest is history. David was a total doubter. They arrived in Medjugorje on 23 rd April 1989, after a long bus journey, which irritated David immensely. As they neared their destination, the group decided to say the Rosary, and he refused point blank to join in. Nobody is going to stuff religion down my throat! Two mornings later there was a

10 9 healing service after the10.00am English Mass and I thought I might as well attend it, as there was very little to do in that tiny isolated village. David s wife Ann persuaded him to go up for a blessing Are you joking, these people are a bit crazy! Ok so, maybe I better get it over with! Fr John O Malley, an Irish missionary priest, and Fr. Peter Rookie, an American, prayed with him. To cut the story short over the next few days David felt his strength coming back, he began to eat anything he liked, and was sleeping like a log. Two days after the healing prayer, David woke up in Medjugorje, and realised that all his constant pain, nausea and vomiting seemed to have disappeared. I remember sitting on a rock on the side of the hill with Anne, and I began to feel this peace that you could touch. I never thought of praying, I don t know why. It was just such a beautiful feeling sitting there. It must be what paradise is like. And if that is so, I want a part of it David is in perfect health to this day. In fact he now spends most of his time in Medjugorje working as a guide for pilgrims. The thing that impressed me so much was there was no hype, nobody trying to sell a line. But there is an atmosphere there, a presence that you can almost physically feel. I have so many memories, impressions of people at prayer, people full of joy and happiness. It is a very special place. For me it was like experiencing a piece of heaven. Of course my whole life has utterly changed. Africa Magazine, St Partick s Missions - May 2013 Africa St. Patrick s Mission - is an international family mission magazine. An annual subscription is required to receive the magazine. For further details please contact : The Manager St. Patrick s 20 Beauchamp Rd East Molesey Surrey KT8 0PA Tel: spsuk@aol.com Heather Parsons is author of the best selling book A Light Between the Hills

11 10 Fr. Svet and Fr. Danko to leave Medjugorje News from Sr Emmanuel is that two very popular Franciscan priests are to leave Medjugorje soon. Fr Svetozar Kraljevic will be transferred to Zagreb and Fr Danko Perutina to nearby Citluk. Fr Svet has pastored at Medjugorje since Following the death of Fr Slavko Barbaric in November 2000, he became the administrator of the Mother s Village community at Medjugorje. He also conducted weekly talks with English-speaking pilgrims, usually on the themes of pilgrimage and the Sacraments. Fr Danko was posted to Medjugorje in 2001 but 18 months later moved to Rome to study Mariology. He returned to Medjugorje in 2006 and was an administrator for the Merciful Father community until appointed as a chaplain to Medjugorje in August Following the departure of Fr Ljubo Kurovic to Zagreb that same year, Fr Danko took over the administration of the annual Youth festival at Medjugorje. Fr Danko is scheduled to visit England in August to take part in the annual pilgrimage to Walsingham organised by the Medjugorje Apostolate for England and Wales. Sr Emmanuel also reports that the visionary Vicka is still receiving medical treatment in Zagreb for her back problems and therefore still unable to meet with pilgrims. source: Children of Medjugorje Two more Franciscans set to exit Medjugorje... Following on from the news that Fr Svetozar Kraljevic and Fr Danko Perutina are about to transfer to new locations, are unconfirmed reports that two other Franciscans are soon to leave the Medjugorje parish, Fr Tomislav Pervan and Fr Slaven Brekalo. Fr Tomislav Pervan, associated with Medjugorje since 1982, shortly after the start of the apparitions, is said to be retiring to nearby Miletina, one of the five hamlets which make up the parish of Medjugorje and also the location of the Medjugorje seer Ivanka Ivankovic-Elez and her family. Fr Tomislav first came to Medjugorje just a few weeks after the apparitions began in 1981 and served as the parish priest from 1982 until Fr Slaven Brekalo is to transfer to Mostar, his home town, to take charge of the local Franciscan youth organisation. Ordained a priest as recently as 2010 the 35-year-old was placed in Medjugorje shortly after. There has been other changes to pastoral staff in recent months following the death of parish priest Fr Petar Vlasic. He was replaced by Fr Marinko Šakota in November of last year, and Fr Miljenko Šteko moved to Mostar to become Provincial for the Franciscan Province of the Assumption.

12 11 Pope Concludes Month of May With Rosary at St. Peter's Square Vatican City, June 04, 2013 (Zenit.org) Junno Arocho Esteves Invites Faithful to Follow Example of the Blessed Virgin Mary To conclude the Marian month of May, Pope Francis participated with thousands of faithful present in praying the Rosary on Friday evening at St. Peter's Square. The event, which was held on the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, was presided by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City and archpriest of the Basilica. After the recitation of the Rosary, Pope Francis offered a meditation on the feast day of the Visitation, which he said shows the Blessed Mother's attitude in the events of Her life. Three words sum up Mary's attitude: listening, decision, and action," the Pope said. "They are words that also show us the path before us of what the Lord asks of us in life." Mary knows how to listen to God. But be careful: this is not a simple 'hearing' but a 'listening' based on paying attention, a welcoming, an openness toward God. It isn't the distracted manner that we sometimes have when dealing with the Lord or others when we hear their words, but we don't really listen. The Holy Father went on to say that the Blessed Mother always went in depth to grasp the meaning of events in Her life rather than "stopping at the surface of things." "This is also true in our lives: listening to God who speaks to us and listening to our everyday reality, paying attention to people and to facts because the Lord is at the door in our lives and He calls in many ways, putting signs along our path and giving us the ability to see them. Reflecting on the Virgin Mary's decisiveness, Pope Francis stated that She never avoided the burden of making decisions, which in itself is an example for all when we are faced with similar circumstances. "Often we tend to postpone [decisions]," the Pope said, "to let others decide for us. Often we prefer to be caught up by events, chasing the fashion of the moment. Sometimes we know what we have to do, but we don't have the courage or it seems too difficult because it means going against the grain." "Mary goes against the current. She listens to God, reflects and tries to understand the reality [of the situation] and decides to entrust herself completely to God. The final aspect of the Virgin Mary

13 12 Pope Francis concluded his mediation with was the word "action". The Holy Father said that upon knowing what God wants from Her, the Blessed Mother does not linger, but "goes in haste." Sometimes, the Pope concluded, even we stop with just listening, just reflecting on what we should do, perhaps we are even clear about what decision we should make, but we don't take the steps to act upon it. Above all we don't put ourselves in play, don't move 'in haste' toward others to bring them our assistance, our understanding, or our charity. (June 04, 2013) Innovative Media Inc. Ivan lifts Irish fight against abortion By Jakob Marschner on Jan 8, 2013 The number of abortions in the world make the Virgin Mary cry, visionary Ivan Dragicevic told between 1,000 and 2,000 people in Dublin on January 7. Ivan s visit came at a time when abortion is on top of the public agenda in Ireland, and attendees said the seer s appearance came timely. Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic on Monday invested his experiences with the Virgin Mary in the current Irish abortion debate, by mentioning the deep sorrow abortion causes to Mary, and quoting one of her previous messages. A more than full St. Saviour s Church in Dublin listened, with one report mentioning more than 1,000, another around 2,000, and a third more than 2,000 attendees. Aside of those seated, more people were standing all around the chapel. A large crowd had gathered an hour and a half before the arrangement began. In his testimony, Ivan reinforced the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death. He said the large number of abortions in the world give the Virgin Mary tears in her eyes, and that she calls us to respect life from moment of conception to natural death attendee Donna McAtee reports to Medjugorje Today. At this time when Ireland is struggling with abortion debates, the message from Mary could not have come at a better time says attendee Teuta Hasani. Ivan s apparition lasted 9 minutes. It makes it one of his longer ones, though not an unusually long one. Afterwards, Ivan reported this message given by the Virgin Mary to the attendees in Dublin: Dear children, today your Mother is very happy with you. Today I am calling you to prayer. Dear children, do not get tired in prayer, know that I am always near you, that I am with you and that I intercede before my Son for you. Therefore, pray with me, pray for my plans that I want to accomplish in this world. Thank you, dear children, that you have responded to my call.

14 13 Medjugorje Centre publishing team apologise for a printing error last month with our Lady s message. We therefore have reprinted the message this month along with Fr. Martin s reflection. OUR LADY S MESSAGE Given 25th May 2013 D ear children! Today I call you to be strong and resolute in faith and prayer, until your prayers are so strong so as to open the Heart of my beloved Son Jesus. Pray little children, pray without ceasing until your heart opens to God s love. I am with you and I intercede for all of you and I pray for your conversion. Thank you for having responded to my call." 'Cor ad Cor loquitor' Heart speaks unto heart. There are two hearts mentioned in this month's message. 'The heart of my beloved son Jesus.' and 'until your heart opens to God's love.' Let us reflect now on the reference to these two hearts, the heart of God, and our own human heart's. In every Mass we are invited to 'lift up your hearts.' For it is in the heart that we encounter our deepest desires and thoughts. So we therefore encounter the Lord in the heart of prayer. Prayer, Mary reminds us is a dual movement of our heart's towards God, and his towards ours. The desire to pray is the Lord's initiative, our response is in love and faith. Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman,( ) chose 'Heart speaks unto heart' as his motto. Originally this motto came from St. Francis De Sales, ( ). These profound words chosen by these saintly men reveals their experience of prayer and the encounter it led to. 'Heart speaks unto heart' for them was a testament to prayer as a two way movement of listening, conversing, and most of all, loving. 'Heart speaks unto heart' can be unpacked in many different ways, but at it's simplest level, it is a phrase that invites us to enter into the correct disposition of prayer. 'Heart speaks unto heart', is when we make ourselves available to commune with the loving heart of God and so enter into an exchange of our lowly human nature with our creator. "Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee." (St. Augustine) I offer my heart to God so he can offer his heart to mine. Think of the words the Priest says in Holy Mass during the offertory as he pours water into the wine."by the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity." He be-

15 14 came one of us, so that we could become one of him" (St. Augustine.) The French saint, St. Margaret Mary ( ) knew much about entering into the heart of God, she wrote, "Set up your abode in this loving heart of Jesus and you will find lasting peace and strength to bring to fruit all the good desires and intentions he inspires in you. Place in his heart all your suffering's and difficulties. He changes everything into love." St. Margaret Mary understood that if we want to live in love we must draw from the source of love from the Sacred heart of Jesus. Our Blessed Mother, Mary Queen of peace reminds us that our faith and prayer can open the heart of her son. The power of faith and prayer unlocks for us the treasure of the Lord's grace and mercy."knock and the door shall be opened, seek and you shall find."(luke: 11: 9.) What powerful words from our heavenly mother. "Until your prayers are so strong so as to open the heart of my beloved son Jesus." When the heart of Jesus is open we receive Grace, mercy and love. "One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water." The blood and water from Christ's side symbolises the new life of grace in the Church, the holy Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Our heavenly Mother invites us to a confident faith, confident prayer and confident love. She teaches us to persevere in prayer and faith because the one who perseveres opens the heart of Jesus. The catechism of the Catholic Church, Para: encourages us to make our prayers strong with reference to the parables. We are encouraged to go to St. Luke's Gospel and there we find three principal parables on prayer that we should read often. THE IMPORTUNATE FRIEND Luke: 11: This parable invites us to see prayer as urgent. To the one who prays God will give what is needed, particularly Wisdom and the Holy Spirit. THE IMPORTUNATE WIDOW Luke: 18:1-8. This parable reminds us that if prayer is to be strong then it must be persevering, to pray with patience and faith. THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR. Luke 18: For prayer to be strong then it must be humble and sincere. "God be merciful to me a sinner." So let us take the Gospel of Luke and read these parables so that our prayer will become "so strong as to open the heart of my beloved son Jesus." Praise be Jesus and Mary. Fr. Martin

16 15 Association of the Eucharist - Day of prayer St. Joseph s Church High street West, Gateshead NE8 1LX Sat 6th July 10am to 3pm Led by Fr. Martin Morris Experience the beauty of the Medjugorje Youth Festival 31st July 2013 With over 40,000 young people from over 70 countries across the world, it is a magnificent spectacle, for anyone of any age! Medjugorje Pilgrimages Harrogate Telephone : St Andrews Prayer Group Prayer for Priest 3rd Sunday of the month ( 2pm to 4pm ) Worswick Street Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6UW All are welcome

17 16 Medjugorje Centre North East Medjugorje Centre North East - Annual Pilgrimage to Medjugorje Flying from Newcastle to Dubrovnic Travelling with Medjugorje Pilgrimage Ltd. 4th - 11th September Cost 519 Insurance 20 - Single Room Supplement 100 Spiritual Director Fr. Martin Morris There are limited number of places - a reserve list is currently in operation Ring Kath Ash Tel No Medjugorje Centre (North East) Medjugorje Centre (North East) Medjugorje Retreat at Minsteracres Spiritual Director Fr. Jeff Dodds Cost is 108 pp Fri 18th -20th October 2013 Booking forms available from Marian Fletcher Telephone

18 17 Ivan tells he was shown Heaven twice By Jakob Marschner on Jun 11, 2013 Unlike other Medjugorje visionaries who tell the Virgin Mary showed them Heaven only once, Ivan Dragicevic says Mary did so twice with him, in 1984 and Ivan describes the experience in the same way as visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic who tells she was in Heaven in Ivan praying before his apparition on April 28 in Middletown, NJ (USA) Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic has seen Heaven on two separate occasions, he reveals in an interview with Radio Maria director Fr. Livio Fanzaga, published in the Italian daily il Giornale. - Our Lady showed the visionaries the afterlife, to remind us that we are pilgrims on earth. Tell us about this experience? Fr. Livio asks. In 1984 and also in 1988, Our Lady showed me Paradise. She told me (she would) the day before. On those days, I remember, Our Lady came, took me by the hand and in a moment I arrived in Paradise Ivan replies. It is an area without internal frontiers as in the valley of Medjugorje, with no boundaries, where they are singing songs. There are angels and people walking and singing, and all are wearing long dresses. The people looked the same age. It is difficult to find the words. Our Lady leads us to Heaven and every day brings us a little piece of Paradise Ivan says. Ivan s description of Heaven matches that given by visionary Vicka Ivankovic-Mijatovic who tells she was taken to Heaven in her body in the Autumn of 1981, along with visionary Jakov Colo. People looked for them for half an hour, but were not able to find them. Important Notice If you are able to receive your Newsletter by please contact Kath at: medjugorjene@yahoo.co.uk The Newsletter is published and available on our website, along with other information. We would encourage all of our readers if possible to access our website at to read the newsletter or download and print your personal copy. Receiving The Newsletter by counteracts the ever increasing cost of Printing & postage. God Bless and Thank You

19 18 MIDDLESBROUGH CENTRE FOR PEACE MEDJUGORJE EVENING 12th July pm to 9.30pm August no meeting Rosary : Holy Mass : Talk : Witness JOHN PAUL CENTRE 55 GRANGE ROAD, MIDDLESBROUGH For further details please contact: Mrs Marie Bedingfield Tel: OUR LADY OF MOUNT GRACE OSMOTHERLY A DAY OF REPARATION AND CONSECRATION Uniting the Marian Shrines of England, Scotland and Wales in a National Day of Prayer and Pilgrimage SATURDAY 13th JULY 2013 Pilgrims to assemble at 11.30am at St Peter s Anglican Church, Osmotherly Village followed by a silent walk to the Shrine. To finish at 6.00pm approx. For further details please contact: Mrs Marie Bedingfield Tel: All are very welcome The Centre recognizes and accepts that the final authority regarding the apparitions at Medjugorje rests with the Holy See of Rome. We willingly submit to that judgement.