Last updated 6 October 2002

25 June 2000 (Day 6)

19th Anniversary of Our Lady's First Apparition in Medjugorje

This is the date that the Anniversary is celebrated although the visionaries first saw Our Lady on the 24th. This is the first day the children actually spoke with Her.

Our group rose early and set out for Mt. Krizevac (the Cross Mountain, where Our Lady often prays at the foot of The Cross in the early morning).  Monsignor Green, Father Joe and Father Basil led our group in praying the Way of the Cross, while Ana filled us in with stories and testimonies of some local parishioners and pilgrims.

Father Svet celebrated the English mass today, and recounted the early days of the apparitions, the fruits of Medjugorje, and urged us all to be Mary's apostles when we return to our own countries - to live and spread Her messages of peace, prayer and reconciliation.

Our Lady's message for the world:" Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. The one who prays is not afraid of the future. Little children, do not forget that I am with you and I love you all. Thank you for having responded to my call."

After Croatian Mass and dinner, our group gathered outside of St. James Church and sang hymns and songs for Our Lady. There were Argentinians and Italians who joined us.   

We later heard the translation of a short message given by Our Lady in her annual apparition to Ivanka: "I introduce myself as Queen of Peace. Again I call you to peace, to fasting and to prayer. Renew prayer in the families and receive my blessing." Ivanka said that Mary was joyful and that she spoke to her about the 6th secret.

Photos

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The group meditating on the stations of the cross on the way up the mountain.

The rocky path that leads all the way up to the peak of the Mountain where the Cross is.

Climbing up the mountain.

We were lucky that the morning was overcast so it didn't get too hot on our climb up Mt Krizevac. Here, the sun breaks through the cover of the clouds.

Mum and dad at the top of Cross Mountain.

The crowd at the evening Mass. There were an estimated 30,000 people for this Anniversary Mass.

Shumin, Deb and Colin praying during the Anniversary Mass.