Trip Name:
Medjugorje Pilgrimage of Healing & Faith


Medjugorje                                                                                        page 3
The visionaries did not study theology. Even Ivan, after receiving apparitions for years, wanting to become a priest, entered the seminary, but was forced to leave. He said in a conversation with Janice T. Connell, author, practicing lawyer, and consultant on Marian events: "I am a simple man, I could not [handle} all of the theology and philosophy needed to become a priest. It was very disappointing, but I have come to accept [not being able to continue}". The seers are instruments used by God to convey these messages to the whole world. When asked why God chose them (the seers), Mary said, "1 do not always pick the best'. In fact, choosing simple children authenticates the visions even more since no one, it would seem, much less unsophisticated children, could continue a false story every day under pressure and scrutiny from a communist government and a wary Catholic Church for 23 years now!

The seers have been tested and re-tested from the first week of the apparitions by the police and then by Commissions convened by the Church. These have only found the seers to be healthy, normal and under no hallucinatory influence etc... But everyday, at the same time, all will drop on their knees in a state of ecstasy and converse with Mary about why God sent her and what we on Earth are being called to do.

Apparently these visions are extraordinary in that they have been the longest documented apparitions of Mary in history to the largest group – 6 . There were 3 children at Fatima, 4 at Garabandal, only 1 at Lourdes and numerous other claims of private apparitions all over the world. When asked by the Medjugorje children about the other claims of apparitions worldwide, Mary said that it is so urgent for the world to convert that she would appear in every single home if she must.

Finally, how did I come to organize this pilgrimage for October of 2004? On Easter of this year my 10 year old goddaughter, Colleen, came to me in my parents kitchen in the house where I grew up and said, "This is yours". She didn't say, "What is this?” or "Can I open this?" as I would normally expect, but, "This is yours". She handed me the journal that I had kept at Medjugorje when I was 13. "You're right!" I said, "It is mine - it's my Medjugorje journal. Thank you." And she left. It wasn't until May that I picked it up and started to re-read it. I was overcome by a burning joy inside at what I was experiencing anew. "I have to bring this to my grandmom!” was my first thought - since it was she who asked me to write it in the first place. That started a trail of bringing the Medjugorje message to family and friends - and really anyone that might listen! However, my closest friend, my husband, didn’t really want to be an ear for me! But, he became the unlikely bearer of a mission for me.

One day in May, he called me on the phone from work and said, "O.K., I'm going to tell you this because 1 feel like I have to. I heard an inner voice tell me that you were to lead a large group of pilgrims from our area to Medjugorje in the Fall through Peace Center Tours. Ok, I told you, now I'm done." None of my who, what, where, why, when, how questions were to be answered. He said he had done his part and that was it. So I prayed that night to God and asked for a sign. "If this is from John and not You, God, then - nothing. But, if this is really from You, please turn the silver-linked rosary I have to gold so that it is very clear to me that this is from You. Sorry to be so 'black & white', but I'd like to be sure it's from You before organizing an entire trip." Within a week my rosary was a bright gold. I got my sign, and 'voila' - I've been working on this trip ever since.

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