Visit to Shrine of the Queen of Peace, Medjugorje
Thursday 29 June Father Trevor had the privilege of visiting Ivan's chapel for Ivan's apparition. Our Lady highlighted the following aspects related to vocations to the priesthood:
Being the group's last night in Medjugorje, five of the group climbed up to the statue on Apparition Hill after dark. They prayed silently for a while, saying farewell to Our Blessed Mother.
Friday 30 June
Sadly, it is time for the group to leave Medjugorje. As we drove away from Medjugorje through the rugged countryside of Western Herzegovina, Ainja explained to us the history of Christianity in this part of Europe and how the people have been persecuted for centuries for their faithfulness to the Church. For over 400 years they remained faithful in the face of a fierce Islamic regime that physically massacred the priests and the faithful and destroyed all churches, monasteries, convents and cemeteries - wiping Christianity off the face of Bosnia and Herzegovina. So too it has been in recent times, in like fashion, in the face of Communism and the recent war of independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the internal multi-ethnic struggles of this country. Passionately, Ainja spoke non-stop for 2 hours and showed to all WHY these people of Western Herzegovina DESERVE the Apparitions. The group stopped at Vrpic on the Adriatic Coast for Holy Mass at a grotto resembling Lourdes. A small chapel was available and Father Trevor said Mass there. Finally arrived at Split airport bound for Rome, the first stopover. Saturday 1 July Drama during the Rome departure. After boarding the plane, the captain advised a delay in take-off. After a one hour delay, the fully loaded plane started to take off when it suddenly braked and stopped in the middle of the runway. The plane sat there for another 5 hours waiting for various checks to be done: check out/fix an engine, refuel, etc. Kathy gave a stewardess a blessed card of Our Lady to give to the captain and received a thank-you note after the plane took off. When the plane eventually took off for Hong Kong, it was exactly 6.40pm - the time of Ivan's apparition! Coincidence, or was Our Lady looking after everyone? Sunday 2 July While waiting at Hong Kong for our departure to New Zealand, 5 members of our group witnessed an awesome sun spectacle. Amazingly, we were able to look directly at the bright sun without it hurting our eyes. It looked just like a pulsating, giant and whitish disc. As this was our last stopover as a group before heading for New Zealand, this spectacle could be seen, for some of us, as a final group blessing. Monday 3 July After an uneventful flight, we arrived safely in New Zealand. Our small group had enjoyed and shared the wonderful intimacy of a never-to-be-forgotten pilgrimage.
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