50
October 23, 1996

PRESS BULLETIN




AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE

The events in the parish of Medjugorje, beginning on the hill of Crnica in a very short time have spread throughout the world. Many pronounced their judgements about the apparitions of our Lady and for a while Medjugorje hadn"t a chance to defend itself.

We remember the state commentaries of the time and the official mass media of ex-Yugoslavia in particular. On the other hand the outside world had begun to publish magazines and newsletters on the events of Medjugorje, spreading Our Lady's messages and speaking about the experiences of the pilgrims during their stay at Medjugorje. And so, Medjugorje was able to speak about itself only "in exile".

When the pressure on Medjugorje diminished and almost finished we reflected on how we could better inform the pilgrims both here and those throughout the world. With the publication of the monthly "Glas mira", we wished to explain the messages and the events first-hand briefly informing of the more important events of the past month. However, from early on we saw that the information should really travel faster to the outside world, and also, because some of the information published in other magazines which spoke about Medjugorje, reported events which were not always well chosen, we decided to form the information centre and report about the life of the pilgrims here at Medjugorje through the press bulletin twice a month.

And so we have arrived at the fiftieth edition. It seems to me that the Press Bulletin, as official Bulletin of the Shrine of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, has fulfilled its' role and has managed to diminish the spreading of inaccurate and thereby unimportant news items. For this reason I wish to thank, in the name of the Santuary the editorial staff and collaborators, for all their work and effort, and I would like to use this occasion to invite the Centres throughout the world to regard the Press Bulletin as the official bulletin of the Shrine. Congratulations once again to staff and helpers, and may Our Lord together with the Queen of Peace bless their work.

Fr. Ivan Landeka, pastor


N E W S

PRAYER - EDUCATIVE SEMINAR

As we have already announced in number 47 of the Press Bulletin, the prayer - educative seminar for group leaders, Caritas and pilgrimmage groups linked to Medjugorje will take place in Hotel "Sunce" at Neum from the 24th to the 28th of february 1997.

We would ask you to book the prayer - educative seminar before the end of December at the latest. Booking can be completed by fax at +387 88 651 444 and should be addressed to the "Information Centre"

A simultaneous translation will be arranged for every language group. The cost of accomodation in a double room together with transfer and seminar is 275 DM per person. The supplement for a single room is 40 DM. Payment can be made to the organiser of the seminar at the Hotel itself. There is also the possibility of transfer from Split airport to the Hotel. Those interested should write informing the exact time of arrival to the Medjugorje "Mir" association at Split, fax number -385 21 36 13 54 not later than the end of December. On the last day, a transfer will be organised from Neum to Medjugorje. It will be necessary to bring a radio and earphones for simultaneous translation. These can also be bought on the premises for 15 DM.


LECTURERS AT THIS YEARS SEMINAR ARE:

Fr. Leonard Orec was born in 1928 in Posuski Gradac. In 1946 he entered the Franciscan Order and he was ordained a priest in 1951. He studied theology in Sarajevo, Ljubljana and Fuldi (Germany). In the seminary "Kraljevoj Sutjesci",and at Humac he was entrusted with a position in "formation" of the franciscan novitiates and seminarians. From 1988 to 1991 he held the position of Parish Priest at Medjugorje. As president of the "Medjugorje MIR society", he co-ordinates the arrival of humanitarian help which sent to Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Rep. of Croatia from the freinds of Medjugorje throughout the world.

Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic was born in 1920 in Hardomilije, Ljubuski. In 1939 he entered the Franciscan Order in the province of Hercegovina, and in 1946, he was ordained a priest. He finished his studies in Theology in the University seminary in Zagreb. He completed a doctorate in 1958 and received the habit there. From 1958 until 1988 he lectured in New Testament exegesis on franciscan theology in Sarajevo, and also in the University seminary in Zagreb. Under the former Yugoslavian Communist regime he served two prison sentences from 1945 to 1947 and again from 1952 to 1956. For a longer period (1968 until 1981) he was a member of the theological commision aiding the Episcopal Conferences of former Yugoslavia. He has accomplished a translation of the New Testament from it's origins into the Croation language, and his translation has had continuous re-publication. His books, studies and articles have been published in Croation, English, German and Italian, and he has lectured at various conferences and meetings throughout Europe and America.

Fr. Josko Srdanovic, M.D. (psychiatry) was born in 1954 in the village of Kucici near Omis, where he completed elementary school. He continued secondary school education in Split. He proceeded to Medical University in Zagreb, and went on to specialise in psychiatry in Germany. For nine years he practised as a doctor. In 1989, he left his work at the psychiatric clinic for children and youths', in Zagreb in order to enter the Franciscan order in the province of St. Cyril and Method where in 1994 he finished his University seminary and was ordained a priest. At present he lives and works at the franciscan priory at Varazdin. There he operates therapy for, and prevention of drug abuse in the Republic of Croatia, holding individual discussions with those who have family-difficulties and psycho-spiritual problems. He is also an animator' of franciscan youth and of prayer groups, and holds spiritual retreats.

Fr. Slavko Barbaric was born in 1946 in Dragicina. At Visoko, Sarajevo and Schwaz (Austria), he studied Theology. He was ordained a priest in 1971. He received a doctorate in the area of religious pedagogy in 1982. From 1982 onwards he has been in Medjugorje. He has written many books and articles on spiritual matters. He works at the shrine. He has led numerous spiritual retreats and talks, and in many parts of the world he has held meetings on the theme of the happenings at Medjugorje.

Fr. Paul M. Zulehner is a doctor of philosophy and theology. He was born in 1939. He is professor of pastoral theolgy' and head of the state University at Vienna.

Fr. Miljenko Stojic was born in1960 in Dragicina. He did his theological studies in different Universities namely :Zagreb, Jerusalem and Sarajevo. He was ordained a priest at Mostar in 1987. At the Papal university,"Antonianum" in Rome in 1991 he completed a "licence" in Theology, specialising in christian and franciscan spirituality. As a priest he has worked in various parishes and for a period was educator in the seminary. During the war he was military chaplain. He holds spiritual retreats. He is a recognised writer and is a member of the Croatian literary society. He lives and works in the Parish of Medjugorje presently fulfilling the role of curit and organiser of the Information centre "Mir".



PROGRAMME OF THE PRAYER - EDUCATIVE SEMINAR
Theme: "FAMILY SPIRITUALITY"

Hotel "Sunce" - Neum, 24. 02. - 28. 02. 1997
.


Monday, 24. 02. 1997.
Assembly
19.00 Holy Mass (Fr. Leonard Orec)
20.00 Dinner
21.00 Information on the activities of the Medjugorje "MIR", association-(FR. Leonard Orec)

Tuesday, 25. 02. 1997
07.30 Morning prayer
08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Lecture: "The family in Sacred Scripture"- (Fr. Ljudevit Rupcic)
10.00 Group work on the theme of the lecture
11.00 Meeting with the Lecturer
12.30 Lunch
15.00 Lecture: "Family Pastoral"- (Fr. Paul Zulehner)
16.00 Group work on the theme of the lecture
16.45 Meeting with the Lecturer
17.30 Rosary
18.00 Holy Mass (Fr. Jozo Zovko) Dinner
20.30 Adoration (Fr. Ivan Landeka)

Wednesday, 26. 02. 1997
07.30 Morning prayer
08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Lecture: "Family in the contemporary world" - (Fr. Jo ko Srdanovic)
10.00 Group work on the theme of the lecture
11.30 Meeting with the Lecturer
12.30 Lunch
15.00 Lecture: "Family in Our Lady's messages" - (Fr. Slavko Barbaric)
16.00 Group work on the theme of the lecture
16.45 Meeting with the Lecturer
17.30 Rosary
Holy Mass (Fr. Miljenko Stojic)
Dinner
20.30 Meeting with the Franciscan Fathers (Fr. Ivan Landeka, Fr. Leonard Orec, Fr. Slavko Barbaric, Fr.Miljenko Stojic,
Fr. Jozo Zovko)

Thursday, 27. 02. 1997
07.30 Morning prayer
08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Activities of the "MIR" Information Centre, Medjugorje - (Fr. Miljenko Stojic)
10.15 Meeting with the Lecturer
11.30 Lecture: "The place of Medjugorje in the Church"- (guest Ren‚ Laurentin)
12.30 Lunch
14.30 Meeting with the visionaries
15.30 Groupwork - Resolutions
16.30 Grup meeting - Resolutions, feedback, experiences
17.30 Rosary
Holy Mass (Fr. Ivan Landeka)
Dinner
Friday, 28. 02. 1997.
07.30 Morning prayer
08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Departure for Medjugorje
Departure for Apparition Hill
12.30 Collective Lunch
Departure for Krizevac

Published by : INFORMATIVNI CENTAR MIR - Svetiste Kraljice mira
(Information Center MIR - Shrine of the Queen of Peace),
88266 Medjugorje, BiH, fax number: 00387 88 651 444.
Director: fra Miljenko Stojic.
You can receive the latest issue of the Press Bulletin at any time on your own fax machine in the tone
mode by dialing the Robofax in our Information Center at +387-88-65-15-55.
Published every other Wednesday.


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Last Modified 10/23/96