Queen of Peace – Medjugorje Pilgrimage

“I have come to tell the world that God exists … that peace is necessary for the salvation of the world. Mankind must be reconciled with God and with one another”. These words came as a soothing balm to a troubled world and were first spoken by Our Lady to six village children in June 1981. Since then, a legacy of remarkable events has turned Medjugorje into one of the world’s most acclaimed pilgrimage places. For more than 40 years up until the present day Our Lady has been appearing on a daily basis to give countless messages to the children. Some of these messages are private, some are for all people and some contain secrets that Our Lady has revealed to the children about future events of the world.

Healings, miracles, wonders and conversions – these have been occurring for so long. Endless streams of pilgrims over the years have come to receive these graces and return to their homelands renewed.

The activities here will be evenly proportioned by our guide throughout the stay to allow time for rest and personal retreat. Each evening we should be advised of the following day’s agenda, as many events in Medjugorje are spontaneous. Here are some of the highlights we hope to include:

• The Hill of Apparitions – Make the journey in prayer up to this sacred site where the first apparitions took place and Our Lady first told the children ‘I have come to tell the world that God exists … that peace is necessary for the salvation of the world’.

• Climb Mt Krizevac – The Mountain of the Cross dominates the landscape. Pray the Stations of the Cross and ascend the grace-filled path, which rises to the breathtaking summit with its commanding 30-foot cement cross built in 1933.

• Visit Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Retreat House – commonly known as “the Castle”, and hear the amazing testimony of Patrick Latta, a successful businessman and car dealer from Canada, who received a great grace of conversion through the messages of Our Lady. In 1993, he and his wife Nancy left everything behind and moved to Medjugorje during the height of the war.

• Visit the Cenacolo Community – ‘Field of Life’ is the name of the community that Sr Elvira has founded for young men who were once drug addicts. We will be touched to hear their miraculous testimonies of faith.

• Special visionary events – Join Ivan’s prayer group during a special outdoor apparition or be present when Vicka has a special meeting at night on Mt Krizevac (subject to spontaneity).

• Meet the Visionaries – The visionaries regularly receive groups, give explanations, pray with and answer pilgrims’ questions (subject to spontaneous availability).

• Inspiring talks – There is an enriching Franciscan talk most afternoons in English.

• Share occasional group gatherings – Optional and led by your Priest, for voluntary sharing, prayer or group rosary.

• Enjoy personal free time daily – All activities listed do remain optional.

• Day tour to Dubrovnik – visit the beautiful walled city known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. Within the stone walls of its Old City, we embark on a guided tour, visiting the Basilica of St Blaise, where we celebrate Mass before setting out on our exploration of grand palaces, buzzing plazas and remarkable churches.

MEDJUGORJE EVENING PRAYER PROGRAM & CONFESSION (Summer times/Winter times)*
5:00/6:00 pm – Joyful and Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
6:00/7:00 pm – Holy Mass in Croatian
After Mass – Blessings of objects, Prayer for health of soul and body, Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Tue/Thu/Sat)
Veneration of the Holy Cross (Fri)
*(Summer time: June 1st to August 31st / Winter time: September 1st to May 31st)

Our pilgrimage concludes after breakfast this morning with a transfer to Sarajevo airport, for our homebound flight connections. Pilgrims extending on the optional post-tour extension will be transferred to Split Airport for their flight to Rome. 

* For flight departures from Sarajevo airport, flights must be booked from 2pm onwards and not earlier.

(B)

We start our pilgrimage today with a visit to the Vatican Museums. Wander the spectacular chambers leading to the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s masterpieces, including the magnificent fresco of the Last Judgment. Continue through to the awe-inspiring St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world for an informative exploration. Our guided tour will feature among other highlights Michelangelo’s stunning Pieta, the tomb of Pope St John Paul II, the great Confessional and the Crypt containing the tombs of several Popes.

In the afternoon we enter into the most visited attraction in Rome – the Colosseum. In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum a sacred site, as it was a place where early Christians had been martyred. View also the Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum en route.

Rome overnight (BD)

Based on a Wednesday schedule, we will return to St Peter’s Square this morning for a memorable Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV as we join with pilgrims from around the world. (Subject to the Pope’s presence in Rome.)

Journey this afternoon out to the majestic Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Originally consecrated in 324, the saint’s tomb is visible now under the Papal Altar. We will celebrate a wonderful Mass here as a special tribute to the Church’s greatest evangelist.

Continue then along the ancient Appian Way, the oldest road from Roman times to the ancient Catacombs for a memorable guided tour to marvel at these underground burial tunnels for Christians and Hebrews. On the way, drive by Domine Quo Vadis – the chapel that stands at the site where, according to tradition, St Peter met Christ when he fled from Rome to escape martyrdom.

Rome overnight (BD)

Today we visit the impressive St Mary Major Basilica, the largest Catholic Marian Church in Rome, dedicated to Our Blessed Mother, which also contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus and where we can visit the tomb of Pope Francis. Onwards to the Basilica of St John in Lateran (First Papal residence) and the adjacent Holy Stairs brought from Jerusalem to Rome in 326AD by St Helena (as a favourite of pilgrims, these steps may only be ascended on the knees). Visit the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross) with its extraordinary collection of relics from the Holy Land.

Our afternoon is free to discover more sights of Rome – perhaps throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain before strolling to the Piazza Navona to soak up the vibrant atmosphere. Indulge in a gelato or enjoy a coffee while absorbing and admiring the history of this ancient city. Strolling through the streets is like walking through the pages of a history book.

This evening we will celebrate our final night in Rome at a local trattoria.

Rome overnight (BD)

This morning, we farewell the Eternal City as our pilgrimage ends after breakfast.  (B)