On June 24th, 1981, 2 girls (15 & 16 years old) claimed to have seen Our Lady on a hillside. The next day, they returned with other villagers and 6 children began having daily apparitions (read more here). Apparitions of Mary in Medjugorje are alleged to continue even today! Medjugorje has become a miraculous site where people from all over the world come together, find the "love of God," and leave filled with peace.
In October 2024, we will explore Medjugorje. Is Our Lady calling you to join us?
We are very excited that Abba (Fr) Negusse Keleta will be our spiritual director for this trip! He is a Catholic Diocesan priest from Eritrea, East Africa. Eritrea is a small country that gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991. Christianity entered in Eritrea during the 1st century. Fr. Negusse was ordained in 1984 as a diocesan priest for the Eparchy (Diocese) of Keren. He belongs to Eastern Rite but is bi-rituaI, he has permission to celebrate the Mass in the Latin Rite too. Abba studied Systematic Theology in Rome, and after he returned, he was a rector for the Major Seminary and Minor Seminary from 1988-2004. He was then sent by his bishop to help the Eritrean Ge'ez Rite community in Puget Sound, Portland and Vancouver BC Canada. He worked as parochial Vicar at St Monica on Mercer Island for 11 Years, St Edward, Paul, St Peter and St George for 4 Years. Since 2021, he has been working for the Eritrean Communities, but helps at St Monica regularly every Monday and Tuesday, and on the weekend as scheduled. He also helps other parishes when there is a need, and travels to different states to help people from his country also.
Dates
October 17th - October 28th, 2024 (dates may shift slightly, but we will depart no earlier than October 15th, and return no later than October 31st). October is at the end of Medjugorje's busy season. The weather is mild and it is a beautiful time of year to visit Medjugorje.
Lodging
We will stay with Dragan (Ivan's brother) & Huanita in Bijakovići, the village of Medjugorje where everything started in 1981. This beautiful home is in a great location near the blue cross, visionaries, and apparition hill. It is an easy walk to St. James, Cross Mountain and other popular locations in Medjugorje, too. Each of their 28 guest rooms are very clean, and have their own bathroom & shower. The pansion also has a large dining room where we'll share 2 meals each day.
Guide
Our professional local guide, Marija, will provide us access to a wealth of information about all Medjugorje has to offer. Our guide also enables access to talks with the visionaries (when available), access to the orphanages, "The Castle," and to other sites that are not be easily accessible without a guide. While our guide will be available most days, you are also encouraged to spend time on your own too, this is an important part of a Medjugorje pilgrimage.
Cost
We are volunteer run, so cost will be kept to a minimum. The cost will be airfare + the ground costs for the pilgrimage. Airfare prices have been volatile lately with fuel prices, but I expect to get airfare for less than $1500. The rest of the trip will cost around $700, double occupancy, per person. This estimate includes: lodging, food (2 meals per day in Medjugorje), ground transportation, licensed local guide. It does NOT include trip insurance (recommended insurance: Safe Travels Voyager).
Questions? Call Ken @ 360-852-1088 (or email: kenapaulsen@gmail.com)
Help priests or others visit Medjugorje.