In 2011, the total number of Holy Communions distributed during Mass in Medjugorje went above 2 million for the first time. The amount of concelebrations by priests was likewise record-high in passing 40,000, also for the first time.

Monks were concerned in two Medjugorje records in 2011 : Never previously did many of them come – and never previously did they disburse so many Holy Communions to parishioners and pilgrims

2,027,900 Holy Communions would be adequate if all the inhabitants of Houston, Texas, were to receive the Body of Christ one time each. Yet the number does not stem from Houston, but from Medjugorje where more than two million distributed Holy Communions in one year was registred for the 1st time in 2011.

The number climbed from 1,571,800, a rise of twenty-nine p.c compared with 2010 which was itself a record year. 1,378,600 Holy Communions were distributed in Medjugorje in 2009, according to parish stats.

A record breaking number of clergymen handed out the more than 2,000,000 Holy Communions. 41,094 concelebrations of Mass were registred in Medjugorje in 2011, up from 38,227 the year before. The figures aren’t descriptive of the particular number of visiting priests, as most concelebrate more than one Mass during their stay in Medjugorje.

The existing Medjugorje boom in Italy accounts for some of the progress, though only some of it. 8,171 Italian concelebrations occurred in 2011, up from 7,270 the year before and 4,718 in 2009.

Also, you must visit Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Medjugorje is one of the hamlets of the Western Herzegovina municipality of Citluk in the previous Yugoslavia. The name Medjugorje is Slavic and means “area between two moutains”. This true story takes place in the Bijakovici section of Medjugorje. On the afternoon of June 24, 1981, 2 girls, Ivanka Ivankovic, age 15, and Mirjana Dragicevic, age 16, were coming home from a walk. Looking toward the hill called Crnica, Ivanka saw a bright outline of a woman. She announced to Mirjana, “It is the Gospa!” ( Our Woman ).

On June 25, the two girls returned to the hill with 4 others. Their names are, Vicka Ivankovic, age 16, Ivan Dragivevic, age 16, Maria Pavlovic, age 16 and Jakov Colo, age ten. A figure in white was calling them to come up the hill. The children were somehow transported in some confusing way to a gorgeous Lady who calls herself, the Queen of Peace. The Woman gives messages to the seers for the whole world. To date, the Queen of Peace has left thousands of messages. Initially, the messages were almost daily. Now, for the past one or two years, they come on the 25th of every month.

The idealists describe Our Lady as gorgeous beyond words ; glowing with holiness. Her talks with the children have taken the form of motherly sensitiveness and love, and she took the role of both mum and catechist in advising and directing their lives. She greets them with, “Praised be Jesus, my dear children.” At the end of the apparition she is saying, “Go in peace, my dear children.” She seems to the 6 visionaries as a 3 dimensional real image and always appears among brilliant flashes of light. Her appearances typically occur about 6:40 pm every day. In Medjugorje, loads of people come daily at this time to take part in the event with prayer, song, the rosary and the Mass, which is commonly concelebrated by thirty or more priests. The whole evening service lasts about three hours. And this has been occuring daily since 1981! – as reported tagza.com

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Thirty years ago, Friendly Planet Travel, a leading tour operator that has helped thousands experience high-quality, reasonably priced vacation packages to exotic destinations worldwide, began its organization as a group pilgrimage operator. Over the years, the company has gained considerable experience arranging pilgrimages to interesting spiritual and religious locations. Today, Friendly Planet Travel has expanded beyond the previous itineraries, and is announcing 14 new Catholic pilgrimage programs designed to go beyond the traditional pilgrimage experience. In addition, these new travel programs offer lower pricing that will location these important spiritual adventures within reach of many more vacationers.

“We take pride in offering the best program at quality prices, and this policy applies to our brand-new pilgrimage program as well,” says Peggy Goldman, President of Friendly Planet Travel. “Travelers experiencing our pilgrimages will look at the most sacred Catholic holy websites and Marian shrines in the world. Plus, our own programs will travel off of the beaten path and in the picturesque towns along the country, exposing travelers to the cultural, artistic, and historical landmarks within these regions. Superb exchange rates and land price ranges have allowed us to supply superior accommodations, itineraries, and solutions at a price among the lowest in the industry without compromising on high quality. This is what differentiates our packages from others.”

All new pilgrimages incorporate hand-picked, first-class and centrally located accommodations regarding excellent shopping and dining options; English-speaking guides; entrance charges; many meals; and an accompanying tour chaplain. In addition, these packages include multiple masses inside ancient cathedrals and chapels, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Santiago p Compostela in Spain, and St. James Church in Medjugorje.

Friendly Planet Travel has eliminated as many one-night stays as possible and restricted groups to 25 vacationers, making for a spacious along with relaxed touring environment. For example, all travelers will benefit from your window seat, as Friendly Planet Travel’s pilgrimages tour breathtaking websites of Biblical significance, for example the Sea of Galilee, the 14 Stations of the Cross, Vatican City, and the Sistine Chapel.

The 14 pilgrimages offer the Catholic experience of a lifetime by the chance to see major religious destinations throughout Israel, Rome, Italy, Spain, France, and other places in central Europe. Additional sites unique to Friendly Planet Travel’s pilgrimages include stays inside Rocamadour and Avignon in France, Perugia along with Cortona in Italy, Dubrovnik on the Adriatic Coast, and Regensburg in Germany. Highlighted pilgrimages include:

· Visit the grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared several times for the 13-day La France Catholique tour, via $2,999 per person.

· Bathe inside the holy waters of Lourdes along with explore Notre Dame on the eight-day Lourdes & Paris excursion, from $1,599 per person.

· Obtain a Papal Blessing and explore Italy’s nearly all sacred sites on the 13-day Great Basilicas of Italy tour, via $3,199 per person.

· See the specific locations of the Virgin Mary’s apparitions inside Lourdes and Fatima on the 10-day Lourdes & Fatima tour, via $1,999 per person.

· See Jesus’ manger along with walk the Holy Stairs that Jesus climbed ahead of Pontius Pilate on the seven-day Rome & Holy See tour, from $1,399 per person.

In addition to the 14 published pilgrimages, Friendly Planet Travel offers large and small groups expert customized take a trip services and personalized parts, providing limitless opportunities regarding unmatched spiritual and cultural experiences for all involved. No matter whether it’s one of Friendly Planet Travel’s organized itineraries, or one that has been completely put together by and for a particular group, the help and pricing will be outstanding.

To learn about any of Friendly Planet Travel’s pilgrimage specials, departure dates, along with full itineraries, please visit the pilgrimage web site on the company’s website. For more regarding Friendly Planet Travel, check out Friendly Planet’s website; Friendly World Travel’s blog; or contact Jackie Zima-Evans in 610-228-2138 (office), 215-534-2973 (mobile), or write to Jackie@GregoryFCA.com.

ABOUT FRIENDLY PLANET TRAVEL
Friendly Planet Travel makes high-quality exotic travel reasonably priced for everyone. Since 1981, Friendly Planet Travel has been arranging all-inclusive, escorted low cost vacation packages and cruises to the most exciting destinations in the world at the lowest possible prices. Each year, Friendly Planet Travel offers more than 30 different group holiday packages to Asia, the Middle Far east, Africa, Europe, and Southern America-at discounts of hundreds of dollars away similar vacations. With no hidden charges, add-ons, or surprises, Friendly Planet Travel vacations incorporate convenient flights and airline tickets; carefully selected, first-class and exceptional hotels; knowledgeable, English-speaking guides; a lot of meals; planned itineraries; as well as friendships and memories that serve you for a lifetime.

Friendly Planet Travel offers its extensive, economical travel services to private organizations, including universities, religious establishments, alumni associations, and family members. Groups who wish to travel collectively can count on Friendly Planet Travel’s three decades of experience to operate his or her group travel program skillfully and always at the very best possible prices, writes tagza.com.

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MARY O’connell, ‘ Thistle House’-Mount-pleasant, Dundalk who died peacefully at home on August 19th surrounded by her loving family was a member of a well-known local family who was an inspiration to many in the fashion that she lived her life and for the fortitude she exhibited in her battle against sickness during the past 3 years.

Aged fifty five, Mary was one of 8 youngsters of Theresa and the late Tony Donnelly who established a successful fruit distributing business, and the wife of Dan O’connell, the widely known agricultural supplier. Educated at Dulargy N.S. And Dun Lughaidh Secondary, Mary trained as a nurse in St. Vincent’s Infirmary in Dublin, qualifying in 1977.

She completed her midwifery in Altnagelvin Hospice in Derry in 1979. Mary then worked for a while as a midwife in one of the states biggest pregnancy hospices, the Rotunda in Dublin before moving to St. James’s Surgery where she was attached to the oncology unit.

A feeling of adventure took Mary to Saudi Arabia where she worked for 2 years in a hospital in the capital, Jeddah. On her return from Saudi, Mary was prompted to help out in one of the family enterprises, ‘The Sportsmans ‘ on the Newry Road that the family then owned.

She relished the change in occupation and helped in building up the business. It was during her time in ‘The Sportsmans ‘ that Mary met her hubby, Dan and the couple married in September, 1987.

Afterward Mary’s primary role was that of a mother and in helping Dan to establish the agricultural supply business that he opened in his family’s home at ‘Thistle Cross’. Over the years the business encountered many challenges such as the intrusion of the northwards link of the MI on their business, the ‘Foot and Mouth ‘ outbreak, as well as continuous fluctuations in the agricultural economy.but through all these challenges Mary’s unswerving religion sustained her folks.

Her love of music that was nurtured by Fr. Brendan Mcnally in the Youth Orchestra in Ravensdale, of which she used to be a member, was passed on to her kids, 2 of whom, John and Grace played at her funeral Mass.

Mary delighted in her domestic commitments and happy in restoring the furniture in ‘Thistle House ‘, one of the area’s oldest and historic houses, and she proudly embellished her home with her fondness for flower organizing. She also enjoyed her collaboration in a local book club.

Mary’s robust religion which was evident for a lot of her life was a great comfort when her sickness struck. She became more actively concerned in local prayer groups, and the free handed fashion in which she devoted her energies to the concerns of others was an inspiration to many. With her man, Dan she made a number of pilgrimages to Medjugorje, the last at Easter, and got great contentment from the time she spent there.They had a great Medjugorje accommodation.

To several, particularly her loving family who are heartsick at her demise, Mary’s spirit will always endure, for they can feel her spirit as a steady presence in their lives.She was the torch that lit many lives but that light will never be extinguished for she used to be a remarkable girl whose inheritance will long endure.

Mary is survived by her partner, Dan, sons, Daniel, Harry, David and John, daughter, Grace, mother, Teresa, brother, Andrew, sisters, Kathleen Craig, Yvonne Donnelly, Teresa Mcardle, Irene Donnelly, and Jayne Graham, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, family and chums. She was predeceased by her pop, Tony in 1993 and brother, Brian in 2005.

Having reposed at home, Mary’s remains were brought to St. Brigid’s Church, Kilcurry where Requiem Mass was celebrated by Terribly Rev. C. Mcelwee, P.P. Faughart. Bishop Gerard Clifford presided and also in attendance were Extraordinarily Rev. P. Murphy, P.P. Ravensdale, Rev. F. Coll, Rev. B.. Buckley, and Rev. B. Mckenna, writes tagza.com.

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