Medjugorje Queen of Peace, Mount Podbrodo, Mount Krisevac, Tihaljina, Kravice Waterfalls

MEDJUGORJE
St. James Church is the centre of sacramental life in Medjugorje. When the apparitions began in June 1981, pilgrims began flocking to Medjugorje, and St. James Church was no longer large enough to hold the crowds that came for Mass, Adoration, and Confession. In 1989, an exterior altar and surrounding prayer area (seating about 5000) were built to provide a large gathering place. Thanks to the instructive messages of Our Lady, Medjugorje has become a place of reconciliation, experienced particularly in the sacrament of Holy Confession.
At the entrance to the grounds of St. James Parish, there is a beautiful Statue of Our Lady, the Queen of Peace. It was created and installed in 1987 by the Italian sculptor Dino Felici, who later designed a similar statue to be placed on Apparition Hill.
Risen Christ Statue In 1998, Slovenian sculptor Andrija Ajdič created this stunning 30-foot sculpture depicting the resurrected Christ stepping from the cross with His arms raised in triumph. Since 2000, the statue has miraculously dripped a liquid substance from its right knee, with a chemical makeup similar to human tears. Many pilgrims bring towels or handkerchiefs to absorb the “liquid,” believing it to be a miraculous substance. Though claims of healing have been made.
Candle Park If you’re looking for a quiet place for prayer and meditation, this is it. Here pilgrims light votive candles for their loved ones who have passed away and for the numerous intentions they bring with them to Medjugorje, laying their troubles, hopes, and prayers at the foot of the cross.
Hall of St. John Paul II, If you travel to Medjugorje with a group, chances are you will attend a lecture or prayer meeting at the Hall of St. John Paul II. The Hall, which seats 800, was built in 1998 and features a painting by Carmelo Puzzolo based on the visionaries’ description of Our Lady.
Apparition Hill (Mount Podbrdo) Overlooking the village of Medjugorje is Mount Podbrdo, the site where the visionaries first saw Our Lady appear in June 1981. Pilgrims from around the world climb Apparition Hill, sharing experiences that are profound, personal, and life-changing. It is here that Our Lady first appeared to the visionaries, entrusting them with her secrets and sharing her mission to “bring the world back to her Son.
The Blue Cross,ust south of the main path pilgrims use to climb Apparition Hill is a small alcove. Inside, a Blue Cross marks the spot where Our Lady appeared to the visionaries as children when they were hiding from the Communist police.
Cross Mountain (Mt. Krizevac)Climbing Cross Mountain is a moving experience. It is an introspective ascent during which pilgrims ponder their relationship with God and the need to draw closer to Him. “Krizevac” means “Mountain of the Cross” in Croatian. In 1933, villagers built a 16-ton, 29-foot cross on the mountain to commemorate the crucifixion. It contains a relic from the True Cross of Christ given to the people of Medjugorje by Pope Pius XI. The inscription on the cross reads, “To Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the human race, as a sign of their faith, love and hope, in remembrance of the 1900 years since the death of Jesus.”
Fr. Slavko Barbarić Memorial Though Fr. Slavko Barbarić first came to Medjugorje to investigate the authenticity of the apparitions, he was eventually appointed to the parish of St James to minister to the of pilgrims who visited. Every day he rose early to climb Cross Mountain and pray the Stations of the Cross, usually with pilgrims or parishioners. On his way down, he would continue to pray as he picked up litter that had been left on the mountain. As he reached the last station on the last day of his life, he blessed the crowd and asked the Virgin Mary for a happy death. He then sat down on a rock and died. A memorial marks the place of his death.
Tihaljina, Fr. Jozo Zovko was the pastor of St. James Church in Medjugorje when the apparitions began in 1981. He was arrested six weeks after the first apparition, and, although innocent, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison by a communist court. After Fr. Jozo was released from prison, he was assigned to Immaculate Conception parish in Tihaljina, Our Lady of Grace When pilgrims came to visit Fr. Jozo in Tihaljina, he often presented them with a prayer card featuring a photo of this statue on the front and the five stones and Our Lady’s words, “If you only knew how much I love you, you would cry with joy”.
Siroki Brijeg,Though not located in the parish of Medjugorje, many pilgrims choose to make the 45-minute drive to Široki Brijeg. The monastery at Široki Brijeg is the site where 30 Franciscans were martyred. They were killed by Communist soldiers in 1945 after refusing to remove their Franciscan habits. The cave where their bodies were burned is close by. This is also where Fr. Jozo went to live when he left Tihaljina.