PILGRIMS MARK 19TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDJUGORJE APPARITION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

MEDJUGORJE, June 25 (Hina) - Pilgrims from all around the world on Sunday marked the 19th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje in southern Bosnia-Herzegovina. Several thousand pilgrims from all around the world, mostly from Croatia, Italy and Poland, arrived in Medjugorje in the past several days. Most of them today participated in masses which are held in several languages, and visited Krizevac Hill and the apparition site. The pilgrims also made a traditional 13-kilometre long 'peace pilgrimage' from Humac near Ljubuski to the apparition site. The pilgrimage has been taking place since 1992, when it was made for the first time as a response to hatred and war. According to their personal accounts, six children from Medjugorje on June 25 1981 saw the apparition of the Virgin and prayed with her for the first time. Some of them say the Blessed Virgin Mary still appears to them and they receive her peace messages and calls for prayer every month. Medjugorje has been visited by 24 million pilgrims from all over the world since the first apparition in 1981. The Vatican has not recognised the Medjugorje apparition. (hina) rml