Dear children;

While great heavenly grace is being lavished upon you, your hearts remain hard and without response. My children, why do you not give me your hearts completely? I only desire to put in them peace and salvation - my Son. With my Son your soul will be directed to noble goals and you will never get lost. Even in greatest darkness you will find the way. My children decide for a new life with the name of my Son on your lips. Thank you.

I know this video should have been posted earlier but I just got if, it was forwarded by a friend from NH, thank you Larry. 

"Sretna i Blagoslovljena Nova Godina", that is what we would say in Croatian, "Joyful and Blessed New Year". Traditionally, New Year is welcomed in the Saint James church, the prayer program starts at 10 with an hour and a half of the adoration to the most holy Sacrament followed with the holy mass starting at 11:30 and this is how it was last night. I was once again fortunate enough to be here as a local, as a parishioner and as a pilgrim walking in to the New Year with all of my fellow pilgrims. The church, The building of Pope Benedict the XVI (the yellow hall behind the church) and the green tent behind the church was filled with pilgrims and a number or shall I say thousands were standing outside for the whole service. There were projectors transmitting the service outside as well as in the two structures. Needless to say the church was filled to the last spot as well. Father Tomislav Pervan conducted the the prayer for the adoration to the holy Sacrament. There were over 120 priests concelebrating and the main celebrant was Fr. Miljenko Steko. I tried to participate with the prayer program but I also tried to take some photos so that I am able to transfer the beauty and the intense atmosphere from St. James to you all my dear Medjugorje friends. Here are a few photos and there are more to come when I edit them. GOD BLESS YOU.

Good evening,

Just a few words about the Christmas season and the days behind us, the week has passed quite nice, Christmas was warm and nice this year. It didn't feel like winter at all, it was sunny and nice. There was quite a few pilgrims in the village for the Christmas season and there is more here now that will welcome the new year here. Today felt like summer time with all the Italian buses driving around and all the pilgrims going up to the Cross mountain and passing my home. It was a refreshment although it is nice to have some quiet time once in a while but I do have to admit I could not imagine my life without the pilgrims and all the graces that are here round the year having to meet people from all around the world. :-)

The boys and the girls from the two community houses of Cenacolo re-played the play in front of the church Sunday at 4pm for the young and the last time for this year will be on New Years after the evening mass (7:15). That is all for now and I will end this with this line GOD IS GOOD. 

On another note and not connected directly to Medjugorje but still something that will ease the long and exhausting trips to Medjugorje happened yesterday. Another part of the motorway was officially open by the Prime minister of Croatia Dr. Ivo Sanader, the trip from the Split airport to Medjugorje will take much shorter now. Instead  3 hours it will take less then 1:45 min. :-)

At the last daily apparition to Jakov Colo on September 12th, 1998, Our Lady told him that henceforth he would have one apparition a year, every December 25th, on Christmas Day. This is also how it was this year. The apparition began at 9:49 am and lasted 6 minutes.

Our Lady gave the following message:

“Dear children!  Today, in a special way, I call you to pray for peace. Without God you cannot have peace or live in peace. Therefore, little children, today on this day of grace open your hearts to the King of peace, for Him to be born in you and to grant you His peace – and you be carriers of peace in this peaceless world. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

“Dear children! You are running, working, gathering – but without blessing. You are not praying! Today I call you to stop in front of the manger and to meditate on Jesus, Whom I give to you today also, to bless you and to help you to comprehend that, without Him, you have no future. Therefore, little children, surrender your lives into the hands of Jesus, for Him to lead you and protect you from every evil. Thank you for having responded to my call.” 

CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO GOD'S WONDERFUL LIGHT

 MERRY CHRISTMAS MY DEAR FRIENDS AND

FRIENDS OF MEDJUGORJE.

May God Bless you all and your families in this joyful time of

His birth.

Tunin Vasilj family

Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings
of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day
in the city of David
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
LUKE 2:10, 11

Dear friends, just a little note for the people living on the east coast, close to New York, Ivanka Ivankovic Elez will be speaking of Our Lady's messages at the Croatian Church of St. Cyril and Methodius Dec. 14th.; rosary and confession at 2pm and Ivankas talk at 3pm and holy mass at 3:30pm followed by coffee and cake.

United in prayer.