Guide through the Shrine of the Queen of Peace Medjugorje

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“We bishops, after a three-year-long commission study accept Medjugorje as a holy place, as a shrine. This means that we have nothing against it if someone venerates the Mother of God in a manner also in agreement with the teaching and belief of the Church. Therefore, we are leaving that to further study. The Church does not hurry.”

His Eminence Cardinal Dr. Franjo Kuharić, Archbishop of Zagreb

(Glas Koncila, August 15, 1993)

Prayer Area Around the Parish Church

Adoration Chapel

The Adoration Chapel was built in 1991, to offer a place for silent adoration of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar to the pilgrims. Due to the lack of prayer space at the Shrine, Holy Masses in different languages are celebrated there during the morning, but it is open for personal prayer during the afternoon.

In the year 2000, reliefs of five priests, natives of the parish, martyrs for the faith, killed by the communists at the very end of the World War II, were placed in the adoration chapel.

Statue Of the Queen of Peace

The marble statue of the Queen of Peace, which became a symbol of the Shrine (the work of Dino Felici from Italy) was put up in 1987 at the square in front of the church.

Confessionals

Thanks to Our Lady’s apparitions, Medjugorje became a place of reconciliation, which is especially experienced in the sacrament of Holy Confession. Twenty-five confessionals, built in 1990 and restored in 2001, can be found near the church; it is there that the faithful have daily occasion to experience God’s forgiveness.

Statue of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić

The bronze statue of St. Leopold Bogdan Mandić (the work of Carmelo Puzzolo from Italy), patron saint of confessors, canonised on October 16, 1983, was put up in 1998 in the proximity of the exterior confessionals.

Prayer Area Around the Wooden Cross

At the northwest of the church, an area for silent prayer was arranged around a wooden cross. This is the place where pilgrims can light their votive candles.

Outside Area for Meetings and Leisure for pilgrims

A covered area for meetings and leisure for pilgrims was constructed in 2000. Behind it, you can find the toilet facilities.

Prayer Area Around the Statue of the Risen Saviour

At southwest of the church, on the way towards the cemetery, a bronze statue of the Risen Saviour (the work of Slovenian sculptor Andrej Ajdič) was put up for Easter 1998. For Easter 2002, a space was arranged around the statue for personal and group prayer of the Stations of the Cross for those who cannot climb Cross Mountain.

Hall for Group Meetings and the Painting of the Queen of Peace

Prayer gatherings of pilgrims in the parish demanded the construction of a space for conferences, prayer meetings and international seminars. The Hall, which seats 800, was built in 1998.

There, you can also find a painting of the Queen of Peace (oil on tissue, work of Prof. Carmelo Puzzolo).

Cemetery “Kovačica”

The local cemetery “Kovačica” is where Fr. Slavko Barbarić is buried, as well as Fr. Križan Galić, who was killed by the partisans in the presbytery while he was Pastor in Medjugorje.

 

For God to live in your hearts, you must love.

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