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Hosanna in the Highest

Testimonials

MY FIRST VISIT TO MEDJUGORJE

I first heard about Medjugorje sometime in 1984.  Someone handed me an audio cassette with some testimonies of what was happening there.   I don't think I had ever heard about Yugoslavia, much less this little village.  

What I heard on that tape grabbed my attention like nothing ever had before.  I was very familiar with the apparitions of Fatima and Lourdes and Our Lady of Guadalupe, so it did not surprise me at all that She could come again in our time.  What I heard on that audio tape touched my heart and filled me with awe that the Blessed Virgin Mary was coming to us in our era.  I had no problem believing that this was possible. 

As a child I was raised praying the Rosary every night; and when I got married, I carried that tradition on with my husband, Richard, for the first few years of our marriage.  At some point I let myself get so involved in other things and let the devotion go, maybe praying it on some occasions.  However, I kept going to Sunday Mass and to some Church activities, but very few.  Although I was not involved in serving in the Church, I did believe strongly in our Catholic Faith and would never walk away from it.  However, I was at a point in my life when I was becoming dissatisfied and was questioning things in my life - felt something was missing for a long time now.  

Someone introduced me to the Charismatic movement but I did not feel that comfortable with it only because I am a more reserved type of person, but did attend some prayer meetings and some workshops from time to time.  That led me to other involvements and I even started visiting other non-denominational churches and services with the born-again movement.  Nothing ever compared with the Catholic faith but I was open to the fact that God also dwelt in these other churches and the Holy Spirit seemed to be operating in a way that I had not experienced in our Catholic Church.  I was becoming increasingly confused about some things and felt I needed something more than I was experiencing in my life.   This is when I decided to make a private retreat hoping I could find some answers and fill this void. 

During that retreat I spent a lot of time in front of the Blessed Sacrament;  praying to know God's Truth and to set me on the path He wanted me on.   I experienced a supernatural touch and presence of God in a way that was to have a life changing experience for me.  

When I heard about Medjugorje,  I was quite ripe for it.   I can see now how it was God's grace and Mercy that that little audio cassette got into my hands.   I could not stop thinking of that little village and what was happening there and started asking questions to see if anyone in my surrounding knew anything about it.   I had a deep desire to go there, and it was not long before I got the information I was looking for.   

Before long I had a brochure in my hand that advertised a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.   To my surprise it was with the same priest that shared on that audio tape that had been given to me.   It was a pilgrimage being planned out of the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio with Father John Bertalucci, Sister Isabel Bettwy and numerous others from there.   

I was so ecstatic about this new adventure in my life.  It would be the very first time that my husband Richard and I had ever traveled outside of the United States.  To be able to go to a place where Our Lady was said to be appearing was beyond anything I could have ever imagined happening in my time.   I already believed in my heart that She was appearing but I just could not believe that I was really going to Medjugorje where She was actually appearing to six children and really present there. 

This pilgrimage finally took place on July of 1985 and I can only say that I have never been the same since.  It was a little over a two week journey to other places such as Fatima, Lourdes, Assisi, Rome and finally only three days in Medjugorje but it was the perfect pilgrimage.   So complete that to this day I cannot express all the graces and blessings received.  Each place we visited was unique and special in its own way, especially Rome and seeing our beloved Holy Father, John Paul II.   But it was in that little, unknown, simple, humble village -  the parish of St. James in Medjugorje  - that I experienced the fullness of our Catholic Faith in a way I had not known it before; it truly came alive for me. 

I immediately experienced the peace that surrounds that place.  Yes, it was through Our Blessed Mother, Her true presence there and what She is doing in that little village that allowed me to experience my faith in a deeper level than I had before visiting there.  I did not know how but I knew I would return to Medjugorje.  

Well, I did return many times and each time was a little more special than the next.  I actually got involved with some tour agencies, arranging and aiding pilgrimages to Medjugorje and that is how I was able to go so often. Truly a tremendous gift for me.  The greatest grace I received in Medjugorje was a deep faith and a peace that was so needed in my life.  I fell deeply in love with our Catholic Faith, so much so that I went from a Sunday Mass attendance to a daily Mass attendance.  

In the meantime, I could not get enough of learning about Medjugorje and what was happening there.  Everything now seemed to make sense and just fell into place in my life.  There was no more confusion about anything.  I was completely content and only wanted to live my life for Jesus.  I came back wanting to share my experience with anyone who would listen. 

A friend and myself went to all the parishes and asked if they would allow us to show a video on the events taking place there. Several churches opened there doors to us and we were on fire to share everything we knew about it. From that experience, one priest who allowed us to show the video, was Father Ben Franzinelli.  At that time he was Pastor of Holy Family Parish, now retired and is now Monsignor Ben.   He was skeptical at first but open and decided he would go see for himself.   Needless to say he was totally convinced after his visit to Medjugorje and because of him, in June of 1986, we opened up a Medjugorje Information Center which is still operating today.   Our only desire has been and continues to be to spread and live Our Lady's messages. 

Since 1986, our founder and Spiritual Director,  Msgr. "Father" Ben has led us in a weekly prayer meeting which was held every Thursday evening at Holy Family Catholic Church with a Mass, Holy Rosary and sharing for many years.  After his retirement, we changed it to Tuesday evening at the Center. 

We put out a newsletter, now have a website, and we bring in many speakers witnessing to Our Lady's messages.   We have been so blessed to have had visionary Ivan visit us in Las Vegas three times.   

His first visit was for our first-time ever, Marian conference held in 1992.  To have apparitions of Our Blessed Mother through visionary Ivan here has been one of the greatest gifts that we could have ever imagined.   I can never thank God or be grateful enough for the gift He has given us in sending His Mother to be with us in this extraordinary way. 

Our Lady comes with a Mother's love and Her great concern for all Her children's needs to convert.  She comes to give us the greatest gift of all - the gift of Her Son's peace.   

I encourage all who can, to go to this heavenly Shrine of St. James in Medjugorje where Our Lady is still with us today after 20 years. She invites us and never tires of inviting us to respond to Her messages.  Her only desire is to lead us on the path to life which is Her Son and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   

Thank you Holy Mother for being with us, teaching us and warning us but most of all for helping us on the way of holiness and love.   May we respond!