Novena for Christmas

Hello from Medjugorjy!
It is cold and it rains but that did not stop people from Medjugorje to come to early morning mass at 6 o,clock am /zornica - in croatian ; zora=dawn/.

It is our Croatian tradition to have these early -dawn mass celebrated troughout Advent time.
Here in Medjugorje it is a special 9 day - novena in preparation for Christmas. In the morning we have morning mass and then in the afternoon at 2 pm we pray the rosary at the apparition hill (as we do on every Sunday all year around)

So the first day of the Novena was yesterday December,16th 2005 and it will finish on Decembre 24th, 2005.

As Christmas is the family holy day we are making all plans for everybody to be present at the family prayer on Christmas eve and then lunch on Christmas day. So far so good. Only some of the Pensions will have to be open since we will have some pilgrims coming to Medjugorje for Christmas time.

There will be a huge number of pilgrims coming after Christmas to spend New Year with us. In Medjugorje we have a special program with the holy mass celebrated at midnight on 31/12 so the first hour of the new year a person spends in the chruch with GOd. We always loved the idea.

I came first time several years ago (khhmmm ) when my parents decided I am adult enugh to be with my friends for the new year's eve and that first experiance will stay with me forever. Father Slavko was taking care of us at that time. There was so many young people from all over and it was just great experiance. The prayer and holy mass, all that wonderful music and then celebration we had in Domus Pacis with father Slavko playing harmonica for us as we were dancing .. ahhhh

Anyway, this year too, there is an anouncment that Domus Pacis will be open for youth to come and spend a three day retreat for New Year. Of course not everyone will be able to come since there is just so many beds in the house. But I am sure that if you decide to come to Medjugorje for New Year it will be good decision.

As I hear from my friends there will be a group of young people coming form all over Europe.

Now this is all for today. I whish you all wonderful Advent time.
God bless you all

Anita