The international prayer meeting of youth “Mladifest”, which will take place in Medjugorje until Friday, August 8th, begins this evening with a prayer program, and as part of the official opening, there will also be a procession of flags and a Eucharistic celebration.
This year’s festival will be held under the motto “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps 122:1).
During the five days of the festival, the all-day program will take place at the outdoor altar of St. James Church, where catecheses, testimonies, prayer programs and spiritual segments will be held, animated by an international choir and orchestra made up of musicians from about thirty countries, said the director of the Information Center Mir Medjugorje, Vedran Vidovic.
“Each day begins with prayer on Apparition Hill, and continues with catecheses, testimonies, and an evening liturgical program. The festival is musically animated by a choir and orchestra of youth from all over the world,” emphasized Vidovic.
The festival gathers tens of thousands of young people from around 80 countries worldwide, and many have so far testified to conversions, spiritual and physical healings, and the discovery of religious vocations precisely in Medjugorje.
According to Vidovic, Mladifest is not a classic festival, but a spiritual renewal based on prayer, confession, the Eucharist, and encounter with God, and volunteers play a special role, making this event special with their service.
“The heart of the festival is made up of young volunteers, especially members of Franciscan Youth Fraternity from Medjugorje (FRAMA), whose dedication to the festival shapes them into responsible and spiritually mature persons, and we owe special gratitude to the Mountain Rescue Service, which tirelessly helps the parish and pilgrims,” emphasized Vidovic.
Mladifest has an international character, and its program is followed by a global audience through broadcasts in more than 20 languages, thanks to the Information Center Mir Medjugorje. The festival is available on YouTube, Radio Station Mir, and numerous TV and radio stations, making it one of the most-watched religious events from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
From the parish office of Medjugorje on Sunday, they informed all pilgrims and media representatives that during the duration of the 36th Youth Festival program in Medjugorje, the use of drones for recording on the church grounds where the Mladifest program is being held will not be allowed, except for drones of official photographers and videographers.
Photo: archive
