Regarding a series of incidents that occurred last night at one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites, in Medjugorje, the Parish Office of Medjugorje issued a statement.
The Parish Office stated that it was with great sadness that they received the news of the act of vandalism that damaged the prayer spaces in the parish.
“We immediately began cleaning and repairing the damage so that all spaces could once again be properly prepared for prayer. We thank everyone who, with their work and selfless help, participates in ensuring that the sanctuary remains a place of encounter with God, a place of peace and a place where the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, is honored. We especially call on all believers to respond to this event in the way that Our Lady has been teaching us for more than forty years in Medjugorje: with prayer, fasting and forgiveness,” they stated.
They emphasized that the prayer program is taking place regularly, and that all spaces are being rapidly cleaned and prepared so that they can once again be a place of prayer.
“We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act, that the Lord may touch them with His grace and lead them on the path of goodness. We also pray for peace in the hearts of all people. Our Lady constantly calls us to be bearers of peace. May this event also encourage us to take her call even more seriously: not to return evil for evil, but to witness love, forgiveness and hope with our lives. The sanctuary remains open to all pilgrims. The prayer program is taking place regularly, and all areas are being rapidly cleaned and prepared so that they can once again be a place of prayer and encounter with the Lord through the intercession of the Queen of Peace,” they concluded.
As a reminder, a series of incidents occurred in Medjugorje on Monday night. According to official information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (MUP HNK), reports were received that the statue of Our Lady was damaged by writing various contents and that a fire broke out on the outer part of the altar of the Church of St. James.
The cameras captured the moment when an unknown man poured gasoline on the altar and set it on fire.
The statue of Our Lady was desecrated with graffiti and black paint, and the inscription “Devil in a skirt” was left behind.
Police officers were dispatched to the scene and are taking the necessary measures and actions to determine all the circumstances of the above events.
