BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA - ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE!

Wednesday, May 16th

Driving from Medjugorje to Dubrovnik - soooooooooooo beautiful!

To read a little on Bosnia-Herzegovina, please click below,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnia-Herzegovina

This is in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina --

and if you look closely in the top left corner, I believe you see the cross from Cross Mountain, Mt. Krizevak

What a great place to live!

WOW! Look at that water! I wanna live there!!!!!!

Awesome how the homes "match"

Okay, so this person decided NOT to match the rest of the homes

(maybe an American?? Or Ivana Trump or Oprah Winfrey since both of them are buying some huge place in Dubrovnik! SMILE!)

I'm pretty sure I could live here!


Look at that water -- it's sooo clear!

GORGEOUS!

Soooo beautiful!

I'd enjoy being on that boat out on the water!

Cruise anyone?

BRIDGES

BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE ON THE WAY TO DUBROVNIK

FAMILIAR -- HOW???

So on our way to Dubrovnik we pass a beautiful bridge that looked so familiar...

but that's not possible, I've never been here before!

WAIT, my poor memory is coming back.

It looks like a bridge in Steubenville, Ohio, going into West Virginia.

HERE'S THE BRIDGE ON OUR WAY TO DUBROVNIK

***********************

HERE'S THE STEUBENVILLE, OHIO BRIDGE -- don't they look a lot alike???

Here's the funny story of WHY I would remember a bridge from our short vacation out to Steubenville.

FIRST, I LOVE WATER, AND I LOVE BRIDGES...but I mostly like "seeing" bridges -- okay, I'm a fair-weathered bridge person. Maybe I saw too many of the documentaries of the bridges swaying and cars falling off in the storms, etc.

:-)

Okay, we were out in Ohio for a vacation to see Franciscan Steubenville University and also to spend a week at Catholic Family Land. Upon arrival I see this huge bridge and I think, "Whew, thank goodness we're not going into West Virginia, that bridge looks like it's hanging from THREADS." ha ha

Well one day at camp it was so humid that I decided to drive back to our hotel & shower & take a long nap (who me??). I got slightly turned around leaving the hotel because "I" was driving & not Pat.

So, I'm yaking on my cell phone to, thankfully of all people, Father Avram although he was back in Redding, he lived in Steubenville for years! I say, "I think I took a wrong turn. OH, NO, I'M GOING INTO WEST VIRGINIA & WE'RE HAVING A HORRIBLE DOWNPOUR & THUNDERSTORM! I'M GOING OVER THAT BRIDGE. HELP! WHERE DO I GO? How do I get to Catholic Family Land?"

Too late, I was heading over the bridge in a terrible down pour and I hadn't yet driven the rental car, so I had no clue where the wipers were, I'm on the phone, trying to get directions, and I know I'm headed into another state without my family, and NO CLUE HOW TO GET TO THEM...PLUS I'M GOING ACROSS THAT SCARY LOOKING BRIDGE ALONE IN A STORM!

Well, okay, I'm exaggerating a little on how afraid I am of bridges, but I do prefer looking at them over driving over one in a STORM!

Amazing how certain things stick out in our memories -- like the times that we're practically terrified!

MEDJUGORJE - VISIONARY VICKA

Wednesday, May 16th

What a way to start the day! We were so blessed to be among the pilgrims to see and hear a visionary in person. It's a gift that the visionaries grant to us pilgrims -- a personal visit with them (yes, many groups of pilgrims and with the use of a couple translators).

I had no idea what to expect. What I experienced was much more than I could have ever imagined. I'm sure all of the pilgrims had a variety of experiences in hearing Vicka speak, but for me, it was the PEACE and JOY that just radiated from her. It was infectious to the point of finding myself with a huge smile on my face and leaning forward hanging on every word, or practically leaning on my dear friend next to me for support so I wouldn't fall while being completely mesmerized by Vicka's grace & love!

This is Vicka

(not the best cropped picture, sorry)

but I wanted to try to show you the joy with which she speaks to the pilgrims.

Pilgrims gather to hear Vicka. Unfortunately for us, they had a change of plans and the morning we attended was not translated into English, but thankfully Father Avram would translate some from the Italian & Polish (?). Also once we got into the bus, of course, our wonderful guide Nada told us the message Vicka had for us.

To read more about the visionaries, click below:

http://www.medjugorje.org/avip.htm

A little roadside store next to Vicka's.

Pilgrims & locals hang out and chat. Look closely & you'll see Joe -- wearing jeans and a white shirt and holding his jacket -- he works for Nada (I believe). He is an incredibly wonderful, peaceful, & kind man. Funny, too, Joe's looks reminded me of my dad! It was awesome seeing Joe carrying around his Liturgy of the Hours every day & praying every chance he had. Amazing!

What a great & colorful photo (thanks Mike - our AAAAWESOME PHOTOGRAPHER!)

MEDJUGORJE - DAVID PARKES CONCERT

Tuesday, May 15th

Ending an eventful, emotional day with a wonderful concert by David Parkes was incredible! He has a beautiful singing voice that allows the Spirit to move through you, and when you hear his testimony of the miracle of Medjugorje that saved his life you realize what a true gift he is to us!

David Parkes and Nada, our beautiful guide!

MEDJUGORJE - CASTLE FOR VATICAN

Tuesday, May 15th

This castle will be donated to the Vatican upon completion.

So beautiful! WOW!

Patrick and his wife, Nancy, are building this "castle" because of their love & devotion to Our Blessed Mother in Medjugorje. Patrick had a huge conversion, going from a wealthy workaholic to a man focused on living his faith & spreading the word of Medjugorje. What a story, too! Patrick's story also included how important it is for us to pray constantly for our Holy Priests who have dedicated their lives to serving us and our church. What an amazing couple they are, joyful, loving, peaceful, & devoted.

Simply beautiful!

The flowers in Medjugorje are so beautiful. I was told that most people don't work hard at their flowers because they don't have to...the soil is so wonderful that the flowers & gardens grow very easily.

MEDJUGORJE - APPARITION HILL (Greg's Miracle - Message in a bottle)

Tuesday, May 15th

Apparition Hill - It was on Apparition Hill (formerly the hill of Podbrdo of Mount Crnica) that the children first saw the vision of the Blessed Mother holding the Infant on June 24, 1981, and where the children saw her again the following day with her arms empty.

Beginning our climb up Apparition Hill, on a very hot day!

Padre Avram leading the Joyful Mysteries up Apparition Hill.

What a beautiful view of St. James' steeples from the Apparition Hill climb.

Margie enjoying the climb so far! ;-)

Margie, Mike, & Karen stopped praying the rosary while on the upward climb to the top.

Padre Avram praying on such Holy Ground!

Little did Padre know that my prayer was consecrating him & his Holy Priesthood to Our Blessed Mother for his mother, Judith, on this Holy Ground. {I'm guessing it's no longer a secret?} :0)

Andrew, easily made the climb, it's the "company" that's killing him! Good thing he's such a saint & put up with us for the entire pilgrimage! You are awesome, Andrew!

Greg's Miracle

Message in the Bottle

Miracle you ask? Yep. I think so.

Strange as it may sound when I even attempt to describe what happened.

The 30ish pilgrims were climbing Apparition Hill, on what must've been the hottest day so far in Medjugorje. A few of the men had stopped before beginning the climb and purchased bottled waters. If you've traveled anywhere in Europe (and probably many other places) they don't keep their refrigerated items nearly as cold as we do here in the States.

During the long, hot climb up the hill, stopping all along the way to pray the rosary, Greg didn't notice anything special. He said at one point he noticed that his water bottle seemed "HEAVY" but that's all.

After we'd been on top of Apparition Hill for quite some time for private prayer & reflection.

At the top of the hill Greg slowly begins telling the other pilgrims about his WATER BOTTLE THAT IS NOW PRACTICALLY FULL OF ICE. A SOLID BLOCK OF ICE. NOT WATER. ON A HOT DAY. AFTER CLIMBING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

When did it turn to ice?

Why did it turn to ice?

Miracle?

Did Greg realize at this point that he'd been given a "miracle" on Apparition Hill?

Greg reveals his Message in a Bottle miracle to Father Avram.

Okay, who wouldn't laugh? Greg's water bottle turned to practically solid ice on the hottest day so far in Medjugorje. Water that, when purchased, was at best "cool"...

Margie & Karen resting as we stop on the "back" trail from the top of Apparition Hill. One day Our Blessed Mother told the children (visionaries) to go down another way because the Communists were waiting to kill them at the bottom of the hill.

Denny VanLoan & Padre, two pilgrims from our group.

Ever think about the web that God weaves in our lives with people that are in our lives for a short or a long time?

Thinking of that web -- I had to get a picture of this.

I don't know all the details here -- But back when, now Father Avram, was a child, his family would travel to Redding to see their dentist, Dr. Denny VanLoan, and the Brown's were not Catholic from the beginning. Denny is the type of Catholic that truly lives his faith! Did he ever imagine that this young boy, Avram, would one day be sitting on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje as a Holy Priest? Probably not.

TO ME, THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF GOD'S BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY HE WEAVES WITH PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES.

MEDJUGORJE - WEEPING KNEE & HOLY MASS @ ST JAMES

Tuesday, May 15th

RISEN CHRIST STATUE - Weeping knee

Just beautiful!

Padre getting a closer look.

Valery touching the weeping knee while Greg & Mike look on.

Greg getting a closer look.
Jennifer wiped the tears, Greg in the background.

Ike & Mary

Judy wiping the tears

Mike & Padre looking deep into the camera -- now, one could ask "Are they looking at Mike's awesome camera & talking camera talk?" or "Are they pondering the whole weeping knee?" We'll never know for sure! ;-)

Pondering ? ?

HOLY MASS @ ST JAMES, MEDJUGORJE

Our first Holy Mass @ St. James with Father Avram on the altar.

Padre is just on the right of the Easter Candle (and directly under St. Leopold)

MEDJUGORJE - MICKEY'S HOME...MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Monday, May 14th

Arrival to my home away from home. Mickey & his family live across the road from Nada's home. Somehow Nada's place was over-full, so a few of us made our way over to Mickey's.

Gifts waiting for us!

Margie & I were roommates for the pilgrimage, but due to a slight change at Nada's home, Kay Escobedo joined us.

My choice for my bed -- closest to the door (for fresh air, and hopefully COOL air).

Great choice for my bed (on the left) because I realized that if I laid looking out the sliding door, I could see St. James all lit up!

MEDJUGORJE - GIFT OF HOLY MASS @ ORPHANAGE!

Monday, May 14th

Continuing on our little "miracle" -- Upon arrival with the realization that Fr. Avram had not celebrated Holy Mass, Nada would call her cousin, Fr. Svet, to see if he could help us.

That presented what seemed to be a possible roadblock or problem -- Fr. Svet is typically unavailable around 7:30 pm, and it was just about that time! :-(

However, Nada was able to reach Fr. Svet! Miracle? Possibly.

We jump back onto the bus & start heading over to Father's orphanage chapel.

What a gift! Miracle?

Holy Mass was sooooooooooooooooooooooo amazing in this special chapel, at the orphanage, with the knowledge that easily Fr. Svet wouldn't have been available to grant permission & access. Having all the pilgrims here in this blessed Medjugorje, with our Holy Priest, Father Avram, this became a very spiritual beginning of our time in Medjugorje.

Padre Avram celebrating his first Holy Mass in Medjugorje!

Margie Duey

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

Kay Hilario

Psalm 113

Padre proclaiming the Gospel

John 15:9-17

Padre Avram & Zoe Hays

Yep, I HAD to get a picture of this since this is a favorite part of mine! {big grin}

Our leaders: Dave & Zoe Hays, Father Avram, & Nada

MEDJUGORJE - ARRIVAL

Monday, May 14th

Arriving in Medjugorje and seeing St. James came brought such peace after such a long wait.

We arrived at St. James and were going to get out, but Our Blessed Mother had other plans for us.

Upon arrival the awareness that Padre hadn't celebrated Holy Mass yet that day had Nada calling her cousin, Fr. Svet, to see if there would be any possible way for Padre to celebrate Holy Mass for us. Nada explained that the local Bishop does not allow home masses in the diocese.

In the meantime... we're ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

On our way to Fr. Svet's orphanage, we see all this construction. WOW.

Even unusual colors on new construction.

It looks like the new construction is to house pilgrims.

I'd love to build a home there to house pilgrims & MY FAMILY! ;-)

Medjugorje is beautiful!

CROATIA - BUS RIDE FROM SPLIT TO MEDJUGORJE

Monday, May 14th

Being a very inexperienced world traveler, I had my preconceived ideas of what Croatia would look like. In the picture below, I was surprised that Croatia looked THAT GOOD....

I guess compared to what I experienced for the first time ever last year in Guatemala with true extreme poverty, my expectations were way off. The picture above looked pretty darn good to me!

WOW...Split, Croatia is looking waaaaay nicer that I ever imagined.

It is a larger city, but still beautiful.

Gorgeous!

Beautiful. I think I could live here!

Oh, my, I could definitely live here!

The Adriatic Sea is truly beautiful!

I LOVE WATER!

What a treat the gorgeous scenery was for our 3+ hour bus ride to Medjugorje.

The realization of being on a pilgrimage STARTED to become obvious about now - We were about half way to Medjugorje and stopped to use the WC (water closets, aka restrooms, tee hee hee) and we were asked to go FAST, get back in the bus FAST.

Fast would soon become a "suggestion" we would get used to hearing! {big giggles}

But we only had so much time, so thankfully the planned pilgrimage made the most out of our time! Thank you, Nada!

Mike going fast back onto the bus!

Padre with Brac, Croatia, in the background. This is where his grandmother lived a long time ago & he will visit in about a week to research family history!

CROATIA - FLIGHT PICTURES SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!

Monday, May 14th

Padre took these photos while flying into Croatia. His family was from the island Brac. What gorgeous countryside!!!

PARIS - SMART CARS & INTERNET

Monday, May 14th

These Smart Cars are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo tiny!

Padre standing by the Smart Car shows how small these cars are.

I would've loved driving one of these little zippy cars!!!

Padre, Margie, & I ran to get on the Internet before flying to Croatia. This would be Padre's last time getting his email due to a computer glitch back in the states...think that was a "God-incidence" that he wasn't supposed to work???

PARIS - EIFFEL TOWER

Sunday, May 13th

Our tour bus stopped at the Eiffel Tower for about 15 minutes,

well maybe 20 minutes :0)

I was amazed at the "control" of the officers -- no parking meant no parking & they meant it! Beggars were run off quickly & there was no tolerance. WOW. They meant business.

On a much lighter note, it was HERE that I realized

I LOVE THE COFFEE & CREPES W/ NUTELLA!!!

Liz (duh), Padre Avram, & Margie, my new bestest friend & the BEST roommate possible for my time away from my family!

We RAN off the bus to get COFFEE and to grab something to eat -- those that know me, know I NEED coffee, plus we'd just flown all night from SF to Paris & jumped onto the bus for the tour. We found a little stand and got some of the best coffee along with crepes with Nutella... YUMMY!!!

Margie shared that amazingly enough, she had been in Paris 12 years to the day, having crepes w/ Nutella with her son & his new wife for their honeymoon! What are the odds that 12 years later exactly she would be there AGAIN eating crepes w/ Nutella? God has such a sense of humor!!! (I like to call those little coincidences "God-incidences" that make us giggle when we get a little glimpse of the tapestry God is weaving bringing people and events into our lives in "funny" ways)

Dave Hays (half way cut out of the picture, sorry!), Kay Neidlinger, Jim Katen, Kay Escobedo, Father Avram

PARIS - ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Sunday, May 13th

St. Vincent de Paul

PARIS - HOLY MASS @ MIRACULOUS MEDAL CHAPEL

Sunday, May 13th

What a way to start our 14-day pilgrimage --

Holy Mass celebrated @

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal!

HOW TRULY BEAUTIFUL!!

WOW...What a sight for sore eyes!

Such a beautiful chapel.

Such history.

So many prayers!!

Such Holy Ground!!

Kay Hilario

Kay Neidlinger

Father Avram

Dave Hays graciously serving Father Avram

Padre Avram, thank you for celebrating Holy Mass in such a special place!

I don't believe I will ever forget this gracious gift!

Times like these remind us how truly blessed we are to celebrate our Catholic faith!

Participating in Holy Mass with Padre Avram celebrating on such Holy Grounds was more than I ever expected for our first day of the pilgrimage.

PARIS - INCORRUPT BODIES! ST. CATHERINE LABOURE @ ST. LOUISE DE MARILLAC

INCORRUPT!!!

St. Catherine Laboure

St. Catherine was a Marian visionary who claimed to have relayed the request from the Blessed Virgin Mary to create the Miraculous Medal worn by millions of Catholics and even non-Catholics today. Exhumed in 1933, her body was found incorrupt, and it now lies in a glass coffin at the side altar of 140 Rue de Bac, Paris, one of the spots where the Blessed Mother appeared to her. Many visitors comment on Catherine's lovely blue eyes. She was canonized on July 27, 1947, by Pope Pius XII.

For more info on St. Catherine, go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Labour%C3%A9

St. Louise de Marillac

St. Louise de Marillac (also known as Louise de Marillac Le Gras) was a French nun and is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. After a time of increasing weakness and ill health, Louise de Marillac died on 15th March 1660, six months before the death of her great friend and mentor Vincent de Paul.

It is said that her body remains incorrupt, and it remains on display in the chapel of the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris to this day.

Louise was positive and exuberant in her energy, always urging her Sisters to do more and do it well. But along with the activity, she also preached love. Nearing her death, she wrote to her Sisters: "Take good care of the service of the poor. Above all, live together in great union and cordiality, loving one another in imitation of the union and life of Our Lord. Pray earnestly to the Blessed Virgin, that she might be your only Mother."

PARIS - MIRACULOUS MEDAL CHAPEL

Sunday, May 13th

We were told just days before leaving California, that Father Avram would be celebrating Holy Mass at the chapel of St. Catherine Laboure - Miraculous Medal Chapel, Paris France.

This was very blessed news to know we would be on such HOLY GROUND

to begin our PEACE PILGRIMAGE!

We were told that Father Avram would be celebrating Holy Mass @ 2 pm --

BUT (look closely at the sign below)...

A Sister (or two) answered the door and politely pointed to the sign above -- 14h30 (2:30 pm)

And with the way that only Sisters can do,

you knew without a doubt that door was

NOT opening until 2:30 pm

Why waste time waiting???

Padre takes advantage of the time and begins teaching the pilgrims about the

Miraculous Medal, St. Catherine Laboure, etc.

Jeanne enjoying the teaching outside the chapel door.

FYI we're positive we're Kearns cousins!

Padre meets up with Franciscans from Steubenville, Ohio, his Alma Mater.

Not surprising, Padre & the students knew someone in common -- Redding's own Dan Godnick!

THAT'S AAAAAAAWSOME!

SAN FRANCISCO - LEAVING ON A JET PLANE...

We're leaving on a jet plane...
But we do know when we'll be back again...

Here's a bunch of the pilgrimage group ready & waiting at the San Francisco Airport on our way to Paris!

Denny, Sandy, Ike, & Mary...

Kay & Mike killing time til we fly away!

Padre Avram, our fearless leader, praying his Liturgy of the Hours before flying... Possibly he was praying that the 30 pilgrims wouldn't drive him crazy on our 14-day pilgrimage?? :0)



What a blessing for us to have a father & son team on the trip! Andrew was such a trooper putting up with all of us -- uhmmm...older people...

Had to get a photo of Vince on the plane...couldn't have been that he found it amusing to tease us??? Nah!

Our Paris flight attendant...HE LOOKS LIKE FRODO!!