A Friend of Medjugorje’s Works

“…Love invokes love and makes works more important than words…”

Our Lady of Medjugorje June 2, 2016

“You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works.”

James 2:22

In an article published by Forbes.com entitled, “What Is The Definition of An Entrepreneur?” Jim Blasingame states that an entrepreneur must have ownership, courage, curiosity, vision, risk, and redemption. He ends the article claiming, “The 21st century needs ‘all kinds’ of entrepreneurs.”

Those who have come in contact with all that a Friend of Medjugorje has accomplished for Our Lady understand clearly that God has invested a great plan in the hands of one of the greatest spiritual entrepreneurs of the 21st century. This spiritual entrepreneur, a Friend of Medjugorje, has run Caritas of Birmingham, from its beginnings, as an organization seeking to gain the greatest spiritual profit for Heaven, namely, countless conversions born through the plan of Our Lady of Medjugorje. He takes his calling seriously knowing the risk is not in failing financially, as is the concern of business entrepreneurs, but in failing to help the Mother of God institute Her plans for the

world through Medjugorje. A Friend of Medjugorje has laid everything on the line for Our Lady, and has put all the many aspects and outreaches of Caritas of Birmingham and the Community of Caritas at The Mother’s disposal. His works speak louder than his words. What he accomplishes will never be enough for him. He relates to Our Lady when She said in 1984-1985:

“When you will be in Heaven, you will understand why I am so pressed.”

Those surrounding him daily see him always “pressed.” If another project is not continuously “on the table” then things are not normal. Those who persecute a Friend of Medjugorje definitely cannot persecute him for “not doing enough.” Looking at all of the “works” he has initiated through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and guided to success, one can see that he has a great faith in the apparitions of Our Lady of Medjugorje. He has always been willing to put his reputation on the line in order to fulfill what he feels God is showing him. His faith in and love for Our Lady give him his strength.

“So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead…For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.”

James 2:17, 26

The works of a Friend of Medjugorje presented below are by no means an exhaustive compilation. Our archives are so large and so full that it was impossible to cover every work initiated by a Friend of Medjugorje in the amount of time we had to prepare this section for Mej v3.0, the new Medjugorje.com, released in August 2017. We have made our best effort to include below as many of his major works as possible. We will continue to add to this compilation as time permits us to accurately present more of his works from the past and as all that a Friend of Medjugorje is undertaking now and will undertake in the future is manifested.

1986

The founder of Caritas of Birmingham, through trials and prayers, discovered he did not want to be part of the already established “systems” this world had to offer. God and Our Lady were inspiring him to depart from worldy ways and to start out on a “new way” that would be a window for the future. Caritas of Birmingham was initially started to have an independent voice promoting the Catholic faith and reporting on different events taking place in the Catholic Church. The content of the original Caritas Newsletters slowly began to change as Medjugorje began having a great impact on all aspects of his and his family’s life. While some Medjugorje centers were spreading and covering more than just Medjugorje, Caritas became solely focused on Medjugorje. Within six months, Caritas of Birmingham was nationwide and by the end of its first year, it was an international organization. For more Information about the history of Caritas of birmingham visit Caritas History.

1986

1986

“Pray and by your life witness...”

Caritas’ founder, strongly impacted by the powerful graces present in the apparitions in Medjugorje, desired to bring this grace back to the United States. This prompted him to write a question to Our Lady asking that the same conversion taking place in Medjugorje to be allowed to take place in Alabama, and be Divinely spread throughout the region. He took the question to Medjugorje. Through Divine Providence, he was allowed in an apparition and Marija presented the question directly to Our Lady. She responded through Marija to him, the answer with these words:

October 6, 1986

“Pray and by your life witness. Not with words but rather through prayer will you attain what your desire is. Therefore, pray more and live in humility.”

For a more detailed account of the founder of Caritas' question to Our Lady and response He received read The Petition.”

1986

1986

BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages

Standing outside the rectory of St. James Church in Medjugorje, the founder of Caritas of Birmingham was reflecting on the many pilgrimages he had made to this village in just the year and a half after he had first come there. He had neglected his landscape/excavation business and had heard different priests express that Medjugorje was just another Lourdes, just another Fatima. It was time to get back to his life in Alabama. He began to walk through the fields of Medjugorje towards Apparition Mountain. He grabbed hold of a few stalks of wheat that were ready for harvest, rubbed them between his hands, blew off the chaff and ate the wheat. It struck him that this was something the apostles had done with Jesus 2000 years ago. He then arrived at the house of one of the visionaries, Vicka, as she was speaking to several different language groups outside her house. He watched as she spoke something in Croatian and then heard the translators relay what she said to their groups in their various languages; from Croatian to Italian, Croatian to French, Croatian to English, and to other languages. Suddenly he saw a parallel of what was taking place before his eyes and Pentecost 2000 years ago when all heard Peter in their native tongues. The thought began to form in his heart that no, this was not just another Lourdes or Fatima. It was at that point he was moved towards the messages of Our Lady and discovered that She spoke about a plan that She desired to be fulfilled through Medjugorje. He waited month after month for Our Lady to reveal this plan, and finally, on January 25, 1987, the first monthly message to the world, Our Lady revealed Her plan.

“...Dear children, I want you to comprehend that God has chosen each one of you in order to use you in a great plan for the salvation of mankind...”

There was no returning back to the life “before” Medjugorje. Caritas' founder had already begun to take pilgrims with him on his return to this little village just four months after his first pilgrimage there. He then founded BVM (Blessed Virgin Mary) Pilgrimages, feeling a very strong responsibility and desire to bring people to the experience of the apparitions. The first official pilgrimage for BVM Pilgrimages for Caritas was in November 1986. Since its founding, BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages has brought pilgrims to Medjugorje consecutively year after year, not even stopping during the war in Bosnia. Pilgrims consistently state that BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages leads the #1 pilgrimage in the world and the only way to go to Medjugorje. Visit the BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages site for more information on pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

1986

1988

ABC 20/20 Accompanies BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimage

In the latter part of the 1980s, when Americans started going to Medjugorje by the thousands, the news media, in all its various forms, began to take notice and run stories. ABC News Program 20/20, with anchors Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters, began searching for someone who could help them understand the event. The producer for 20/20, Rob Wallace, was given the name of Caritas' founder and wanted to do a story on him. The founder replied that he would take them to Medjugorje and assist them in every way he could, but only if they did the story on Medjugorje, not on him, but on Our Lady. He didn’t want to be in it. The sincerity of his desire is what forged a friendship and trust between Caritas' founder and Wallace. The team from 20/20 accompanied a Caritas Pilgrimage to Medjugorje and told the story of the apparitions through the eyes of the pilgrims.

At the time, in the 1980s, the usual viewing audience for 20/20 was approximately 22,000,000 people. With the amount of publicity that this segment received, it was expected that this story would be viewed by many more people. The founder of Caritas placed an ad for the 20/20 “Special Report” in one of the Caritas Newletters and encouraged others to pick up this ad and put it in their local newspapers, Catholic papers, Church bulletins, etc., to encourage people to watch the 20/20 Medjugorje story. Caritas had to add six more phone lines to the three existing phone lines to accept the hundreds of calls from people wanting to place the ad in their local papers. The story ended up drawing one of the largest viewing audiences 20/20 had seen to that point.

1988

1988-1989

Marija’s First Visit to the Founder's Home

In 1988 Medjugorje visionary, Marija, came to the home of the founder of Caritas and his wife near Birmingham, Alabama, in order to have the surgery by which she would give her kidney to her brother, Andrija. Just as Joseph was called to Bethlehem for the census so that the Scripture could be fulfilled, we now believe the kidney transplant was the “census,” the worldly reason, to bring Our Lady here. Our Lady appeared to Marija every day from November 1988 through January 1989 and gave many powerful messages. The first message here, during Our Lady’s second apparition, was for Caritas' founder and his family, with whom Marija was living during her stay. The message held future significance. Our Lady commissioned his work. He, his family and now the community believe that Our Lady commissioned them to do everything possible with their lives, their evolving community, their special projects and Caritas’ mission to bring everyone to Her through God’s grace. In this first message, Our Lady said from the Bedroom in which She appeared.

November 20, 1988

“May your life be prayer. May your work be offered as a prayer and may everything that you do bring you toward me. Let everything that you do and everybody that you meet be an encounter with God.”

It was a year after Our Lady left before the understanding was gained as to how prophetic and powerful this message was, and it is still unfolding. God has aided the founder and the Mission of Caritas greatly in bringing many souls toward Our Lady and helping everything to be used for Our Lady’s purposes.

1988-1989

1988

“Medjugorje: The Lasting Sign”

Impressed by the events of Medjugorje, the producer of 20/20, Rob Wallace, wanted to do a full-length production piece to thoroughly tell the story. He worked closely with the founder of Caritas, who arranged all the encounters with the visionaries, helped choreograph the scenes and approached Martin Sheen to perform the part of the narrator, which he did, volunteering his services for the piece. The end result was one of the most professional and impressive films ever made on Medjugorje. The name of the film was “Medjugorje: The Lasting Sign.” In a radio interview on April 12, 1988, the interviewer asked Wallace this question:

“You’re a journalist, not a babe in the woods. You couldn’t be, doing your job, you can’t be naive. What is your reaction to their claims? Do you believe that they actually see something?” Wallace answered: “Well to tell you the truth, yes, I do believe they actually see something. I have made it a point, since my return (from Medjugorje) to find as much information as I can about the scientific tests that have been done there. Because, as a journalist, I believe that information will help people be convinced, one way or the other. And fortunately it probably will help. Although, I guess having faith is the most important thing. I believe they are seeing something. I believe that there’s no way these children could be lying. That they are seeing something, that they are not crazy, and it’s beyond our capabilities to know, absolutely, if we’re not going to take their word for it, that they’re seeing the Virgin Mary, but they are seeing something. And that ‘Something’ is giving them a message that sounds very much like the messages a Virgin Mary would be giving. So, taking their word for it, I would say yes, I believe in it.”

It was said by many that “Medjugorje: The Lasting Sign,” was the most important documentary on Medjugorje.

1988

1988

Our Lady Asks for a Community to be Established

On December 13, 1988, when Our Lady appeared in the Bedroom in the home of a Caritas' founder and his family, She conveyed to Marija, the Medjugorje visionary, Her desire to start a Community at the site. Marija turned to him and said to him immediately after the apparition, “Our Lady wants to start a Community here.” The founder and his wife were deeply struck by these words.

Father Robert Faricy, a Jesuit priest who wrote several books on Medjugorje, was present during the apparitions on December 13 and 14, 1988. He was amazed and said:

“I visited Marija in Birmingham and prayed with her and the others when Our Lady came to her in the Bedroom. Not even in Medjugorje did I feel so strongly Mary’s presence as I did during Her apparition to Marija in Birmingham.”

1988

1990

Billboard Program Launched

One of the highly effective projects the founder instituted through Caritas of Birmingham was placing billboards of Our Lady of Medjugorje around the country. The founder was approached by a couple who wanted to help spread Medjugorje. The couple offered to fund the cost of printing billboards. They wanted Caritas to be the contact on the billboard for those wanting more information about Medjugorje. The people on the Caritas mailing list were contacted to find those interested in renting billboard space. The response was tremendous, and as billboards began popping up everywhere around the country, Caritas of Birmingham began receiving many phone calls from those who had seen the billboards. One man was so touched when he saw the billboard he had to pull off the side of the road as he was overcome with emotion. His story is one of many like it. Each person that called would receive a free packet of information about the apparitions, and many people were introduced to Medjugorje through this project.

1990

1990

Words From Heaven 1st Edition

This compilation of the messages of Medjugorje is the most comprehensive and complete message book available in the Medjugorje phenomenon, world-wide. It was among the very first works of a Friend of Medjugorje*, and one that continues to be in great demand, currently in its 17th edition, as of 2017. Our Lady said we must read Her messages every day.

Looking at the event, as much from the perspective of one living 100 years from now as one in the present, it has always been a concern of a Friend of Medjugorje* that nothing be lost from these apparitions, neither words, nor gestures of Our Lady. Human nature tends to grow dulled to events that happen daily, but the result of this dullness will be much regretted in the future, after the apparitions have ended. It is the responsibility of the “witnesses” of the events to do all they can to record the events, however insignificant they may appear at the time. It is the testimony of the witnesses of Our Lady that the Church will eventually go to, to understand the apparitions of Medjugorje. Words from Heaven holds great importance not only for our present spiritual growth, but for the spiritual growth of generations upon generations that will come after us.

*The title a Friend of Medjugorje" did not exist prior to the publishing of the First edition of Words From Heaven. For more information about how this title came about, read "Founder to Friend." To order your copy of Words from Heaven today on Mejmart

1990

1991

“Between Heaven and Earth” Produced on Cassettes

The production and reproduction of this tape, which tells the story of Medjugorje, was paid for by Caritas and produced in conjunction with the producer of ABC 20/20 News in New York City in 1990. Over a quarter of a million of these tapes have been produced by Caritas and made available to the public, often free, or for a minimal donation to make it possible for the message of Medjugorje to be spread throughout the world. This story, now available on CD or as a free download on Medjugorje.com, never grows old and continues to be a strong evangelization tool in introducing people to Medjugorje.

The philosophy of giving away materials for free was always very strong in a Friend of Medjugorje, but it took a strong faith that God would provide the necessary funds to do this and to combat those opposed to this way of thinking. A Friend of Medjugorje, despite those who constantly battled him in this way of thinking, has held fast, and literally millions of people have heard, directly or indirectly, of the apparitions in Medjugorje related to his strong faith in God’s providence.“Between Heaven and Earth” is now produced on CD in English and Spanish and continues to be spread throughout the world. To order or download your copy of “Between Heaven and Earth”

1991

1991

OIM – Operation Introducing Medjugorje

When Saddam Hussein’s face became known as the newest threat to peace in the world and the United States responded with Operation Desert Storm, those who were following the events of Medjugorje knew that the threat of world peace was real, and we were fighting a potentially volatile war. Knowing that thousands of soldiers would be putting their lives on the line, a Friend of Medjugorje had the community put together packets of materials for “Any Service Member” and began sending them out by the thousands. The packets included a Rosary, Scapular, Miraculous Medal, a tape of contemporary Christian music and information about Medjugorje. We were surprised to hear back from so many officers, soldiers, chaplains, and family members of servicemen. Never before or since have we received such touching letters as those who were thanking us for thinking about them and to read about how many of them really opened themselves to the grace of God. One such letter follows:

Dear Caritas of Birmingham, February 24, 1991

Many thanks for your packet, sent 1/17/91 to “Any Service Member.” Several of these have been directed to me and after noting the excellent contents of the mailing, I assure you that all reaching the United States Carrier USS-America will be distributed to our sailors and officers.

The war rages here - it began in its land portion at 0300 this morning. Having been recently with the Marine Corps from August to early October, 1990, in the Gulf, I can well guess the great trial that our troops are now enduring. Your prayer and fasting has no doubt been heard and is answered by God on High, and our military deeply appreciates the sacrifices and devotion to bring this blessing. May God richly bless your work and the message of hope that Caritas carries.

Sincerely, Lt. G.G.W. Office of Chaplain

1991

1992-1993

PRM: Project Refugee Medjugorje

By 1992, ten years after the apparitions began, pilgrims from all over the world had come to the village of Medjugorje. There could be no doubt that Medjugorje was satan’s number one target to destroy in the Bosnian War. A Friend of Medjugorje felt the responsibility to help the villagers who had opened their homes to thousands of strangers over the years. He immediately put Caritas of Birmingham into action getting much needed medical and surgical supplies, medicine, food, etc., for the areas in and around Medjugorje. Caritas community members, staff, and volunteers from the Birmingham area came together in a military hanger at the Birmingham Airport to pack and load the much needed supplies to be sent to the war-torn areas in Bosnia. The supplies, donated by people from all over the United States, were flown by jet to the needy in Medjugorje and surrounding areas. Led by a Friend of Medjugorje, Caritas of Birmingham was the first to respond to their specific needs and was actively bringing over tons of supplies donated by pharmaceutical companies in the United States. It was more than a year and a half before other groups were able to organize enough to help in this endeavor. By the time the project stopped, 15 successful flights or shipments were sent over, totaling over 10 million dollars in medicines, food and medical supplies, which were all used to set up an active pharmacy with free distribution in the village of Ljubuski, five miles outside of Medjugorje, an hour’s drive from the front line of the war in Mostar. In addition, we totaled the same amount or more through the managing or helping of other rescue efforts.

1992-1993

1992-1993

The Poem of the Man-God Controversy

Maria Valtorta is an Italian mystic responsible for the work, The Poem of the Man-God. When asked by two Franciscan seminarians if we could read these books, Our Lady responded positively. A huge attack arose around these books and anyone who supported them. Because, he, himself, had been so impacted by these books and in response to these attacks, a Friend of Medjugorje wrote directly to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican in Rome, to ask for a more recent decision about the books. Cardinal Ratzinger’s office called upon the Italian Bishops to review the request who sent it back through the Holy See and on to our Bishop. The response was dated May 11, 1993, and it relayed the judgment to a Friend of Medjugorje. It stated that Catholics were allowed to read them without fear of condemnation which caused, shortly after, the storm to subside. Marija went before Our Lady in 1982-1983, on behalf of a seminarian and asked the question, “Was it okay to read the book The Poem of the Man-God?” Marija relayed that Our Lady affirmed yes very strongly.

“One must read them.”

When other followers of Medjugorje found out that a Friend of Medjugorje wrote the cardinal, they were upset and feared he would endanger the status of Medjugorje with his question. He simply saw them as non-believers, because his faith in the apparitions was so strong that if Our Lady said it, God allowed it. And if He (God) allowed it, all would work out for His Glory. Visit here to read the full story

1992-1993

1992

Field Angel Program Established

The late 80s and early 90s marked the peak of American pilgrims going to Medjugorje up until the war came to Bosnia. During these years, Medjugorje centers across the world began to blossom, and the demand to learn about the apparitions was unquenchable. A Friend of Medjugorje's concern was not only how to meet that demand, but also how to bring the message of Medjugorje to those who had not yet heard of the happenings there. In order to fulfill both of these objectives, Caritas of Birmingham would have to have a stronger financial base.

In September of 1991, a Friend of Medjugorje with the first Caritas Community members, did a nine-day novena, walking on their knees from his home to the Tree in the Field of Apparitions, circling the Tree nine times also on their knees, praying Rosary after Rosary in petition to Our Lady to inspire a direction in this matter. The result of that novena was Caritas of Birmingham’s Field Angel program.

The concept came to a Friend of Medjugorje in morning prayer during the days of the novena, of having people pledge a certain amount each month, creating a budget from which we could plan future projects, as well as for the reprinting and reproduction of Caritas' materials, but he was at a loss as to how to structure and name the concept. He climbed the mountain behind Caritas one morning, to clear his mind and to pray again to Our Lady for guidance. In figuring how much we needed each month to carry on the operations of the mission, keep the materials in print, and be able to implement new ideas in spreading the message, he figured we needed at least 5,000 people to commit to a monthly donation. A prayer he had prayed almost daily before Marija, the Medjugorje visionary, came to Alabama and had the apparitions here, suddenly came to him on this mountain climb. The prayer was a petition in which he begged God to send 5,000 angels to the valley, assigning 1,000 angels each for specific tasks, such as 1,000 angels for protection, 1,000 angels to help bring about the conversion of the people who would come here, 1,000 angels to help acquire the land, etc. As he remembered that prayer, the understanding of “Field Angels” came into his heart.

The community knew that this was from Our Lady at the time, but understand it even more so now to see what the Field Angel Program has become...literally a physical extension of the Caritas community, hands and instruments of Our Lady that reach around the world bringing the message of Our Lady, first by their lives lived as witnesses, then through the materials produced here in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages. When the Field Angel program was born, a community of believers was born who live the spirit of Medjugorje in their own individual homes, towns and cities, but who are united under the mantle of Our Lady through the mission of Caritas. Field Angels are prayed for everyday by the Community of Caritas and are considered as family for all they do for Our Lady through the mission.

1992

1992

OLPG – Our Lady’s Prayer Groups

Our Lady was very strong in establishing prayer groups, especially with the youth, in Medjugorje. She actually gave “rules” for the group, and they were established to pray specifically for Her intentions. Many pilgrims, upon returning home from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, desire to continue to grow in the life of the spirit, and to gather with people with whom they can share their faith. Medjugorje prayer groups began to bloom all over the country.

We were hearing from many people who did not know anyone in their area who knew of Medjugorje. Our Lady gave a Friend of Medjugorje an inspiration to respond to their need, and Our Lady’s Prayer Groups, or O.L.P.G., was born. A computer program was created that, using the mailing list as the base, helped match people together in their area so they could form or join an already existing prayer group. We put together a packet of information for those who wanted to start their own group based on the dictations of Our Lady’s prayer group in Medjugorje. Our Lady’s Prayer Groups, registered with Caritas of Birmingham, began receiving regular mailings from us to keep them informed of the events and messages of Medjugorje. Whenever Our Lady expressed specific needs for prayer, or whenever there were prayer projects we sponsored, we had an immense group of people ready to respond with prayers and sacrifices. As many people have told us through the years, just knowing they are a part of so many other people praying for the same intention gives them the feeling that their prayers can really make a difference in helping Our Lady and Her plans in changing the world. A Friend of Medjugorje has future plans to revamp and restructure OLPG to make the program stronger for the future.

1992

1992-1995

The Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages

The construction of the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, the “message factory,” the Mother House of Caritas of Birmingham, took three years to complete. Its beauty is such that pilgrims walking up to it for the first time are in awe of its hidden uniqueness. With a Friend of Medjugorje overseeing even the minutest details, and architectural design only seen in Europe, the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages allows others to see Our Lady’s beauty through its beauty. The decision by a Friend of Medjugorje to build the Tabernacle came through a long period of prayer, and its construction gave the growing mission of Caritas the much needed space that the Caritas house, formerly located adjacent to the Tabernacle, could not provide. Even the construction workers were touched when working on these grounds made sacred by Our Lady. The structure of steel, wood and stone became the home to pilgrims from all over the world who have walked up her steps to become closer to Our Lady. The square footage available for the propagation of Our Lady's messages in the Tabernacle totaled more than 35,000 square feet.

1992-1995

1992-1993

“Children of America, Save Medjugorje!”

These coloring books were produced by Caritas of Birmingham to encourage children to offer prayers and sacrifices in order to bring about an end to the Bosnian War. For every prayer or sacrifice they offered, they were to color one item on a page for the ending of the war. The books were then to be sent to Vicka, the visionary, in Medjugorje to be placed in the apparitions of Our Lady.

On this anniversary of June 25, 1992, of Our Lady’s apparitions in Medjugorje, Vicka made a special presentation to Our Lady of the first completed coloring books from “Children of America, Save Medjugorje.” Four children from Caritas had colored their pages, offering up their prayers and sacrifices to Our Lady for peace. Their coloring books were carried to Medjugorje for the June 25th anniversary by the Caritas crew who accompanied the most recent Project Refugee Medjugorje (P.R.M.) flight to Medjugorje and the surrounding areas. Two refugees from a nearby village also had drawings to present to Our Lady. The following was conveyed:

“On the 25th during the course of the apparition, Vicka gave Her the first drawings from the children as a gift for the Anniversary. The Virgin showed Her great joy and blessed the coloring books as well as the children who did them. Vicka is waiting impatiently for the others.”

1992-1993

1993

The Seven Novenas Begin

A consistent prayer theme of a Friend of Medjugorje is the reconciling of ourselves, our families and our nation (the United States of America) back to God. This is the theme of Caritas of Birmingham’s annual five-day prayer gathering in December and the intention of the “Seven Novenas” he wrote in 1993 to be prayed beginning on the 25th of each month, from June to November, with the seventh novena starting December 4th, and ending the last day of the five-day prayer gathering, December 12th.

These powerful and moving novenas spread rapidly, and have led to the accumulation of prayers numbered into the millions, said for the conversion and healing of ourselves, our families and our nation. It is a momentum of prayer that grows every year, with over 1,000,000 copies in circulation. To Order a copy of the Novena on Mej-mart, Click Here!

1993

1993

December 8-12 Annual Five Days of Prayer Begin

The final novena of the “Seven Novenas” culminated in a five-day prayer gathering held at Caritas of Birmingham annually, that began in December of 1993. During these five days, the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages is rededicated to Our Lady, praying for all those who helped see it built. It is a week of sacrifice and prayer offered for the conversion of ourselves, our families and our nation. The week builds towards a beautiful celebration of "Christmas in the Field", and ends with the “Patriotic Rosary,” prayed for our nation. The week is remembered fondly by all those who have attended it over the years. The experience pierces the heart, and many lives have been changed, even unexpectedly. A Friend of Medjugorje has spiritually choreographed the Five Days of Prayer to bring each soul as deeply as possible into prayer. All who have attended say that the event is the perfect preparation for Christmas, and for many, it is Christmas. Our greatest joy was having Marija, the Medjugorje visionary, attend this event on two occasions, in 1999 and 2001. The beauty of these days, inspired by a Friend of Medjugorje, is difficult to describe in how profoundly hearts are touched. For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham.

1993

1993

“The Lamb” Television Commercial

Having developed not only a working relationship with one of the producers of ABC 20/20, but also a close friendship, Caritas of Birmingham moved towards other projects with the television media, including a short video describing the Caritas mission for pilgrims who would come to visit it here in Alabama. The film footage turned out beautifully, and one scene in particular made a beautiful commercial on the Eucharist, which a Friend of Medjugorje produced and sent to all of Caritas of Birmingham’s Field Angels and Our Lady’s Prayer Group (O.L.P.G.) members who had it aired on television stations in their area. All of this was to draw people toward our mission in order to draw them toward Medjugorje. It was soon after this, however, that Our Lady led a Friend of Medjugorje and the Community of Caritas in a totally different direction, away from television forever.

1993

1994

Marija’s Second Visit to a Friend of Medjugorje’s Home

Medjugorje visionary, Marija’s, second visit to a Friend of Medjugorje’s home was in February 1994. Marija was accompanied by her husband, Paolo, and this visit served as a retreat for the couple from the busy life that surrounds a visionary’s family. It was during this visit that Our Lady gave the following message, “I am happy to be here,” on February 1st, in the Bedroom. A Friend of Medjugorje, his family, and Marija and her husband were the only ones present in the Bedroom for the apparition, while the rest of the community gathered in the Field. These words, along with Our Lady giving two blessings in the Field, on the third day of her visit, February 3rd, made all the hard work and suffering worth it and gave the community the strength to go forward with and for Our Lady. Those present in the Field that day on the 3rd felt peace fill the whole valley. Our Lady looked out from over the people, Her hands outstretched in a blessing. It is our belief that some kind of special blessing or seal was extended to the whole valley. Also during this visit, the construction of the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages was going on, so this blessing was also a welcomed reassurance to keep going forward in the mission’s much needed expansion.

1994

I See Far

In the beginning days of his Medjugorje experiences and laying the foundation of Caritas of Birmingham, a Friend of Medjugorje formed a close and lasting relationship with ABC producer, Rob Wallace, and others in the media. Caritas of Birmingham is also located a very short distance from a major world-wide television station. He had media outlets given to him to spread Medjugorje on a “silver platter.” However, Our Lady was leading him down another path.

On December 9, 1981, Our Lady said:

“...It would be a good thing to give up television, because after seeing some programs, you are distracted and unable to pray...”

A Friend of Medjugorje, through much prayer, suffering and tears, was lead down this “TV-free” path. This discernment brought about tremendous persecutions and hardships, from family, friends and Catholic media outlets. What no one understood was the sacrifice behind the change he was making. Realizing that everyone’s conversion and spiritual walk is different, he does not in any way look down upon those who use and watch the medium of TV, but he knows the fruit of this path, firstly, in his family, and then in the community, and now the thousands who have followed in his footsteps.

I See Far, a book by a Friend of Medjugorje regarding the topic of television, is one of a kind and one of the many fruits of the changes Our Lady desired him to make first in his life and his family’s life, and then to be a “witness” to others. To order or download your copy of I see Far

1994

1995

“...Get as many hearts as you can close to My Heart...”

On the Feast of the Visitation, a Friend of Medjugorje was with visionary Marija at her home in Italy. Only the two of them were present for the apparition on this day. The apparition lasted longer than normal. At the end of the apparition, Marija immediately left to go into the kitchen but said to him to remain in prayer and to recite the “Magnificat”. It was a privilege to pray the “Magnificat” in closing the apparition on the feast day in which Our Lady Herself recited it before Elizabeth. He knew something happened during the apparition because of its length and realized when Marija sat down immediately with pen and paper that Our Lady had given a specific message. Though for years he had been around the apparitions and many times received messages, never had he experienced Our Lady giving an individual a message without being prompted by a question first, and then, too, of the many who asked, rarely an answer was given. Marija then relayed that the message was for he, his family, and the community. This message he understood, by a special grace during the apparition, was a clear mandate; that Our Lady had brought this mission and community to a special point by trials and the purifying fire of tribulations in order to now be used by Her in a special way.

Our Lady said to literally “get souls” close to Her heart and bring them to God. She wants of him and the community to be Her extended hands, Her tools which She desires to use just as any craftsman uses his tools. Our Lady said:

“Little children, I desire that through your lives you are witnesses, that you are my extended hands, my instruments. Get as many hearts as you can close to my heart and lead them to God, to a way of salvation.”

Marija was very surprised by this. She knew immediately by Our Lady’s intimacy in saying “Little Children” that it was also for the community at Caritas and its mission. Marija was questioned by the one who was present at this apparition about “to a way”. Marija said specifically Our Lady meant “to ‘a’ way of salvation”. This was important to him because of the spirituality at Caritas and what it is he believes Our Lady has shown by way of this path of salvation, namely of turning away from certain ways and things the world offers. By Our Lady’s words, he understood clearly Her desire to lead others along this way, and that She was strongly endorsing and blessing this path. After She spoke this message, Our Lady gave a blessing before returning to Heaven. He understood that he and the community were not to frown on or look with indifference on other paths of salvation, but to be strong in gathering hearts and showing them what Our Lady has taught them at Caritas and how She has guided their mission and the community. The advice and encouragement Our Lady gave to a Friend of Medjugorje on October 6, 1986 extended through this May 31, 1995 message, to the Community of Caritas who is following in this “witness,” this “way of salvation.”

1995

How to Change Your Husband

A book does not attain its worth by famous or important personage raving about it in reviews. A book, instead, gains the highest credibility attainable when the people themselves who have read it state it to be so; people from every walk of life, crossing economic and social classes and cultures. And now as it spreads too many nations, we have been told over and over how “it changed my life like no book I’ve ever read.” Read by many — two, three, five times, or more. You are fed, enlightened, healed, changed, and given strength.

This timeless book by a Friend of Medjugorje, How to Change Your Husband, regarding God’s order in the family, has helped saved tens of thousands of marriages already, and in the future, will continue to help save and strengthen millions of marriages through the centuries.

Now available in Croatian as well, pilgrims to Medjugorje and locals swarm to the Caritas Mission House to get this book.Priests have used this book as pre-marital counseling, stating that if the principles within are understood before marriage, the divorce rate will be drastically reduced. To order or download your copy of How to Change your Husband

1995

1996

Mission House Opens in Medjugorje

After much prayer and many signs of confirmation, a Friend of Medjugorje and the Community of Caritas went to work to establish the Caritas Mission House in Medjugorje just a short distance from St. James Church. A container with furnishings, free materials including books, booklets and audio tapes, plus all the necessities to start the Mission House, was shipped from the United States and unloaded by the community members in Medjugorje. The Caritas Mission House allows many pilgrims to leave the village with Our Lady’s messages, because a Friend of Medjugorje structured the Mission so that in the Mission House, most all of our materials are given away free to pilgrims from all over the world who travel to Our Lady’s chosen village. Pilgrims have given it the name, “The Message Place.” Often times people are packed outside waiting to get in. To this day, a 15-foot concrete statue of St. Michael stands guard outside the Mission House doors and receives many visitors in the pilgrims who kneel down in front of this special spot to pray for his protection.

One of the items given away at the Mission House is beautiful keepsake message card for pilgrims from all over the world in their native language, containing Our Lady’s monthly message to the world given to Marija, the second of the month messages given to Mirjana, and prayer group messages given to Ivan. These cards are printed the day or night the messages come in. Many times, community members are in the Mission House into the late hours of the night printing and handing out these cards as soon as they receive Our Lady’s words. The Mission House has become known for these cards, and pilgrims from all over the village find themselves searching for the Mission House and community members to be able to take Our Lady’s words home with them... to their families, friends, loved ones and prayer groups. In one night, over 12,000 cards were given out in 10 different languages. Many thousands of these cards are handed out free each Mission House season. For more on the Mission House

1996

Patriotic Rosary

A Friend of Medjugorje was once visiting Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the actual site of the birth of our nation. Feeling that this was Holy Ground, he prayed a Rosary for our nation and felt the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence. This Rosary led to the discovery of many facts concerning Our Lady’s involvement in the birth of America which are all contained within the booklet entitled, “American History You Never Learned.”

Since this happened, Our Lady led a Friend of Medjugorje and the community back to Philadelphia on several occasions. In the fall of 1995, almost the entire Community of Caritas gathered outside of Independence Hall to pray the Rosary. It was 11:00 p.m., and very few people were out and about. Everyone present was struck deeply by the powerful sense that Our Lady was with them as the Rosary was being prayed. It would become an unforgettable moment for each one of them.

Two months later, a smaller group from the Caritas Community again found themselves at Independence Hall praying a beautiful Rosary that a Friend of Medjugorje put together with a meditation he had written for the Fourth of July. This Rosary was added to a special meditation Rosary that is prayed in the Field every Fourth of July. As only Our Lady can do, She wove the two together to create a powerful prayer for the consecration of our entire nation to Her Immaculate Heart, the “Patriotic Rosary.”

Over the years, this powerful prayer for Divine protection and mercy for our nation and its rebirth has captured the hearts and attention of millions when first heard and prayed. It has been prayed from within cloistered convents to inside the Pentagon; from dangerous military fields around the globe to the quietness of the Bedroom and the Field at Caritas.

With millions in circulation, and a constant pile of mail requests, those who have prayed the “Patriotic Rosary” feel that this prayer is what has sustained in the United States of America through its darkest times. Caritas of Birmingham once received a donation from the Pentagon. The address on the check shocked the woman processing the mail, and they called the Pentagon in gratitude before sending a hand-written thank you note in the mail. This was during George W. Bush’s administration and the Community of Caritas learned that a group of men in the Pentagon were praying the “Patriotic Rosary” before their daily Mass that also took place inside the Pentagon. The chaplain, who sent the donation, invited a Friend of Medjugorje and the community to visit Washington, D.C. Two community members who were able to visit were stunned when they saw the chaplain’s office in the Pentagon stocked with a Friend of Medjugorje’s materials. It was a comfort to know that Our Lady of Medjugorje’s messages, through a Friend of Medjugorje’s writings, were used in the chaplain’s office in the United States Pentagon. To order or download your copy of “Patriotic Rosary”

1996

1997

Response to Mirjana’s 2nd of the Month Apparitions

Medjugorje visionary, Mirjana, in addition to her annual March 18th apparition, sees Our Lady on the second of every month. Our Lady, Herself, dedicated this day for non-believers. She said to Mirjana on February 2, 1997 “...that much prayer is needed for those who have not yet come to know the love of God...”

In 1997, Mirjana announced that her second of the month apparitions would now be open to anyone who wanted to attend. A Friend of Medjugorje responded by encouraging people, on this one day of the month, to join together in prayer for Our Lady’s intentions for non-believers. He also wrote a prayer to pray each 2nd of the month called the “Prayer for Non-Believers” when he learned that Our Lady taught Mirjana a new prayer that will be released at some point during Her apparitions. The reaction of Our Lady’s children from all over the world was immediate. Churches were being opened for an hour of prayer in the early hours of the morning; other groups were meeting in their homes or nearby shrines. We heard from people from almost every continent who wanted to participate.

A Friend of Medjugorje continues to be on his knees waiting on Our Lady’s words in the middle of the night. Community of Caritas members in Medjugorje now sleep at the Blue Cross the evening before the 2nd of the month, and some of a Friend of Medjugorje’s most profound writings have come from meditations on these 2nd of the month messages.

The “Prayer for Non-Believers” can be ordered on Mejmart on Medjugorje.com or by calling Caritas of Birmingham at 205-672-2000.

1997

1997

Meeting with Pope John Paul II

A Friend of Medjugorje has always said it is not important who you know, as long as you know the Virgin Mary. She will open doors that you never could dream of having opened to you, even to the Holy Father. Through a long series of “open doors,” in January 1997, a Friend of Medjugorje sought a meeting and was later invited to attend a private audience and mass with Pope John Paul II. Meeting a Swiss Guard at a certain gate by the Vatican early in the morning, the small group he was with was led through corridors and hallways, deep within the walls of the Vatican, to finally arrive at the Pope’s private Chapel. Our founder was stunned when he was asked to read the readings for the Pope’s Mass this day. The Holy Father was already seated and in deep meditation when his guests arrived. A Friend of Medjugorje was seated just a few feet away from the Holy Father, and stood only five feet away in front of him when he rose to do the readings. As he began reading, he found it difficult to keep his emotions from taking over. The Holy Father spoke to him later in regard to his work, Medjugorje, and the community. The Holy Father ended the meeting giving him a blessing, a second blessing for his family, and a third blessing for the Community of Caritas.

1997

1997

Apparition and Message in the Mission House

Caritas of Birmingham and the Community of Caritas has been blessed to have Our Lady appear and bless the mission within the Mission House in Medjugorje on several occasions. On October 31, 1997, a Friend of Medjugorje invited Medjugorje visionary, Marija, to come to the Mission House for an apparition. The setting was beautiful with candles, flowers and music. The Rosary was peaceful and uninterrupted. Marija went into ecstasy for a full five minutes, and as those community members present watched her gaze finally move upward, she uttered the Croatian word, “Ode,” meaning “She is gone.” Marija told the community members present with a sweet smile on her face that Our Lady had given a message to the community, “I want you to be Jesus’ joy.” It was a moment of pure joy for those present.

1997

1999

Alabama Log Cabin in Medjugorje Built and Blessed

Our Lady has made the community's "home away from home" Her home. The Community of Caritas’ cabin in Medjugorje was built by a Friend of Medjugorje and community members in 1998, and it serves as the Community’s home away from home while they are in Medjugorje manning the Mission House for pilgrims and leading pilgrimage groups. Our Lady, not by coincidence, chose two special feast days to come to the cabin. Our Lady has appeared to Marija, in this small house made of Alabama pine on August 5, 1999, the day Our Lady has told us is Her true birthday, and August 15, 1999, the Feast of the Assumption, as well as during the construction of the cabin. On Her birthday, the Community members in Medjugorje threw the Queen of Heaven a birthday party in the cabin, complete with homemade ice cream, American birthday cake, and lots of joy, laughter and love. All who enter this home say that it has a golden hue to it and that it "glows.” There is no doubt it was left by Our Lady, and Her blessings bestowed upon this house will someday play an important part in the Church’s history and the history of the apparitions. Our Lady continues to come to this cabin through Her apparitions to Marija.

1999

Marija Returns to Caritas for December 8 -12

It had been 10 years since the first apparitions in the Bedroom in the Home of a Friend of Medjugorje and the Field, and in those 10 years prayers were said for Our Lady to return for the public, because Marija had returned for private visits only, just as She had in those beginning days. A Friend of Medjugorje wanted anyone who desired to be with Her to have the opportunity. The time came in December, 1999, for the community's annual Five Days of Prayer for our nation. And people did come, by the thousands. It was estimated that 40,000 people attended at least part of these days of prayer including many non-Catholics and some non-believers. One priest, after a day hearing Confessions, remarked that a lot of “big fish” were caught. The majority of the Confessions he heard were from those who hadn’t been to the Sacrament for 10, 20, even 30 years. Expressing Her joy of seeing so many returning back to God, the night of Christmas in the Field, Our Lady appeared with three angels, and said to us all, on December 11, 1999: “Thank you with all my heart.” These precious words filled the community members with joy.

By 1999, the Community of Caritas had been blessed with celebrating four major Marian Feast Days with Our Lady: August 5th - Our Lady’s birthday, August 15th - the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven, December 8th - the Immaculate Conception, and December 12th - Our Lady of Guadalupe. For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham.

1999

2000

Promoting the Pope’s Entrustment

The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, announced that on October 8, 2000, he, along with the whole Universal Church, would make an Act of Entrustment of the next millennium to Mary, the Mother of God, the Queen of Peace. Though there was little time to plan, a Friend of Medjugorje was able to acquire, in advance, the actual prayer the Pope would say. Though there was little time, a Friend of Medjugorje immediately had the prayer printed on posters and letters, encouraging people to pray the prayer in union with the Holy Father, getting up in the middle of the night, if necessary, according to where they lived.

Caritas of Birmingham’s Field Angels, members of Gideon’s Army and Our Lady’s Prayer Groups (O.L.P.G.) joined together in prayer with the Community of Caritas, the Holy Father and the world on October 8, 2000. The poster a Friend of Medjugorje designed was able to be presented to Pope John Paul II, asking his blessing upon it. The poster spurred a tremendous amount of prayer and conversion, that a Friend of Medjugorje and the community believes was possible because of the Pope’s blessing.

2000

2000

Present for the Pope’s Entrustment

The Holy Father's announcement that he would be entrusting the 3rd millennium to Our Lady in a special Mass and ceremony on October 8th, 2000, was the cause of great excitement and hope for the future of the Church. In the midst of the Great Jubilee Year, calling together the largest assembly of bishops since Vatican II and having the pilgrimage statue from Fatima brought to Rome to be present for this consecration, made the event all the more powerful. A Friend of Medjugorje, his wife and one of his sons flew to Rome to witness this historic and spiritually charged event. They arranged to meet Medjugorje visionary, Marija, there as well. A Friend of Medjugorje had called Marija before leaving for Italy and asked her to ask Our Lady if She would appear during the entrustment ceremony. Marija fulfilled the request, to which Our Lady responded mysteriously by saying, “I will be present.” During the ceremony, the Holy Father said in the course of his homily that Our Lady is truly present today...almost the exact words Our Lady had spoken the day before to Marija. Our Lady did not appear to Marija during the ceremony, but...we know the rest of the story. The pilgrim statue of Our Lady was placed on the main altar in St. Peter's Church. Within the crown of Our Lady is the bullet that almost took the life of John Paul II when he was shot in 1981, the same year Our Lady began appearing in Medjugorje. Many of the bishops recognized and greeted Marija as they processed by her to take their seats for the Mass on October 8th. It was an extraordinary experience, one which history will show to be a pivotal moment in the history of the Church and of the apparitions of Medjugorje.

2000

2001

Full Print Shop Established at Caritas

Caritas of Birmingham started with a little print shop created through the blessings that God showered upon the mission. It was called the “House of Loretto” because of its smallness. Even though it was so small, for two and a half years everything printed, with the exception of the newsletter, came from this little building. Caritas’ mission became so far-reaching and the orders for a Friend of Medjugorje’s materials so demanding, that expansion of the print shop was a must. Only by God’s grace, can something so big coming from something so small, and that it happened so quickly. The larger (current) print shop located in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages would never have been built had it not been for the humble “House of Loretto.” As the mission has grown and changed, so have the materials distributed by Caritas. After learning what works best and is the best for Our Lady, the Caritas print shop is now equipped with two Heidelberg printing presses, a Muller Martini book binder, a cutter, folder, collator and shrink wrapper. Caritas’ printing operation is capable of taking a writing from raw paper all the way to finished product, all for God’s glory and Our Lady’s plans.

2001

2001

“Sinless Day” Offered for Our Lady’s Birthday

Ever since Our Lady revealed Her true birthday as being August 5th, a Friend of Medjugorje has been strong in promoting this, knowing one day, the Church will formally recognize this day as the day Our Lady was born. It is not anyone's responsibility to “campaign” for this or to expend energies trying to force the recognition of this day by the Church. That will happen as God ordains it to happen. For Our Lady's followers, they are simply to be obedient to Her wishes and to love Her as our Mother. In contemplating what gift would make Our Lady the happiest, a Friend of Medjugorje decided one year to do his best to give Her a sinless day. He received so much grace from this act that he encouraged the Community of Caritas the following year to join him in this gift. That led to an invitation to all of the Field Angels to spread this idea and join the community in uniting their hearts to Our Lady for one day of trying to live a day of perfection, without even the smallest blot of a sin on that day. Caritas received such a positive response that it sees a new movement of prayer and celebration of Our Lady’s August 5th birthday rising up as each year more people are led to desire to live a sinless day as a gift for Our Lady.

2001

2001

Response to the September 11th Terrorists Attacks

A Friend of Medjugorje, a month before the September 11th attack, had written an inspiration down on a piece of scrap paper thinking it was to be used for something, and laid it on his desk, forgetting about it as papers and books piled upon it. On September 12th, he remembered that little slip of paper and went digging for it. It formed into a perfect bumper sticker with a message that people needed to hear at this moment. “Angry? Need A Weapon? Pray the Rosary!” This bumper sticker coupled with the “Patriotic Rosary” began to be requested by the thousands. Caritas still receive calls from those who have seen them and have called for a free Rosary and requested a booklet on how to pray it. Caritas went into reprinting the “Patriotic Rosary” and bumper sticker time and again, not being able to keep up with the demand. In a time when everyone felt a need to “do something,” the “Patriotic Rosary” filled that void. It was a great blessing to thousands of people (and continues to be) across this land. People from other countries were requesting it as well to pray on behalf of America. The community's greatest consolation during this time was that Medjugorje visionary, Marija, was coming back for a retreat in December 2001, during the five days of prayer. To have Our Lady present here with them, to be able to present to Her their nine years of prayer for our nation, personally, to receive Her blessing and Her words during these sad, uncertain days of our nation, was a gift beyond compare. Marija let us know that she was able to come to the December prayer gathering for our nation on September 10th, one day before 9/11. The community members found it particularly touching that while knowing the terrorists were in their final stages of preparation for the destructive day that lie ahead of them against our nation, Our Lady was making Her plans, as well, to be with Her children who would be gathering together in December to pray for our nation...and now you know the rest of the story. Her saying “yes” to come on September 10th, satan’s strike on our nation on September 11th... it was no coincidence. A Friend of Medjugorje and the community had been waiting for months for Marija to confirm, and it turned out to be on the eve of destruction.

2001

2001

9-Day Fast on Bread and Water Worldwide

To end the community's nine years of praying the Seven Novenas for the Reconciliation of Ourselves, Our Families and Our Nation back to God, knowing Marija was returning to Caritas of Birmingham for the Seven Days of Prayer in December 2001, a Friend of Medjugorje and the Community of Caritas desired to end the novena with a nine-day fast on bread and water. The invitation was for all to join the community in this fast, and through an inspiration, a Friend of Medjugorje asked for 2,000 people to come forward to fast in preparation for the seven days to heal our nation and for the purification of each year of Christianity starting with the year one and ending with the year 2001. Each person who committed to fasting for these nine days was given a year in which to offer this fast in atonement for the sins committed by Christians in their designated year as well as for the reconciling of ourselves, our families and our nation back to God. There was not a lot of time to promote this event, but the community was delighted and amazed that there were 1,020 people who fulfilled the fast and so many had amazing testimonies of graces they personally received through the sacrifice. Many had never even thought to do something that they considered impossible to try, and they discovered great joy in their success at doing something they thought impossible to achieve. The grace received catapulted many forward in their spiritual lives. In 2002, an invitation to finish covering the remaining 982 years of Christianity to 2002 by fasting in atonement for the sins committed in Christianity over the past 2002 years, as well as peoples’ own personal intentions, was sent out. These nine-day bread and water fasts are carried out each year to date by a Friend of Medjugorje and the Community of Caritas and an invitation to join is always extended to anyone who wants to participate. For more on fasting

2001

Marija Returns to Caritas for December 8-14

At Caritas of Birmingham, the community had come to the end of a nine-year novena for the conversion of our country in which thousands had participated over the years and had just ended a nine-day fasting novena in which over 1,000 people joined the sacrifice in atonement for the sins of our nation and those committed by Christians over the past 2,000 years. Still reeling from the September 11th attack on our country, the anticipation of Our Lady’s apparitions during the seven days of prayer in December was beautiful. It was a moving time for many to be here at Caritas with Our Lady and Medjugorje visionary, Marija. The grace was profoundly felt in the lives of the pilgrims who journeyed here. Marija made herself more accessible to pilgrims, and the intimacy shared was like a homecoming...not only for the pilgrims, but Marija as well...and even for Our Lady. Many people remarked that when they turned onto Hwy 43, in Sterrett, Alabama, where Caritas is located, they felt like they were coming home.

During this visit, Marija had an almost three-hour session in the auditorium of Caritas’ mission building, the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, where she let pilgrims ask her any questions they wanted to, and she answered in English without a translator. This was a first in her visits to Caritas! Her comfort in being so open and sharing with the pilgrims in this way shows how with each visit to Caritas, she feels more and more at home. In another talk in December, she and a Friend of Medjugorje spoke together and told stories of the apparitions from the early days to today. They were like brother and sister reminiscing. In a radio interview, Marija was asked why she had returned. She said she loves coming to Alabama, it is a second home to her, and she would love to come again with her family. For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham.

2001

2001

50,000 Containers of Salt Blessed by Our Lady

A Friend of Medjugorje invited Medjugorje visionary, Marija, to Caritas of Birmingham in December 2001. Our Lady had informed Marija that the apparition on December 11, 2001, would be in the Field in the evening. Marija and a Friend of Medjugorje had met privately about this apparition earlier that afternoon to discuss something special. Marija gave the following description.

“At the moment of the apparition, when Our Lady appeared, I recommended each and every one of you, and all the intentions you’ve carried in your heart. In a special way I recommended all the sick. And Our Lady, when She came, She put Her arms out, extended them over the crowd, and prayed for a long time over all of us. I then asked Our Lady to bless all the objects that we brought with us to be blessed. Our Lady again extended Her ‘hand’ and made the sign of the cross above us all and above our objects. She then said, ‘Go in peace,’ and in this way She left.”

Marija didn’t say everything that had happened during the apparition. Unknown even to anyone in the community, a friend of Medjugorje had spoken to Marija before the apparition and explained to her the secret project and asked her to ask Our Lady if She would accept granting to it a necessary Special Blessing directly and physically from Her. The materials of the project were across from the Field, on the first floor of the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages. After the apparition, Marija, smiling, leaned over to a Friend of Medjugorje and said that Our Lady had accepted, and, separate from the normal blessing, gave a second blessing specifically for this spiritual project.

The gift Our Lady gave the community was Holy Blessed Salt. Caritas had purchased two tractor-trailer loads of salt—2,016 cases, each case containing 24 canisters—totaling nearly 50,000 canisters of salt. So you can see why the community was out on a spiritual limb. If Our Lady did not grant a special grace with Her Blessing, what would the community do with enough salt that would last them a thousand years? They didn’t expect Our Lady to rescue them just because they made such a move, for that would be the sin of presumption. Heaven is not moved by grandiose human endeavors, power, or wealth, but rather, humility and prayer based in love. So, while they were very excited about how Our Lady granted the blessing, they also felt relief, and that was a joy in itself. The salt was also blessed by a priest, so it also has Christ’s Blessing. The Blessed Salt is a Sacramental one can use to bless their land, home, office, car, anywhere...and even one’s tongue!

2001

2003-Ongoing

Materials Translated for the Croatian People

A Friend of Medjugorje from the beginning, has had a deep love and appreciation for the Croatian people, Our Lady of Medjugorje’s chosen people. Our Lady laid it heavy on his heart to have all of the materials he has authored on the Medjugorje messages translated into Croatian. Our Lady is appearing in their “backyard” and many times those closest to this event do not know what is going on with Our Lady’s plans in Medjugorje, because there is no resource for them to turn to for this information. So, they too can incorporate Our Lady’s life-changing words into their lives. These materials are produced at Caritas’ Mother House, the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, and shipped overseas by container to the Caritas Mission House in Medjugorje.

The following is just one of the many stories and testimonies of the Croatian people that come into the Mission House in Medjugorje and are thrilled to see materials about Our Lady's messages in their own language.

“Another young Croatian man came in. He lives in Croatia, but this is the first time he has been to Medjugorje. The only reason he came was because a friend told him to come to our Mission House in Medjugorje, that he could get some free materials here. I showed him everything and he couldn’t believe it. He kept saying, ‘I can’t believe this. How is this possible? I can’t believe there is a place like this.’ He said, ‘In this world, everything is about money and what can I get out of this or that.’ He said, ‘How is it possible that there is a place here, surrounded by so many shops asking for money, a little place that is giving away materials from the heart?’ He just couldn’t believe that a place like this existed. He ended up coming every day, and he brought someone new with him each time he came in. And each time he came in, he immediately asked for a bag and began to fill it up with other materials. He was amazed because he must have gotten $100.00 worth of retail material each day free!” (From a letter from a Caritas Community member in Medjugorje dated August 6, 2016.)

2003-Ongoing

2003

Community and Lunetti Family Retreat with Our Lady

Medjugorje visionary, Marija, her husband, Paolo, and their four boys returned to Caritas of Birmingham for a personal visit with a Friend of Medjugorje’s family and the Community of Caritas for a time of rest and vacation. They arrived in Birmingham on August 7th, Our Lady appeared at Caritas on August 8, and then a week at a secluded Florida beach was planned with the Community from August 9–15. On August 9, 2003, the community, with Paolo and Marija’s family, left for Florida. Realizing that they would not make the beach house in time for the apparition, they pulled off on the side of the road, climbed over a rock barrier, knelt down in the sand as they took in their first sight of the ocean, and began to pray the Rosary. Just before Marija went into ecstasy, a Friend of Medjugorje leaned over to ask Marija to ask Our Lady exactly what time the apparition would be each day. When Marija asked Our Lady this question, Our Lady smiled and gave the following message:

“Because it is your vacation, I will come whenever you pray.”

Everyone was stunned by this message. Being given the ability to have the apparition at their choosing made for a beautiful week in which each apparition was prepared for in a special way so that their hearts were fully prepared to receive Our Lady each time.

Another highlight was the apparition of August 15, 2003, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. At this apparition a Friend of Medjugorje suggested that they again write out their petitions and with Marija’s approval, present them to Our Lady during the apparition. Our Lady continued to stay until the last petition was placed at Her feet. When Marija came out of ecstasy, she let out a happy sigh, then after pausing slightly, she said:

“Our Lady came with angels...thousands of angels.”

Marija went on to describe what she had seen. She initially said hundreds of angels, but later, with her husband translating, she qualified that it was countless, thousands of angels. The angels were all baby angels. They were wearing something like roman tunics all in pastel colors. They were all behind Our Lady, not far in distance. When Marija was asked what the angels were looking at, Marija replied, “At us.” This surprised the community because Marija said the angels, when appearing with Our Lady, always stare only at Our Lady. The following week they returned to Caritas.

2003

2003

Apparition in a Friend of Medjugorje’s Writing Office

The location Our Lady chooses for Her apparitions always makes a statement. She chose the Bedroom in the Home of a Friend of Medjugorje and his family to make a statement about the sacredness and holiness of the family. The Field was chosen to make a statement about the healing of this nation, which is made up of families. So, the Community saw that it was very appropriate, that the first apparition in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages be in the writing office of a Friend of Medjugorje, because in this room, materials about Our Lady’s messages are written by him for the healing of the world.

The following is a description of what took place that day in the apparition in his writing office:

August 19, 2003

A Friend of Medjugorje arranged to have several more tractor-trailer rigs of salt delivered to the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, with the hope that Our Lady would bless the salt as She had done in the apparitions at Caritas of Birmingham in December of 2001, with the first loads of salt. This would be the first apparition in the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages, and though the salt was on the first floor, where the print shop is located, the Community of Caritas desired to have the apparition in the writing office of a Friend of Medjugorje, where all the writings concerning Our Lady’s messages take place. The Community met at 6:00 p.m. to begin the Rosary, with Marija, Medjugorje visionary, and her husband, Paolo, joining them. Marija said:

“Our Lady blessed us, and She prayed over us.”

Marija asked Our Lady to bless the salt during the apparition. Marija said:

“Our Lady bless also, I ask for all salt, on first floor...She bless, She make sign of cross...I recommend all of our intentions and what we have in our hearts, and I ask to bless all salt together. She make little prayer over us, and after She bless.”

2003

2004

Project WAVE Begins (Worldwide AVE) with Miracles

The Medjugorje website started by a Friend of Medjugorje, Medjugorje.com, started off as a project called Project WAVE. Five individuals from Caritas of Birmingham and a Friend of Medjugorje, with a support group of 25 individuals, for three months, moved into a large Florida beach house on the ocean at St. Joseph’s Bay to pray, think-tank, and evolve a Medjugorje website in a way that had before them, not been conceived. A Friend of Medjugorje, spear-headed the project with many plans for the future. Project WAVE was its code name while working quietly, behind the scenes for five years, conceptualizing what the site’s purpose and function would be, in addition to a great deal of preprogramming. Project WAVE stands for ‘W’orldwide ‘AVE’¬—hence the word W-AVE because its mission and purpose is to make available Our Lady’s messages and Her guidance towards a way of life, while at the same time covering the events of Medjugorje as it unfolds, especially making Medjugorje available to avenues not yet reached worldwide, as a wave sweeps the world.

While praying apparition Rosary everyday on the beach, God provided many “miracles” of nature for those present for Project WAVE, from friendly seagulls visiting those present everyday to dolphins “saying goodbye” with a graceful flip and “wave” on one of the last days of the original Project WAVE. The miracle of catching this incredible phenomenon of the two dolphins at once was taken as a beautiful sign from God the Creator that this project was part of His plan.

2004

2004

Marija Returns to Caritas May 1-5, 2004

A Friend of Medjugorje invited Marija, Medjugorje visionary, to Caritas of Birmingham once again from May 1-5, 2004. To say these Five Days of Prayer with Our Lady were grace-filled days understates the experience. It was clearly life altering, with many stories of beautiful conversions. When Marija arrived on April 30, Our Lady delayed the apparition that day, allowing the community to be present for it. In this apparition, a Friend of Medjugorje asked Marija to ask Our Lady what time She would appear the next day (May 1) for the thousands who would be gathered in the Field to be present with Her. Our Lady surprised us all with these words:

“Tomorrow morning, here, and the day after in the afternoon in the Field by the Tree.” (April 30, 2004)

The message above is a very significant one for the community in that Our Lady has never, in all the years of apparitions as Caritas, specifically said the words “Field” and “Tree.” In this same message She also makes reference to the Bedroom. In doing so, She Herself recognizes these two separate but connected apparition sites. In this message, it is She who set the schedule, setting one apparition in the morning and another in the evening. It shows that She has a purpose in appearing both in the Bedroom and in the Field, and that She has preferences. During these five days, Our Lady chose to have Her apparitions in the Bedroom four out of the five days of the retreat. Our Lady would always bless all those gathered in the Field, even during the days that She appeared in the Bedroom.

In the only apparition in the Field during these days, Our Lady gave us a familiar message with an added blessing:

“My dear children, do not forget that I am your Mother, and that I love you, and that I bless you. (May 2, 2004)

With only the community present, just before Marija returned home to Italy, Our Lady came one last time giving us advice to a question presented to Her by a Friend of Medjugorje. It was asked of Our Lady to give words of encouragement in the face of attacks that come because of the great fruit of conversion that had just taken place here over the years. Our Lady said:

“I give you my love. You give it to others.” (May 6, 2004)

For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham

2004

2005

First Public Celebration of Our Lady’s Nativity with Marija

Each visit Medjugorje visionary, Marija, has made with her family to a Friend of Medjugorje’s Home and Caritas of Birmingham has given her the opportunity to observe the community’s life in all its facets: prayer, work and play. She continues to see the grace of this life and how Our Lady blesses it in so many ways. She returned in August of 2005 bringing Our Lady to celebrate Her 2021st birthday with thousands of Her children who, again, traveled from all over the country to be with Her. The community had prayed for years for the grace to honor Our Lady here in the Field on the day Our Lady revealed to be Her true birthday, August 5. For this special event, a Friend of Medjugorje was inspired to create a “life-size” nativity of Our Lady’s birth that was unveiled the Eve of Her birthday, lit up by 2021 candles. On “Mary’s Christmas Eve” we prayed a special Rosary, meditating on the events of Our Lady’s birth and recalled that different mystics spoke of a violent storm that broke out at the time that St. Anne gave birth to Mary.

Miraculously, on August 5th, with a clear sky overhead, a violent storm suddenly broke out, hail rained down, and the crowd, along with Maria and her husband, Paolo, was drenched. At the exact moment Marija’s voice disappeared in ecstasy, a lightning bolt touched down just behind the Nativity. Joy flooded those gathered. No one cared about the rain; all were full of glee knowing they were reliving the circumstances of Mary’s actual birth. Many related the miracle to a “Fatima-type” experience.

2005

2005

Marian Mysteries of the Rosary

The Catholic Church has recognized and designated September 8th as the day to honor the birth of the Virgin Mary. By no means is that being usurped or encouraged to be ignored. Rather, Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje has purposely and clearly made it known that the actual date is August 5th. Therefore, a Friend of Medjugorje encourages others to honor Her on August 5th and respect the Church and its authority on September 8th. Mary is worthy of two days. God will blend the two days at the right time. We must pray and wait. This special Rosary with meditations on the life of Mary, was first written by a Friend of Medjugorje for Mary’s Eve (the Nativity of Mary), August 4, 2005. This beautiful Rosary can be prayed on Mary’s Eve: August 4th, Nativity: August 5th, and all Marian Feasts, personal and public devotions. To order or download your copy of the Marian Misteries of the Rosary

2005

2005

Community of Caritas Relief Effort after Hurricane Katrina

Caritas of Birmingham has been involved in relief work in the past, gaining invaluable experience with the help the community gave to the Medjugorje region during the Balkan war in the early 1990s. Caritas has a lot of heavy equipment that is also invaluable in a crisis such as what Hurricane Katrina caused, so, a Friend of Medjugorje wanted to help. The community went into full action preparing to bring a caravan of heavy equipment and emergency supplies to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, which is only four hours distance from Caritas, in Alabama. Caritas was given a special permit through the Governor’s office to move the mission's equipment along restricted highways to the crisis areas without being hampered. The community members brought tents, camping gear and all necessary supplies to be self-contained. Caritas made available about 18 pieces of heavy equipment, trailers, trucks and also a full array of small and specialized equipment. The Catholics of the Bay St. Louis area sustained a 30-foot high surge of water down upon not only their Catholic Church but their homes and businesses as well.

The crew of Caritas community members was the first to arrive in the Bay St. Louis region with heavy equipment. Nothing they had seen before, including the destruction in Bosnia caused by the war, prepared them for what they saw upon arriving to the area. It was worse than a war zone. They could barely take in the amount of devastation before them.

When they arrived, the greatest need was to get the streets cleared so that search and rescue teams could get through and water lines could be repaired so that people would be aided in their survival and cleanup. Before water and power could be turned back on, the utility trucks and equipment needed clear passage through the streets of the town. With the work performed by Caritas equipment and community members, the search and rescue teams and utility trucks were able to begin immediately.

Even days after they arrived, there was still no heavy equipment being brought into this area. Once equipment started coming in, it often wasn’t able to handle the mud and would sink and get stuck. Because community youth grew up with equipment that handles these conditions and with the community's experience, they were often called upon to help many different rescue groups who were in the area to help. This included the National Guard, the Air Force, the Coast Guard and the Army, not to mention the city of Bay St. Louis, itself, who called upon the community every day for a variety of needs.

There were many signs and miraculous stories they heard from people they had personally met who survived Hurricane Katrina. The high drama of what these people lived through in what has been named the worst natural disaster that ever hit our nation is almost unbelievable. The community members are grateful to Our Lady for giving them the means to bring help to one of the worst areas that had been largely overlooked in the first days following the disaster. This area was “ground zero” as it was in the worst place to be when the eye of the storm passed over, the left side of the eye of Katrina. The community members witnessed Our Lady’s messages and Her ways to many people and have used their work as an encouragement to others to live holy lives.

2005

2005

First Chartered Plane from the USA to Mostar

BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages, founded by a Friend of Medjugorje, made history in August 2005 by chartering the first direct flight from the U.S. to Mostar. It takes approximately 30 minutes to drive from Mostar to Medjugorje.

This pilgrimage was titled the “Birth to Assumption” pilgrimage, because many were at Our Lady’s birthday celebration at Caritas of Birmingham on August 5 and then traveled on this chartered flight with a Friend of Medjugorje, Medjugorje visionary, Marija, and her family, and the Caritas Community to Medjugorje for the Assumption on August 15th. The exact dates of the pilgrimage, with 200 “pilgrims,” were August 8-18, 2005.

The Mostar Airport had not been used by civilians since the war in the early 1990s. During this war, Mostar was a major target and was constantly bombarded. There was massive destruction throughout the city, including many historical sites. With the landing of the Caritas charter flight, it was an indication to the world that this historic city had come back from the rubble.

The successful landing of the Caritas charter flight was reported in the local area newspapers for three consecutive days. But the story was also carried around the world by international news sources. The community was pretty amazed when hearing supporters in Chicago, California and New York tell them they had heard on network news channels about the Caritas flight to Mostar. It gave international exposure to Medjugorje of which a Friend of Medjugorje and the community were certain Our Lady was responsible for making happen.

2005

2006

Caritas Comes Online as Mej.com

Through many years of prayer, serious discernment, living Our Lady’s messages and being a serious student of reading the signs of the times, a Friend of Medjugorje decided to bring the Medjugorje mission he founded, Caritas of Birmingham, online as Mej.com, unannounced on June 25, 2006. He decided that the worldwide “web” people get entangled in should be used in a “reverse” way to get souls off the Internet and computers, in order to pray with their families, to read, to go on pilgrimages and to grow their spiritual lives through Our Lady of Medjugorje’s messages.

2006

2007

Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping

This book, by a Friend of Medjugorje, has crossed all denominational lines. An Amish bishop has ordered cases of them. Protestant ministers study the points made within; and all who absorb the truths contained in the book, absorb Our Lady’s messages. A Friend of Medjugorje has never taken Our Lady out of the books he writes regarding the state of our nation and the world.

Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping will give you the knowledge and examples throughout past and current history to confidently stand strong against all that threatens our way of life, as Christians.

Many took and are taking it as their primary mission to spread this book and promote it in various ways. Many have said this book is the tool to get people to understand what must be done to change the situation of society. Some wrote to Caritas and are writing their local newspapers. Others have paid and are paying for ads; still others are meeting with Protestant pastors, talking to them and presenting them a book. Many are keeping on hand a number of copies. One person said they give away one book a day. Many stories of conversion are coming to Caritas. Surprisingly, people are coming back into the Church after reading the book. One nun had a whole editorial published! To order or download your copy of Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping

2007

2007

Radio WAVE Broadcast Launched

Radio WAVE, a Medjugorje radio station through Medjugorje.com, hosted by a Friend of Medjugorje, connects Medjugorje devotees around the world through talk radio, productions and other broadcasts. It was years in the making as people from across the globe were asking for “MORE” from a Friend of Medjugorje. The goal of Radio WAVE is to help encourage and strengthen you by being more intimately connected to Our Lady’s plans for the conversion of the entire world.

Many have relayed that it’s hard to stay enthusiastic about Medjugorje. Others complain that they know few people who know about Medjugorje and are all alone. We live in a world which is structured in such a way, that Our Lady of Medjugorje’s voice cannot compete. Many, therefore, are not able to connect with others of the same sentiments who want continued conversion. The Radio WAVE broadcast unites Our Lady’s apostles spread throughout the world and is forming a body of listeners with one mind, one heart.

2007

2008

“Retooling the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages” Launched

A Friend of Medjugorje, through God’s grace and instruction, structured Caritas of Birmingham with prayer side-by-side its physical work from its very beginning, to prosper what God would want to grace it with. The intent of the structure of Caritas was to multiply and give away the graces God gave to us and the mission of Caritas to all those who would be touched by the mission. As a result, in an extraordinary way, God abundantly graced Caritas. In 2008, we, at Caritas of Birmingham, found ourselves in the same position we found ourselves in 1990. The mission was outpaced by the growth of the demand upon the mission beyond our capability to keep up. We were maxed out. We could only keep up by working around the clock. But while the Community was willing, and for two years worked repeatedly all day and all night, this band-aiding to keep up was beginning to be outpaced. We had nowhere to turn except upgrading and increasing production with a total revamping of Our Lady’s mission, equipping it to meet not only our present needs but with a vision for what the future needs will be as well.

Therefore, we criss-crossed the country, researched product information, attended trade shows, studied equipment, visited other facilities, talked to many salesmen, consulted and analyzed all the avenues related to printing, production, communications and distribution. We have an accurate analysis of the mission’s needs and its direction. We raised the funds for 52 pieces of equipment that our prayerful study had shown we must purchase to revamp the operations of Caritas’ prepress department, various printing operations, and the shipping and mailing departments. We must retool The Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages immediately. This was a cross for us because it took a lot of effort to raise funds for purchasing the equipment, as well as to complete the installation and training necessary to retool our Mother House from top to bottom. Though a necessary burden, it is a very exciting moment of being in Our Lady’s service. It took both our supporters and our efforts to give Our Lady something that does not exist in the Medjugorje World, anywhere.

Though the fundraising for the Retooling began in 2008, much of the major construction undertaken as part of the Retooling expansion was completed in 2011. Some of the finishing details on the expansion are still being finalized. In its current state, as of August 2017, the Tabernacle includes a state-of-the-art print shop, shipping department, auditorium, kitchen, as well as a first floor pallet inventory addition, bringing its total square footage to approximately 65,000 square feet. When the square footage of all the support buildings that surround the functions of the Tabernacle are added, it brings the total to approximately 140,000 square feet of space.

2008

Marija Returns for the Consecration of the USA

The year 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of the first apparitions of Our Lady that took place in the Bedroom in a Friend of Medjugorje’s home and the Field at Caritas of Birmingham in 1988. The Five Days of Prayer, July 1–5, with Medjugorje visionary, Marija, was a solemn event in which thousands of pilgrims from all 50 states came together to be with Our Lady. The purpose of the gathering was to formally make a Solemn Act of Consecration of the United States of America on July 4th, the birthday of our nation, to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Seeing our nation move further and further from God sparked the desire in a Friend of Medjugorje to bring Our Lady back to our nation with the plea that She would intercept the destructive path it was headed on. The Bishops of the United States had re-consecrated the United States to Our Lady as the Patroness of our nation in the Fall of 2006. This Consecration in July, by “we the people”, was to add greater graces to this action of the bishops by doing so in the actual presence of the Mother of God, an extraordinary opportunity of grace.

Each of the five days had a specific focus, July 1st being a day of repentance and seeking forgiveness; July 2nd was the day for our individual consecrations; July 3rd, the day of consecration of our families; July 4th, the consecration of our nation and July 5th, a day of thanksgiving for Our Lady’s presence among us and Her acceptance of these Consecrations. For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham.

2008

2009

“Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

This Billboard of Our Lady advertised Her visit to Caritas of Birmingham July 1-5, 2009. Literally millions of people were exposed to the billboards before July 1. A Friend of Medjugorje was inspired to ask for people to pray for the grace of Our Lady’s eyes to penetrate all eyes who gaze upon Her even for a second.

The picture of Our Lady on this billboard came from a painting in which Medjugorje visionary, Ivan, worked with an artist to try to capture Our Lady’s appearance as the visionaries see Her. Ivan said that though it did not come close to what Our Lady looks like in an apparition, it is the closest painting that exists which looks like Our Lady as he sees Her. Amazingly when it was developed it was more beautiful than the actual painting, with colors and beauty more than what we can see in the painting. We felt Our Lady’s hand upon this beautiful photograph and see it as a special grace; a little supernatural intervention from Our Lady.

Many were able to be in Our Lady’s presence as we consecrated our nation back to God through His Mother because they learned of the event through these billboards.

2009

2009

Radio WAVE “Mejanomics” Broadcast Launched

Radio WAVE Mejanomics is a 30 minute weekly program aired on Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time through Caritas of Birmingham’s website, Medjugorje.com. The intentions of the show are to teach people how to apply Our Lady of Medjugorje’s messages to every aspect of their lives by placing them as a template over their life situations, including economics. It also serves to help people to see how to direct their future towards a new way of life Our Lady is leading us to. With the release of the book It Ain’t Gonna Happen, it has become one of the most looked-to sources for finding how to read the world events taking place today, and what they mean for us as individuals. There is so much fear of the future in the world today. But, Our Lady tells us that “the one who prays is not afraid of the future.” How does one not be afraid? How does one reach security? This is the focus of Radio WAVE Mejanomics.

These radio programs by a Friend of Medjugorje are changing the way people live. They are dumping their worries or anxieties for a solid direction and positioning themselves for a more peaceful future. Financial concerns today affect the rich as well as the poor; everyone is concerned. Mejanomics, “templates” Our Lady’s messages over these issues guiding you through the wisdom of the messages, so that you can wisely make the best decisions for your future.

2009

2009

Mej.com Changes to “Medjugorje.com”

Medjugorje.com is not a facade, with little behind it...Medjugorje.com is the official Medjugorje website, operated by Caritas of Birmingham, a non-profit mission founded by a Friend of Medjugorje and backed with years of prayer and planning. The Community of Caritas, a lay religious community devoted to living and spreading the Medjugorje messages, operates and runs Caritas of Birmingham.

Medjugorje.com originally came online as Mej.com, unannounced on June 25, 2006. A Friend of Medjugorje’s decades of mission work dedicated to Medjugorje and Our Lady makes Medjugorje.com a multimillion dollar site, making available millions of dollars of production, including materials and books, much of which are and will be downloads free and instantly accessible to anyone in the world. A Friend of Medjugorje’s plan for Medjugorje.com is that it will be the most comprehensive, extensive, in-depth look at Medjugorje to help fulfill Our Lady’s desire for the conversion of the world.

2009

Marija Returns for the 2nd Consecration of the USA

During her visit to Caritas of Birmingham in February 2009, for a community wedding, Medjugorje visionary, Marija, felt an inspiration to return to Alabama in July of that same year, to renew the consecration made in 2008 at the same time for our nation’s return to God. The community quickly flew into action to announce the July 1-5, 2009, apparitions and spread it to everyone they could reach. Marija arrived on June 29th and departed on July 6.

July 3 was a very special apparition in which Our Lady stayed a long, long time—nearly 8 minutes. When Marija had offered Our Lady all the prayers and sacrifices for the United States, Our Lady gave the following message:

“Thank you. I need your prayers. I need, dear children, everyone in this world to be my extended hands.”

It was the night of July 4th, which would stand out as the more important apparition for our nation. On this night the re-consecration of the nation again was a powerful moment. Our Lady had accepted the consecration and everything now rested in Her hands. For more information on Events at Caritas od Birmingham Events

2009

2010

“This is My Time” Billboard Program Launched

On January 25, 1997, Our Lady said:

“...This time is my time...”

With millions of daily eye contact (D.E.C.) of the “This is My Time” billboard, we heard from many people of how they have been moved by Our Lady. A Friend of Medjugorje always says that, “Just one conversion makes the whole campaign worthwhile.” Through God’s grace, the picture of Our Lady is reaching out to multitudes of people around the country who are living peaceless lives, lives often in shambles. They are struck by the loving expression that greets them as they drive by and are drawn towards the peace the Woman in the picture seems to be offering. Others took the billboard as a sign from God personally to them, such as the following testimony expressed, that also came through a phone call to our mission:

Last Friday, a young woman called from her cell phone, as she was getting ready to go to a business appointment. She had just passed a billboard somewhere in New Jersey. She also became emotional as she related that she had been hurt and now was very mad at God and Our Lady. That morning in great anger she yelled out to God that if He loved her, He would send her a message that He existed and that Our Lady was real. Two hours later she passed the billboard with the picture of Our Lady and she knew from the bottom of her heart that this was for her from the Father in Heaven.

Once a Friend of Medjugorje announced the campaign, Caritas received almost 1,000 responses which was overwhelming, to say the least.

Caritas’ billboard program is very extensive. The program did not end with just putting up a billboard. Rather, the project was extensively supported by Caritas of Birmingham. With over 23 outside phone lines, 50 extensions and Caritas’ website, the many thousands who contact Caritas can easily be introduced to Our Lady’s plans. The support program nurtured the souls who saw the billboards, who then received free printed material about the apparitions, Our Lady’s plans, and Her cure for society. This information is available for those who investigate the Caritas website, mej.com; a three-letter name that’s easy to remember when passing by at 70 mph. Mej.com is a re-direct for the official Medjugorje.com website.

The “This is My Time” campaign also included two more ways to promote Our Lady: signs that hung on houses and barns and bumper stickers for cars.

2010

2010

It Ain’t Gonna Happen: A Return to Truth

Often, a Friend of Medjugorje is criticized for speaking about Our Lady’s messages in regards to what those criticizing him consider “worldly” things. Yet, within the pages of this book, miracles unfold showing that Our Lady is here to re-teach us about everything.

This book, It Ain’t Gonna Happen: A Return to Truth, will answer these questions and issues that affect all of our lives: Can the current world economic system co-exist with Our Lady of Medjugorje’s apparitions? The answer to this question is not only surprising, but scary.

For those who don’t think Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje speaks to issues of the day like the economy, money, jobs, housing...

For those who don’t think Our Lady is appearing to fundamentally change the world and the system by which it operates...

For those who place their security in worldly systems of retirement, pensions, and 401K’s, and think Our Lady does not have something to say to you...

For those who think life will continue as normal, and that the tumbling stock markets will recover, that bailouts will work, and that everything will return as previous, guess what?

What would you do to not become a slave? Should you act now? Is it okay to wait? Will the system recover from its present state? The answers can be found in this book. The results can only be found in your reaction... To order or download your copy of It Ain’t Gonna Happen: A Return to Truth

2010

2010

Miraculous Medal Medjugorje Round

In 2010, a Friend of Medjugorje designed and released the Miraculous Medal Medjugorje Round in conjunction with his book, It Ain’t Gonna Happen: A Return to Truth. The .999 pure silver round, which bears images of the Miraculous Medal, Apparition Mountain, Cross Mountain, the Bedroom of Apparitions and the Field of Apparitions, has both spiritual and physical value. To read more about this innovative tool for evangelizing Our Lady and Her messages, visit Miraculous Medal Medjugorje Round.

2010

2011

2nd “Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

Because the 2009 billboard program was such a success in bringing many to Our Lady’s apparitions for July 1-5, 2009, a Friend of Medjugorje relaunched the billboards before Medjugorje visionary, Marija, returned to Caritas of Birmingham in March of 2011.

Hundreds of billboards sponsored in 2009 were the cause of many coming to Our Lady’s apparitions and converting. This same conversion was a Friend of Medjugorje’s desire for the March 19-23 event. It’s one of the easiest ways to reach many souls and work for the Great Evangelization.

2011

Marija Returns to Caritas March 19 - 23

In March of 2011, a Friend of Medjugorje invited Medjugorje visionary, Marija, to Caritas of Birmingham for the re-dedication of the mission’s Motherhouse, the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages. Four years preceding her visit, Caritas of Birmingham had been undergoing a large expansion and “Retooling” of all its equipment in order to make it ready for the time of the Great Evangelization for which Our Lady has been preparing Her followers. Marija arrived on March 18; the event took place March 19-23, and her last apparition was on the day she left, March 24—seven apparitions in all. In the apparitions of March, 2011, Our Lady appeared five times in the Bedroom and two times in the Field.

Unique to these apparitions were the physical phenomenon that took place the first two days of Our Lady’s visit. On March 19, it was widely reported that a “super full moon” would be rising in the night. The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993. This “bigger” and “brighter” moon happens every 18 years or so. We were amazed to realize that the year 1993 was the first year that we consecrated the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages in a formal consecration to Our Lady. This “bigger” and “brighter” moon appearing in both the years of the dedication of Our Lady’s Tabernacle, and not at all in-between these years, was a beautiful sign to us of Our Lady’s blessing. Because the moon has no light of its own, but only reflects the light of the sun, it is the perfect symbol of Our Lady who is the perfect reflection of the Light of Her Son, Jesus. To impress this parallel even stronger in our hearts, on March 20, Our Lady was expected to appear to Marija in the Field at 6:40 p.m. About 20 minutes to 6:00 many of the pilgrims broke into applause and exclamations as they pointed to the sun. The sun had begun to “dance,” strongly pulsating and sending out bright rays. Many burst into tears, while others stared in awe at the sight. It was an amazing display of God’s grace just before Our Lady’s apparition.

2011

2012

Marija Returns for the 3rd Consecration of the USA

Medjugorje visionary, Marija, returned for yet a third event in which the purpose of the gathering was to consecrate again the United States of America to Our Lady in Her presence on the feast day of our Independence, July 3–4. Four years earlier, during an election year, Our Lady came through the apparitions of Marija, and with very intense prayer the nation was given to Her. The four years leading up to the next presidential election had led to deeper division in the nation, but there had been an awakening among many Christians, as well as those of other faiths, to return to the foundational Christian principles upon which the United States was built upon. Knowing we were at an important crossroads, A Friend of Medjugorje again requested Marija to bring Our Lady back to our nation to ask Her again to intercede for the healing of our nation. Marija arrived on June 30. The apparitions were in the Bedroom of Apparitions every morning, until on July 2; Our Lady continued Her pattern from Her previous visits and requested everyone to gather the following night, July 3, in the Field at 10:00 p.m. for the vigil of our nation’s birth. It was during this apparition that Our Lady, after years of intense prayer, fasting and suffering, finally gave the answer we were seeking from Her for our nation’s healing. She said:

“Form and make prayer groups through which we will pray for your healing and the healing of this nation to draw closer to God and to me.”

Her message was unexpected, as was Her simple answer to the problems that faced us as a nation.

On Marija’s last morning before leaving to return to Medjugorje, July 6, 2012, in the Bedroom of Apparitions with only the Community present, a Friend of Medjugorje asked Marija to ask Our Lady if She had any words to give to us. Our Lady responded by saying, “I am with you.” The community will always look back upon the apparitions of July 1-5, 2012, as a turning point in Our Lady’s plans to save our nation. For more information on Events at Caritas os Birmingham.

2012

They Fired the First Shot 2012

Before Barack Obama took the White House, a Friend of Medjugorje saw the imminent danger the United States of America was about to face. Writing about the solution he saw for the United States, and the world, he placed the answer within the book, They Fired the First Shot 2012. Incredibly, as the book was about to go to press, Medjugorje visionary, Marija, came back to Caritas of Birmingham for another Five Days of Prayer for our nation with Our Lady, and Our Lady confirmed his solution with a specific message.

They Fired the First Shot 2012, will be for those who read it, the answer. Today everyone is reaching, grasping for a solution and answer for the crisis that this nation is in.

Where are we going? What is happening? Where will we end up? After reading this book you will have the answers to all three questions.

It is absolutely a guarantee that if you delay for a day, a week, or wait for a convenient time to read this book you will regret the time you lost. Begin immediately. Plow through this book. Fight for the minutes you can devote to reading it. You may think this is overstating its urgency. You won’t think this after reading it. To order your copy of They Fired the first Shot 2012

2012

2012

“How To” New Communities Conventions Begin

Based on a Friend of Medjugorje’s book They Fired the First Shot 2012, the historic “How To” New Communities Conventions offer real life solutions for one’s future, taught by various speakers, including a Friend of Medjugorje, and shown by real life examples offered by the Community of Caritas’ “Way of Life.”

There have been three successful “How To” New Communities Conventions hosted by a Friend of Medjugorje at Caritas of Birmingham with hundreds in attendance at each conference.

2012

2013

Construction Begins for the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain

Destined to be crowned with the Cross, Penitentiary Mountain’s name is fitting. It can be seen directly behind the Field of Apparitions at Caritas of Birmingham, and the 14 Stations of the Cross trail up to it. The name itself speaks of it being ordained by God.

“Penitentiary” means a place for imprisonment, a prison for people convicted of serious crimes. What happened upon the Cross released man from the prison of being alienated from God, opening the gates of Heaven granting freedom from exile. Eight hundred feet away from the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain is a place appearing on maps over 150 years ago named “devil’s Gap.” The Cross rising out of Penitentiary Mountain is overshadowing “devil’s Gap” and is part of the ordained heavenly script written for our times. There is a trail of evidence that these mountains were in God’s ordained plans when He made them, not the least of which are the names given by settlers from long ago who were inspired without knowing so in what they called these places. The Cross is built to the exact dimensions of the Cross on Cross Mountain in Medjugorje. A fire has burned in a Friend of Medjugorje’s heart to build this Cross since 1988 when Our Lady first came here. She came in response to a question he asked Her through Medjugorje visionary, Marija, on October 6, 1986, in Medjugorje: “...we humbly ask that the same conversion taking place in Medjugorje be allowed to take place...in Alabama and that it ‘divinely’ spread throughout the whole region.”

There is a whole beautiful script of stories Our Lady has written over the years about this Cross on Penitentiary Mountain and the long road of difficulties, sacrifices and penitential works offered by a Friend of Medjugorje and by this “village” of Caritas that had to be gone through to build it.

The excavation of Penitentiary Mountain took an enormous amount of labor in preparation to start the Cross. Machines could not get to the site without a lot of manual labor to open up a passage. The building of the Cross was the focus of all of our days over several months in which the heart and soul of our whole being was involved. It brought great joy to finally see the footers poured and the construction gradually taking the shape of the Cross. Many miracles took place surrounding the Cross—both physical miracles that protected us in particularly dangerous moments of the construction, as well as spiritual miracles that Our Lady gave to us as signs of Her presence. For more on the Cross read “For the Soul of America”.

2013

2013

3rd “Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

A Friend of Medjugorje knew that if just one person saw the billboard he designed and launched to promote the July 1-5, 2013 apparitions and made the decision to come, their life would be changed. Jesus has revealed to certain saints that he would suffer the entire Crucifixion again if it would save just one more soul—that is what one soul is worth to Jesus. With all of the billboard programs, a Friend of Medjugorje desired to “get hearts” for Our Lady. He has seen through the years what one soul can produce for Our Lady. What impact will he make in his own family, at his workplace, in his own community? As a stone thrown in the middle of a pond, how many ripples will flow out from this one conversion? After the billboards went up, many non-Catholics called Caritas of Birmingham asking what apparitions were and wanted to know all about Our Lady.

2013

Marija Returns for the 4th Consecration of the USA

Our nation was blessed once again with Our Lady’s presence during the days leading up to the solemn celebration of America’s birthday, July 4, 2013. Over two decades of prayers, fasting, sacrifices and special novenas for our nation had birthed a new momentum of prayer that led to, through the grace of God, a series of visits of Our Lady in which the consecration of the nation was prayed directly to Her. In July, 2008, Our Lady came, through Medjugorje visionary, Marija, for the specific purpose of consecrating the United States to Her Heart on Independence Day, July 4th, to declare our nation’s dependence upon God. Marija was at Caritas for the same event in July, 2009 and 2012. With the release of a Friend of Medjugorje’s book, They Fired the First Shot 2012, followed by the initiation of the “How To” New Communities Conventions hosted at Caritas of Birmingham, the critical need for prayer for our nation was becoming more apparent, as governmental directives increased with greater hostility towards the Christian foundation of our nation and the religious liberties of its citizens. During the apparitions of July 1–5, 2013, it was a Friend of Medjugorje’s desire to consecrate, to bind, the United States of America to the Cross of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Savior.

Our Lady, as was Her pattern during the July events in 2008, 2009 and 2012, chose to appear in the Bedroom of Apparitions on July 1 and 2. During the July 2 apparition, She stated that She would appear the next day, July 3, during the night time prayer Vigil in the Field. This Vigil was in preparation for the Solemn Consecration of our nation the following day on July 4. In each year of 2008, 2009, and 2012, Our Lady set the time of Her apparition during the night time Vigil either at 10:00 p.m. or 10:30 p.m.

Because Our Lady had done this on all three previous occasions of the Five Days of Prayer in July, it was assumed by many that it would be the same for this July 3, 2013, apparition. But it did not happen that way. After the evening apparition in the Bedroom on July 2, 2013, after Our Lady prayed over everyone and blessed them, Marija surprised everyone when she said tomorrow’s apparition on July 3 would be, “at the same time, at the same place,” meaning in the Bedroom at 6:40 p.m. Everyone was expecting to hear that Our Lady would be appearing in the Field during the Prayer Vigil as She had done the other three years.

This puzzled a Friend of Medjugorje and a great many pilgrims were disappointed, but as it turned out Our Lady was just setting the scene for a greater surprise and joy. The evening of July 3, 2013, during the apparition in the Bedroom, a Friend of Medjugorje spoke to Marija with the idea of asking Our Lady in the 6:40 p.m. apparition to appear again during the Vigil that night. If She agreed, it would mean two apparitions in one day—a gift from Our Lady that She has done several times here in the Bedroom and the Field over the past 25 years. Outside of Medjugorje, we have never heard of any other place Our Lady has appeared twice in one day other than at Caritas.

When Marija asked this of Our Lady on behalf of a Friend of Medjugorje, Our Lady said “yes” and set the time of the apparition for 10:30 p.m. When a Friend of Medjugorje made the surprise announcement in the Field just after the 6:40 p.m. apparition, there were shouts of surprise and tears of joy as the reality slowly sunk in to the great grace being given of being with Our Lady in two apparitions on this day of July 3, 2013!

Our Lady gave two smiles during the July 4, 2013, apparition. After several thousand people had climbed to the Cross and experienced healing, renewal, and the love of God fill their hearts. These were unprecedented events in this fourth time of Caritas’ hosting Our Lady’s apparitions during the July 1–5 Days of Prayer. Our Lady broke from the pattern She had followed the previous July prayer events of 2008, 2009, and 2012. What made this year different from the rest was the Cross.For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham.

2013

2013

Our Lady Appears at the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain

A Friend of Medjugorje desired to ask Our Lady to bless the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain and asked Marija to present this request in the apparition of June 29, 2013, that took place in the Bedroom at 6:40 p.m. To the great shock and joy of the community, Our Lady said She would appear at the Cross the next evening. We had not expected Our Lady to appear at the Cross, but rather had hoped She would bless the Cross from the Bedroom. The whole community was overjoyed and moved that Our Lady said She would have Her apparition the next day at the Cross.

The evening of Sunday, June 30, the Caritas Community along with Marija and her family, climbed Penitentiary Mountain, for the first time together, praying the Stations along the path leading up to the Cross. During the apparition, while the community members were kneeling facing the Cross, Our Lady appeared facing the valley. She made the Sign of the Cross in blessing the Cross. Her apparition lasted almost five minutes in which She prayed over and blessed also the community and all those who were gathered in the Field below. Marija said Our Lady appeared for a long time and that Our Lady prayed in Her Mother Tongue (Aramaic). The length of the apparition told those present that something was going on besides the normal apparition. This gift of the apparition at the Cross from Our Lady was unexpected and the grace received from it affected every pilgrim who attended the July 2013 apparitions.

2013

2013

Cross on Penitentiary Mountain Completed

Behind the Field of Apparitions at Caritas of Birmingham stands a mountain named decades ago, Penitentiary Mountain. Today this mountain is crowned with a Cross, a large Cross that is a match of the Cross in Medjugorje on top of Cross Mountain. It is, in fact, an exact replica of that Cross and it was placed on Penitentiary Mountain to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of Mankind.

The completion of the Cross actually happened, after many delays and miracles, during the July 1-5, 2013, prayer gathering at Caritas for our nation with Medjugorje visionary, Marija. Many pilgrims began arriving for the Five Days of Prayer with Our Lady on Friday, June 28. It was the hope of a Friend of Medjugorje and the Community that the Cross would be finished before the event began. Pilgrims who walked out to the Field of Apparitions could look up at the mountain behind the Field and see a Cross on top, but it was still surrounded by scaffolding and forms.

It took several months to get to the point of where the Cross would be raised. The morning after Medjugorje visionary, Marija, and her family arrived, on June 29, a Friend of Medjugorje led them up the mountain to reveal the Cross to them for the first time. They did not know about it beforehand and it came as a big surprise. Marija told our founder that it is the Cross that is what unites the village of Medjugorje. It is the Cross that brings unity. Marija said, “This is beautiful, this is very good,” for our nation.

Pressed for time to have the Cross ready to receive pilgrims from across the country and other nations, the community asked for 50 volunteers to help with cleaning up the debris left from the construction of the Cross. Having to first climb the mountain and then begin hauling boards and planks in the hot July afternoon didn’t take away their joy or smiles. Up close to the Cross, they were in awe, and were happy to have a little part in seeing to its completion.

At the base in the front of the Cross it reads: FROM EVERY EVIL—DELIVER US—O’ JESUS. On the back of the Cross is inscribed 33-2013 A.D., which refers to the year of the Crucifixion of Our Lord to the year that construction on the Cross on Penitentiary began. For many who have been to Medjugorje, seeing the Cross of Medjugorje solidly positioned on this mountain top, right before their eyes, was beyond what their hearts could hold. And for those who had never had the ability to go to Medjugorje it was the same when they knelt before this Cross seeing what they never expected to see, experiencing what they never expected to experience. A Friend of Medjugorje stated that he believed there would be miracles associated with this Cross, and indeed, the community had already seen miracles surrounding the construction and completion of it.

2013

2014

Tractor Trailer Rig Consecrated to Our Lady

A Friend of Medjugorje receives invitations to speak across the United States and in countries across the world. When he and the Caritas Community Members travel across the country to these Medjugorje presentations, they come well-equipped and “armed” with the ammunition of Our Lady’s messages hauled in large quantities in the Medjugorje 18-wheeler rig consecrated to Our Lady for Her plans. The materials have to be hauled in a rig anyway, so he was inspired to make the trailer of the rig an eye-catching and beautiful scene of Medjugorje for all to see!

2014

2014

Marija Returns for the Exaltation of the Cross

It was the desire of a Friend of Medjugorje to host another Five Days of Prayer with Our Lady at Caritas during 2014. He spoke to Medjugorje visionary, Marija, early in the year and it was she who suggested to organize a gathering during the week of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross in September. As the year progressed, the work in “Retooling” Our Lady’s Tabernacle was consuming and it became too much for the community to plan and host a large event as well. But, also during the year, a crisis developed with the Cross that was built on the mountain overlooking the Bedroom and Field of Apparitions the year before, which prompted a Friend of Medjugorje to ask Marija to come for a private visit over the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, that we could go before Our Lady to ask Her intercession to protect and save the Cross. Marija understood the gravity of the situation and readily agreed to come. Marija arrived the evening of September 11 and stayed for the next seven days, until September 17.

During the September 13th apparition Our Lady told Marija that She would appear the next day at the Cross at 3:00 p.m. This being the hour of Christ’s Death, commemorated in the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, stunned and shocked all present.

The Stations of the Cross were prayed going up the mountain on September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. At the top of the mountain, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary were prayed at the foot of the Cross which led to the moment of the apparition. Our Lady came, prayed over everyone and blessed us all, as well as the Cross. A dear friend of the Community had sent a precious gift to commemorate this special gathering with Our Lady—a relic of the True Cross of Christ. She donated it to Caritas for the purpose of having it one day embedded into the giant cement Cross that was first blessed by Our Lady on June 30, 2013. After the apparition, a Friend of Medjugorje invited each person to come forward to venerate the relic. The action of Our Lady to bless the Cross, at the 3:00 hour, the hour of Divine Mercy, while it was being threatened, filled us with great hope in God’s providence to save it. For more on this event read“A Secret”.

2014

2015

Natural Law Brochure

“No township, no city, no county, no state, no government, no governor, no king, no leader, no nation anywhere in the world can pass a law against Natural Law that any man anywhere has to obey.” - a Friend of Medjugorje This brochure, by a Friend of Medjugorje, was first published for the once-Catholic nation of Ireland. A Friend of Medjugorje was burning to give Ireland and all nations the clear, defined truth regarding marriage, because the voices of the world are so weak, so vague, so undefined.

God is clear. God is defined. God is decisive about marriage. A Friend of Medjugorje supports and encourages this truth through this brochure and reasserts for all the authority to defy laws or new referendums redefining marriage by any authority who tries to enforce it through this brochure. All people and faiths, especially Christians, are obligated to defy any verdict against Natural Law.

This brochure continues to ship out in large quantities and the verbiage contained within is now heard in different media outlets.

It was not important for a Friend of Medjugorje to receive credit. It is important to him that this information be spread quickly—for the salvation of souls and for the nations. To order your copy of “Natural Law Brochure”

2015

2015

Immediate Action Packets in Support of Alabama Chief Justice

A Friend of Medjugorje is very often the only one that will speak out about certain issues that face us in today’s world and society. Regarding man’s laws trying to change God’s Laws for marriage, he wrote:

“This is the line in the sand. Whoever blinks will lose. The United States Supreme Court did not anticipate what Alabama’s Supreme Court is doing regarding marriage. They realize Alabama’s action may initiate a rebellion against them and they do not want that because they (the U.S. Supreme Court) know their position is wrong, is immoral, is against Natural Law, is against the nation’s law, is against Divine Law and is a very weak argument to stand up to the State of Alabama and it’s State Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court’s hope would have been just to be able to mandate the abominable agenda anticipating that no State Supreme Court would dare stand up against them. This is why Alabama’s Supreme Court has to block them (U.S. Supreme Court) which they have the superior legal right to do because Alabama’s ruling is by state’s right and Divine Right. The U.S. Supreme Court’s worst nightmare is for a state to do what Alabama’s Supreme Court is doing because this could actually topple decades of rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court. If they choose to go against Alabama’s ruling, things likely will spin out of control for them. If the U.S. Supreme Court senses rebellion from the other states joining Alabama, God can place in the U.S. Supreme Court Justices a lack of confidence to go through with the decision and instead, make a decision to leave it up to the states to decide the marriage issue, as Alabama has already done. The politicized U.S. Supreme Court would then be off the hook. The U.S. Supreme Court knows it cannot rule over a State in such a manner, but certainly they want to and will, if there is no resistance. Pressure needs to be put on the U.S. Supreme Court before June, 2015. A genuine up-swelling resistance against them will put a fear in the U.S. Supreme Court. Right now we must act.”

So, in response to man’s laws trying to take over God’s Laws about marriage, a Friend of Medjugorje created the "Immediate Action Packs" in Support of Alabama Chief Justice, Roy Moore, who was the main one standing up to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Action Packets contained 11 pre-addressed envelopes to send to Alabama’s governor, attorney general and all of the Alabama Supreme Court Justices; a 20-page newsletter from Caritas of Birmingham regarding this matter; and a Radio WAVE Mejanomics CD regarding this matter.

The offices of the Alabama Governor, Attorney General, and Supreme Court Justices were inundated with letters. The letters filled their office floors and gave them the fortitude needed to stand against the United States Supreme Court. Some of the justices found out that a Friend of Medjugorje was responsible for the letters and called to thank him personally.

2015

2016

Patriotic Rosary at Independence Hall

A Friend of Medjugorje said, “Prophecy is never understood in the present...” Two hundred and forty years after the United States of America was born, the first public “Patriotic Rosary” was prayed at Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United States of America, on October 15, 2016, for the re-birth of this nation back to God, by a Friend of Medjugorje, the Community of Caritas and anyone who wanted to come and participate in this historic event. While speaking “unscripted” and from the heart at Independence Hall a Friend of Medjugorje said:

“...What I realized praying years ago behind Independence Hall, the Rosary, was that something happened inside Independence Hall. I never knew it from the history books...The Holy Spirit has been in this building...Very few people see this. They see it as history. It’s a holy place. It’s consecrated ground. Everything this nation stands for comes from God...”

“...Our nation begins at home, because your world is at your supper table. If you can’t cure that, you never will cure the nation...”

This prayer at Independence Hall was not a symbolic gesture. Rather a causation of the heart to result in an effect of the heart of Our Lady interceding and bestowing graces upon our country and its Christian way of life. We said we will gather, rain or shine, to invoke Scripture’s promise:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 This prayer gathering at Independence Hall for our nation was preceded by a nine-day bread and water fast by a Friend of Medjugorje, the Community of Caritas, and anyone who wanted to join in from October 6 - 14, 2016.

Another factor that was unknown to us when choosing the October 15th date is that 15,000 public square Rosary rallies were being held around the nation on this same date by Fatima devotees who were coming together to pray. This unplanned collaboration of prayer is a sign of hope that Our Lady is raising up an army of prayer warriors in this hour of great need for our nation’s future. There were tens of thousands praying the Rosary the same day a Friend of Medjugorje and the community was at “Ground Zero” of our nation’s birth, offering the “Patriotic Rosary.”

A Friend of Medjugorje asked people in the remaining days before the 2016 Presidential Election, what they were doing to call down God’s mercy and graces upon our land? In gathering at Independence Hall, we prayed with Our Lady for the dreams of our Fathers, for our sweet land of Liberty, for the return of our nation back to God.

Many believe the outcome of the 2016 US presidential elections, was a direct outcome of these and the thousands of prayers that were said for our nation in those days. More on the “Patriotic Rosary” at Independence Hall read “Prayer Opens the Door” and “If We are Right with God.”

2016

2016

Marija Returns for Thanksgiving Day

In 2016, a Friend of Medjugorje with Medjugorje visionary, Marija, discussed seriously about Marija coming for Christmas at the end of 2016. Marija wanted to do this, but in September when a Friend of Medjugorje was with Marija in Medjugorje, she said she could not work it out for Christmas, but then began to speak about coming for Thanksgiving. Though he had cherished the hope of having Baby Jesus again in his home, as in 1988, and what a great joy that would be for Christmas, when Marija expressed a strong feeling about coming for Thanksgiving, he gave way to her decision. Shortly after, we realized that this Thanksgiving fell on the same actual date as the first apparition of Our Lady in the Field, November 24, 1988, 28 years before, which also happened to be Thanksgiving Day. The only other time Thanksgiving fell on November 24th was in the year 2005 and amazingly, Marija had been present here for that Thanksgiving as well. It seemed that Our Lady’s hand had providentially directed Marija to this date.

There were many special graces and gestures from Our Lady during these days, special days, of Thanksgiving. We have received overwhelming signs throughout the years that, geographically, the sites at Caritas of Birmingham are significant in the plans of Medjugorje. These days of prayer helped to once again demonstrate that there is much that Our Lady has invested here. For more information on Events at Caritas of Birmingham

2016

2017

“Winds of Change” Billboard Program Launched

For this most recent billboard campaign to introduce people to Our Lady inspired by a Friend of Medjugorje, the following was written:

When air becomes stagnant, it becomes unhealthy, suffocating, toxic. The toxic winds of hatred, wars of unbelief, strife in families, unrest in nations have reached a critical point where the air has become deadly.

The God who first breathed life into man has blown a new wind, by sending the Mother whose love will clear the air, and resuscitate that which is on the point of suffocation. This “Wind of Change” is blowing into every corner of the world. At this turning point of your life you have met face to face with this Wind, and now face a choice from this appointment with destiny to be resuscitated or suffocated.

Are you choking? Are you drowning? Has your life become stale?

The Woman you see, this “Wind of Change” is the Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. No thoughtful person today can reflect without seeing the deep troubles we are in as individuals and as a Nation. The Bible shows repeatedly that throughout history, God has always sent a prophet to save His people, at the moment when all appears to be lost and there is no exit. An exit has come to us from the same God who created the world, and who has numbered every hair on your head, has heard your every cry, counted every tear, that those tears are wiped away by the Mother, Mary. In our time, His “prophet” is the Mother of Jesus. For more on the “Wind of Change” Billbord

2017

2017

Bumper Sticker Program Launched

Inspired by the April 2, 2017, message of Our Lady of Medjugorje, a Friend of Medjugorje spontaneously spoke these words, realizing that they were the perfect opportunity for a bumper sticker.

April 2, 2017

“Dear children, apostles of my love, it is up to you to spread the love of my Son to all those who have not come to know it; you, the little lights of the world, whom I am teaching with motherly love to shine clearly with full brilliance. Prayer will help you, because prayer saves you, prayer saves the world. Therefore, my children, pray with words, feelings, merciful love and sacrifice. My Son has shown you the way - He who became incarnate and made of me the first chalice, with His exalted sacrifice He has shown you how you need to love. Therefore, my children, do not be afraid to speak the truth. Do not be afraid to change yourself and the world by spreading love, by doing everything for my Son to be known and loved by loving others in Him. As a mother I am always with you. I am imploring of my Son to help you for love to reign in your life - love that lives, love that draws, love which gives life. I am teaching you such love - pure love. It is up to you, my apostles, to recognize it, live it and spread it. Pray with feeling for your shepherds so that they can witness my Son with love. Thank you.”

A simple but poignant statement of Our Lady that a Friend of Medjugorje made into a bumper sticker.

This bumper sticker program has been a success in that much of peoples’ time is spent driving or in car. We have heard from many who, upon seeing this bumper sticker, have been drawn to Our Lady and Her plans for our time.

2017

2017

Medjugorje.com Empowers and Equips Our Lady's Apostles

When a Friend of Medjugorje first decided to build the website mej.com, he took a team of community members down to Florida for an entire month to “think tank” and brainstorm about the new site, what it should be, what it should look like, what capabilities it should have and offer to all who visited it. At the beginning of that period, at the conclusion of the morning’s prayers, the team in Florida picked a message from Words From Heaven. The message they picked that day was July 27, 1988. Our Lady said:

“Dear children, your Mother loves you all. I’m happy to see you here, dear children. I give you love; give this love to others. Be peace workers. Help the others to change their lives. I give you might, dear children; with this might, you can bear everything. May this might make you strong in everything. You need it; that is why I give you might.”

A Friend of Medjugorje immediately took this message as the “theme” for building mej.com. He had the team in Florida produce a big banner and hang it up in the large room they were working in for inspiration and to set the direction of thinking when developing the site.

The elite fighting force, the United States Navy SEALs, often work in very small teams, sometimes teams of four, sometimes even in sniper teams of just two men. However, these highly trained Navy SEALs often have at their disposal the full “might” of the United States military – they can call in devastating air strikes from bombers, fighter jets, and helicopters above, they can call in quick reaction forces of much larger forces of ground troops, they can call in support from the Navy’s ships. They have real “MIGHT” behind them.

A Friend of Medjugorje conceptualized mej.com in the same way. You may be a single individual out there, or a very small group of like-minded people, but with Medjugorje.com at your fingertips, you, Our Lady’s Special Forces, Our Lady’s Navy SEALs, you have “MIGHT” behind you. You have an enormous arsenal of powerful material about Our Lady of Medjugorje, Her messages, how to live them, how to interpret and understand all the happenings in the world, how to understand the “signs of the times.” Medjugorje.com gives you the might to act as Our Lady’s apostles. Medjugorje.com is your “cannons.”

During the time when mej.com was first being formed in 2006, Our Lady had spoken very little about “apostles,” but the idea of apostleship was maturing in a Friend of Medjugorje’s understanding of Our Lady’s call. Now, however, in 2017, Our Lady’s call to apostleship, that She is raising an army of “Her” apostles, is very blatantly clear. A Friend of Medjugorje has been highlighting this repeatedly in his radio broadcasts and writings, stating Our Lady is literally, literally, raising up apostles.

With the new Medjugorje.com, you now more than ever before have at your fingertips powerful reading materials, audio materials, the whole Medjugorje.com site itself to which you can direct people, a host of “ammunition” at your disposal to help you fulfill your role as one of Our Lady’s apostles. Medjugorje.com equips and empowers as no other resource in the Medjugorje world.

2017

A Friend of Medjugorje’s Works

“Pray and by your life witness...”

BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimages

ABC 20/20 Accompanies BVM Caritas Medjugorje Pilgrimage

Marija’s First Visit to the Founder's Home

“Medjugorje: The Lasting Sign”

Our Lady Asks for a Community to be Established

Billboard Program Launched

Words From Heaven 1st Edition

“Between Heaven and Earth” Produced on Cassettes

OIM – Operation Introducing Medjugorje

PRM: Project Refugee Medjugorje

The Poem of the Man-God Controversy

Field Angel Program Established

OLPG – Our Lady’s Prayer Groups

The Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages

“Children of America, Save Medjugorje!”

The Seven Novenas Begin

December 8-12 Annual Five Days of Prayer Begin

“The Lamb” Television Commercial

Marija’s Second Visit to a Friend of Medjugorje’s Home

I See Far

“...Get as many hearts as you can close to My Heart...”

How to Change Your Husband

Mission House Opens in Medjugorje

Patriotic Rosary

Response to Mirjana’s 2nd of the Month Apparitions

Meeting with Pope John Paul II

Apparition and Message in the Mission House

Alabama Log Cabin in Medjugorje Built and Blessed

Marija Returns to Caritas for December 8 -12

Promoting the Pope’s Entrustment

Present for the Pope’s Entrustment

Full Print Shop Established at Caritas

“Sinless Day” Offered for Our Lady’s Birthday

Response to the September 11th Terrorists Attacks

9-Day Fast on Bread and Water Worldwide

Marija Returns to Caritas for December 8-14

50,000 Containers of Salt Blessed by Our Lady

Materials Translated for the Croatian People

Community and Lunetti Family Retreat with Our Lady

Apparition in a Friend of Medjugorje’s Writing Office

Project WAVE Begins (Worldwide AVE) with Miracles

Marija Returns to Caritas May 1-5, 2004

First Public Celebration of Our Lady’s Nativity with Marija

Marian Mysteries of the Rosary

Community of Caritas Relief Effort after Hurricane Katrina

First Chartered Plane from the USA to Mostar

Caritas Comes Online as Mej.com

Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping

Radio WAVE Broadcast Launched

“Retooling the Tabernacle of Our Lady’s Messages” Launched

Marija Returns for the Consecration of the USA

“Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

Radio WAVE “Mejanomics” Broadcast Launched

Mej.com Changes to “Medjugorje.com”

Marija Returns for the 2nd Consecration of the USA

“This is My Time” Billboard Program Launched

It Ain’t Gonna Happen: A Return to Truth

Miraculous Medal Medjugorje Round

2nd “Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

Marija Returns to Caritas March 19 - 23

Marija Returns for the 3rd Consecration of the USA

They Fired the First Shot 2012

“How To” New Communities Conventions Begin

Construction Begins for the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain

3rd “Apparitions of Mary” Billboard Program Launched

Marija Returns for the 4th Consecration of the USA

Our Lady Appears at the Cross on Penitentiary Mountain

Cross on Penitentiary Mountain Completed

Tractor Trailer Rig Consecrated to Our Lady

Marija Returns for the Exaltation of the Cross

Natural Law Brochure

Immediate Action Packets in Support of Alabama Chief Justice

Patriotic Rosary at Independence Hall

Marija Returns for Thanksgiving Day

“Winds of Change” Billboard Program Launched

Bumper Sticker Program Launched

Medjugorje.com Empowers and Equips Our Lady's Apostles

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