The Međugorje parish was surely part of God's plan when it was established and consecrated to St. James in 1892, the patron of pilgrims. On June 25th, 1981 six youngsters on the hill Crnica, on the part called Podbrdo, had an encounter with a woman they recognized as the Holy Virgin Mary. From then, to this day, Međugorje is visited every year by thousands and thousands of pilgrims that are watched over, besides the Blessed Virgin Mary - Queen of Peace, by St. James as well.
There are three special places where pilgrims gather in prayer. The hill of apparition where pilgrims ascend to the first spot where the Blessed Virgin Mary had appeared where they gather in praying the rosary. Believers carry out the devotion of the Way of the Cross climbing from one station to the next on the Križevac hill on which in 1934 was built an 8-meter high cross, in celebrating the 1900thyear of Jesus’ death. The parish church of St. James with its external alter and confession places is an envirnoment of celebrating the Eucharist sacrament and sacramental life.
By visiting Međugorje, pilgrims bring their prayers, requests and gratitude to God, searching for spiritual strength. Comforted, returning to the world, carrying inside themselves messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary that may be put into five basic categories: peace, faith, conversion, prayer and fast. (Željka Šaravanja)
