Simply Medjugorje
Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion
August 28, 2024: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the assent of Pope Francis, grants approval for devotion
linked to Medjugorje, recognizing the abundant spiritual fruits received at the Sanctuary of the Queen of Peace without
making a declaration on the supernatural character of the Marian apparitions.
Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion - Vatican News
Decree on 2025 Jubilee Year Plenary Indulgence in Medjugorje
THE APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY, with the purpose of increasing the piety of the faithful and the salvation of souls, by virtue of the faculties bestowed upon him in a most special way by our Most Holy Father in Christ Our Lord, POPE FRANCIS, BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, attentively considering the recent petitions presented by His Excellency ALDO CAVALLI, Titular Archbishop of Vibo, Apostolic Visitor for the Parish of Saint James the Apostle in Medjugorje, of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, graciously grants a PLENARY INDULGENCE from the treasury of the Church’s heavenly mercy, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff), to the faithful who are truly penitent and moved by charity, which they can obtain throughout the Ordinary JUBILEE YEAR OF 2025, and which they can also use as a prayer for the souls of the faithful in purgatory if they make a pilgrimage to the PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE IN MEDJUGORJE and devoutly participate in the Jubilee rites there or at least dedicate appropriate time to pious prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and the invocations of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The elderly, the infirm, and all those who for serious reasons cannot leave their homes, can likewise obtain the Plenary Indulgence, having conceived the intention of detachment from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as they are able, the three usual conditions, if they spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers, sufferings, or the inconveniences of their own lives to the merciful God. Therefore, to facilitate access to divine forgiveness through the keys of the Church out of pastoral charity, this Penitentiary earnestly requests that priests endowed with appropriate faculties to hear confessions make themselves available with a prompt, generous, and merciful spirit for the celebration of Penance. This decree is valid throughout the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. No contrary provisions shall hinder its execution. Given in Rome, at the Apostolic Penitentiary, on the 24th day of December, in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 2024. Angelo Cardinal de Donatis Major Penitentiary Krzysztof Józef Nykiel Titular Bishop of Velli, Regent
2025 Pilgrimage Dates
May 30 - June 10, 2025
August 1 - 12, 2025
September 4 - 16, 2025
Terms and Conditions
Pilgrimage Registration
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About Medjugorje
On June 25, 1981 in this little parish of
Bosnia-Herzegovina
(formerly Communist Yugoslavia),
6 young people (ages 10-17)
encountered Our Lady on a very steep,
rocky hill now known as Apparition Hill.
She identified herself as the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace,
telling the children,
“I have come to tell the world that God exists.”
Her mission is to promote peace throughout the
world by guiding everyone to her Son, Jesus.
To help Her, She asks us to live Her “5 Stones” -
Rosary, Eucharist, Holy Bible,
Fasting & Monthly Confession.
Three of the six visionaries still see Her daily,
and the others once a year.
She told them, and all of us thru them,
“If you knew how much I love you, you’d cry of joy.”
Medjugorje is Unique
Planning itineraries in Medjugorje is different than most other locations. Many factors can impact plans, such as weather, special talks, prayer program, surprises, etc. We encourage you to remain flexible, expect change and entrust everything to Our Lady. She will guide you, and you won’t be disappointed! The most beautiful features of Medjugorje are its simplicity and peace. While in Medjugorje, we pray you will be blessed with many opportunities to deepen your faith, and witness the same in others. An experienced local guide, born and raised in Medjugorje or nearby, will accompany you throughout your stay, sharing with you the rich history of this special place, where Heaven literally touches Earth…
Accommodations - Pansion Jelka
Your stay at the quiet, comfortable and immaculate Pansion Jelka in the ideal location of Bijakovici will be memorable for so many reasons. We have stayed there exclusively since 1998, and will never stay anywhere else. All rooms are immaculate with individually controlled air conditioning/heating units and modern private bathrooms with hairdryers. A short walk to Apparition Hill, Blue Cross, Oasis of Peace and Cenacolo, the easy 1-mile walk to St. James Church is a leisurely 15-minute stroll (one rosary) thru the vineyards. When walking is not possible, cabs are always readily available. The quiet, private yard has a lovely gazebo, perfect for praying, reading and sharing. Delicious, ample meals are home-cooked daily by Jelka with fresh, organic ingredients, and served family-style in a very comfortable dining room. Drazen's excellent home-made wine is served with dinner, which is a minimum 3-course meal (example: soup/salad, main dish, vegetables, dessert). At the end of each day after the International Program, the dining room is open with a nice variety of fruits, pastries, snacks, coffee, tea, etc., courtesy of Jelka and Drazen. By the end of your stay, you will know you've become part of a very special family there, which is why returning pilgrims won't stay anywhere else.
Simply Medjugorje
"Simply Medjugorje" means just that, simply Medjugorje. Our goal is to make your pilgrimage as spiritually fulfilling and enriching as possible, yet affordable without sacrificing anything. The depth of Catholic history and faith in this area is tremendous, and you will learn about it. But Medjugorje is also a current event, happening now. Blessed Mother is still there, every day! This makes it an experience to be lived in the present, not just a "tour," so our pilgrimage groups simply live Medjugorje! If you are a "Professional Pilgrimager" with just a focused checklist of places to visit and items to buy, you may want to consider another company, and I'll even help you find one. There are many wonderful pilgrimage companies out there. However, if you feel the call of Blessed Mother to visit Medjugorje for the first time or as a repeat pilgrim, and become part of an incredibly beautiful Medjugorje family, I think you'll appreciate "Simply Medjugorje." And fyi, "living Medjugorje" does include fun and relaxation, probably more than you could even imagine!
Sample Itinerary
Departure Date, 2025 – Depart for Medjugorje: Make your way to your local airport to board your overnight flight. Your meals will be served on board.
Following Day, 2025 - Arrive Medjugorje:
Upon arrival in Split, Sarajevo or Dubrovnik, you will be greeted by your tour guide/driver, who will escort you on the 2 1/2-hour (+/-) drive to Medjugorje. A delicious meal will be ready for you before settling in and retiring for the evening.
Medjugorje Day-by-Day
Daily Mass: English Mass is celebrated at St. James Church every morning at 10:00 am, except Sundays and Feast Days when it is celebrated at noon in the Yellow Hall. After breakfast each morning, most choose to walk to Mass. If walking is not an option, cabs are always available.
Evening International Program: As the spiritual core of Medjugorje, Our Lady’s specific requests are fulfilled here - Confession / Rosary / Holy Mass / Adoration / Veneration. Each evening at 6:00 pm, villagers and pilgrims pray the Rosary, awaiting the arrival of Our Lady at 6:40 pm, when everyone kneels in silence for a few moments to welcome Our Queen of Peace into Medjugorje. The International Mass is followed by the Blessing of the Sick, a Peace Rosary, and either Adoration, Veneration of the Cross or completion of the Daily Rosary. The International Program is held in Croatian, but a variety of radio stations translate the program into many different languages.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady always calls us to be close to her Son, and you will have many opportunities/locations to adore the Blessed Sacrament, with one beautiful location a short walk from our Pansion.
Apparition Hill: An easy walk from our Pansion, this rocky hill is where the six young visionaries first encountered Our Lady in 1981. When climbing, you may pause to pray at each of the five bronze Joyful mystery stations. At the top of the hill, you will appreciate quiet, private time in prayer near the beautiful white statue of Our Lady, located where she first appeared. Bronze stations for the Sorrowful and Glorious mysteries are also on Apparition Hill. As time permits, you are free to hike and pray any time you like.
Blue Cross: Is at the base of Apparition Hill where Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the Communist police in the early days of the apparitions. Also a very easy stroll from our Pansion, many who find the hike up Apparition Hill too challenging, or just desire a nearby serene place to pray frequently, walk to Blue Cross.
Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1934, the villagers built a 30’ high cross atop this mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. When climbing, the group is invited to pray the Stations of the Cross, pausing to pray at each of the 15 Stations.
Statue of the Risen Christ: Located on the grounds of St. James Church is the bronze statue of the Risen Christ. Many pilgrims find quiet comfort sitting and praying on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue, which at times seeps an alleged miraculous liquid from His leg.
Siroki Brijeg: An emotional visit to Siroki Brijeg will help you better understand the incredible depth of unwavering Catholic faith here, due to the Franciscans’ commitment to the Church and to education, which tragically led to the martyrdom of many Franciscans during the Communist rule.
Tihaljina: At the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Tihaljina, you will be captivated by a breathtakingly beautiful statue of Our Lady. This is also one of our traditional places for a special, private Holy Mass.
Community of Cenacolo: Founded by a Sister of Charity, Mother Elvira, the Cenacolo Community is where many who struggle with addictions are healed by prayer and hard work, relying only on Divine Providence for their needs. You will hear beautiful testimonies from current residents, reflecting their devotion and love for Jesus and His Most Blessed Mother. The recovery rate here is something that could only be achieved by the Grace of God, and Cenacolo Communities are now located throughout the world.
Surmanci: The Church of Divine Mercy, in Surmanci, a small village in the Medjugorje parish, is very simple, but houses relics of St. Pope John Paul II and St. Faustina, plus a documented miraculous icon of Jesus the Divine Mercy. If possible, a private mass will be celebrated here for your group.
Meet with Visionaries: (Pending availability) We will do our best to schedule at least one private testimony with one of the 6 visionaries. Please remember that visionaries are leading private lives with their own families, and they should not be the reason for a pilgrimage to Medjugorje.
Lunch with the Elez Family: Schedules permitting, you may also enjoy a very special lunch with the visionary Ivanka Elez family.
Parish Activities: A variety of talks are frequently scheduled at the Yellow Hall on the grounds of St. James Church by priests, visionaries and other special guests of Medjugorje. These are always worthwhile, often quite humorous, and on occasion, special concerts are also performed.
And…Weather and schedule permitting, you may also have opportunities to visit other beautiful, historic sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina, such as the world-renowned Waterfalls of Kravica and the Old Bridge in Mostar.
Departure Date, 2025 – Sadly, the Return Home: Depending on departure time from Pansion Jelka to your airport, generally early in the morning, you will either be served breakfast, or provided with a packed breakfast to take with you.