[chere-gospa]

On February 14, 2017, Archbishop Henryk Hoser (the Special Envoy of the Holy See in Medjugorje) was on french TV to talk about his mission in Medjugorje.

He said there were more than 2 millions pilgrims going to Medjugorje every year.

Video : 5mn45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2JRYU7dxio

[bluecross]

Two million?

That’s equivalent to 5,800 pilgrims arriving in Medjugorje for EVERY DAY of the year!

Another Medjugorje myth.

If pilgrims only stayed for five nights then the village would require a capacity of 30,000 beds (probably has this and more) but that kind of uptake only happens for the anniversary and youth festival.

I wonder who provided the Archbishop with the figure of two million?

Be interesting to know what else he said about his appointment.

[chere-gospa]

About the number of pilgrims :
Maybe there are many of them who stay just one day, or just a few hours... I don't know.

About Mgr Hoser's mission :
He didn't say much about it. He just said that it had to do with the pastoral situation only (not about the recognition of the apparitions).

[bluecross]

Maybe there are many of them who stay just one day, or just a few hours...

Yes, that has to be considered as well.

[chere-gospa]

I just want to add something.

Archbishop Hoser said that as there are more than 2 million pilgrims every year, the pastoral service must be diversified ("diversifié", in french) and nourishing ("nourrissant", in french).

[bluecross]

Diversified and nourishment...

Echo of Pope Benedict XVI... http://www.themedjugorjewitness.org

[chere-gospa]

Beautiful words indeed : "Eucharist is the pilgrims' nourishment".

And a beautiful picture, here ("Medjugorje's communion cup") : http://crownofstars.blogspot.fr/2013/01 ... n-cup.html

[bluecross]

Some more quotes from the archbishop on Medjugorje... http://www.themedjugorjewitness.org

[chere-gospa]

Excellent article ! Thank you !!

[Maryh]

I have heard that Knock shrine in Ireland receives up to 1 million visitors also each year.
Knock is a very small & mostly quiet village and so i was surprised to hear this.

So i can well imagine the somewhere like Medjugorje receives maybe double that as a place of
pilgrimage.

[bluecross]

I have heard that Knock shrine in Ireland receives up to 1 million visitors also each year.
Knock is a very small & mostly quiet village and so i was surprised to hear this.

Me too, as the population of Ireland is about 5 million and we keep hearing that church attendance is poor to say the least.

I know there are diocesan days at Knock, but I don’t see anyone wanting to spend a week there unless they intend to take in some of the local tourist spots as well.

It can be a miserable place on a wet day!

[Maryh]

Yes, there are those diocesan days mostly during the pilgrimage season.
Which i think starts around April & finishes in October.

There is a lot more faith renewal type programmes being hosted here of late as well.
They sometimes host night vigils and these are very well attended too.
The large basilica was refurbished recently
& its so lovely now.
Mass attendance if often very full, once or twice i was late & i couldn't get in the door!
We were all like sardines; i had to leave it was so suffocating. (This was in the old church)

Knock is so absolutely heavenly & peaceful to walk around on a sunny day.
But i actually love spending time in the old & gable end chapels so much too on a wet, windy and totally dull dreary day!
I find it just so cosy! It's like the authentic Knock experience!
I also love the bleakness of the surrounding countryside!

Knock is the only thing that stops me from being green around the gills with jealousy of you all heading off to Medjugorje all the time!