Official Diocesan Translations - Bishop Peric Speaks

[Denise]

Hello everyone,

This email is going to several core Catholic news and blog portals, as well as some interested individuals. I just received the links from Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar after requesting several days ago that they be added to the diocesan website in English to make the job of validating authenticity easier on everyone.

In my blogposts listed below are links containing translations by the Diocese of Mostar Duvno, on their website, of recent communications with Sister Elvira - founder of Cenacolo, and with the Oasis of Peace Community - both of which have houses near Medjugorje.

I have more posts coming on these perhaps later today, or tomorrow, but the primary info you need - straight from the diocese - is contained in these two posts (actual links are at the bottom of the respective blogposts):


Letter from Bishop Perić (Medjugorje) to Sister Elvira (Cenacolo)

Letter from Bishop Perić (Medjugorje) to Oasis of Peace Community


It's important to note that two consecutive bishops have prohibited public manifestations of the apparitions, and dissemination of messages (see Zanic 1985 and Peric 2006). They have never permitted a cult following to take place based on devotion to "Our Lady of Medjugorje". The Zadar Declaration of 1991, which remains in effect, did not authorize a cult following but said:


Yet the gathering of the faithful from various parts of the world to Medjugorje, inspired by reasons of faith or other motives, require the pastoral attention and care, first of all, of the local Bishop and then of the other bishops with him, so that in Medjugorje and all connected with it, a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the teachings of the Church may be promoted. The Bishops will also provide special liturgical and pastoral directives corresponding to this aim.

Note the bishop's commission did not authorize the promotion of new devotions based on these apparitions, but devotions that are in accord with Catholic teaching.

I believe these communities are suffering discipline from the local Ordinary because they are promoting - quite directly, the apparitions of Medjugorje.

COLLEGIALITY?
One last thing that ought to eventually be raised for thought: If a bishop prohibits "seers" from having public manifestations of apparitions and dissemination of messages in the originating diocese, is it not a matter of collegiality for all other bishops to also prohibit them from doing so in theirs? Why are the "seers" of Medjugorje permitted to have "visions" in parishes and dioceses all around the United States and world, when they are not permitted to do so publicly in their own diocese?

This is a question I hope to raise to Cardinal George to be passed along to all US Bishops and would encourage concerned readers to raise charitably to their respective Ordinary.

I have commentary and analysis coming up on these two letters in the next day or two.

God bless

Diane M. Korzeniewski, OCDS
http://te-deum.blogspot.com

[Denise]

Vijest
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THE BISHOP’S LETTER TO THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE “OASIS OF PEACE” COMMUNITY IN MEDJUGORJE

Bishop, 2009-02-27

regarding their presence in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno without the required authorization of the Chancery Office and also concerning their practice of exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in their private chapel. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the local pastor Fr. Petar Vlašić OFM. An English translation of the original letter written in Italian follows:

Mostar, 27 February 2009; Prot.: 222/2009

To: Rev. Mother M. Valentina Fregno
To: Fr. Gianni
Comunità Mariana – Oasi della Pace
02032 Passo Corese (RI)
To: The “Oasis of Peace” Community in Medjugorje

I wish to reply to the letter of Mother M. Valentina Fregno, Superior General of the “Oasis of Peace” Community, signed by Sr. Gabrielle Giuseppina, dated 12 January 2009, and sent to Fr. Petar Vlašić OFM, pastor of the parish of Medjugorje, who then forwarded it to me. Your letter is a response to the previous correspondence sent to your community of Medjugorje from the Pastor by written mandate of this Chancery Office on 15 December 2008, regarding the perpetual adoration practiced in your chapel, as evidently seen in a published brochure.

In your letter to Fr. Petar Vlašić OFM, you wrote amongst other things:

- Perpetual adoration of the Eucharist is a part of our charism, yet it cannot always be practiced for various reasons.
- Perpetual adoration in our community house in Medjugorje is never possible.
- According to an agreement made with the parish at the beginning of our presence in Medjugorje (the 1990’s), we commenced with adoration of the Eucharist for our internal members during the day in our community chapel.

In conclusion: We have entrusted this communication to you with our complete willingness to fulfill what is required of us and with a fervid desire to continue to serve this parish.

Please allow me to make a few observations and put forth some questions regarding these affirmations:

1 – With whom exactly have you made an “agreement” in the “parish” regarding the Blessed Sacrament?
2 – How can you make an “agreement” with the “parish” to begin “adoration of the Eucharist during the day in the chapel” of your community, thereby eluding the norms of the Church which authorize the local Ordinary regarding the custody and exposition of the Eucharist?
3 – What competent ecclesiastic authority has given you permission to reside as a “community” in the parish of Medjugorje in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno?
4 – Who authorized you to build a chapel and to expose the blessed Sacrament every day, whether the adoration is perpetual or not?
5 – How do you reconcile the fact that you profess a vow of obedience and yet you live in contradiction to this vow by persevering in your disobedience to the local Bishop and continuing your charism of perpetual adoration?

You are well aware that being a community of diocesan right, you have not obtained permission from this Diocesan Chancery to reside nor to work in the territory of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno. The same holds for adoration in a private chapel.

If you are sincerely “willing to fulfill” what is asked of you, then I wish to communicate the following to you:

- that you are not authorized by this Diocesan Chancery to establish a home nor to work as a community of diocesan right in Medjugorje;
- that you have absolutely no permission to keep the blessed Eucharist in custody or to expose it for purposes of adoration in a private chapel, due to the fact that Eucharist adoration is foreseen and established only in the parish church of St. James in Medjugorje.

I take this opportunity to express my best regards,

Ratko Perić, bishop

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[Denise]

Te deum analyzes what is suggested on a certain website.