25th Anniversary Newsletter

Our 25th Anniversary Newsletter is now complete and available for download Click here

Our distribution this year is mostly to Sudan, both slave redemption to CSI and also for food aid via the Little way Association and the missionaries they support. Regular donations continue to LVF in the Philippines, the Pro-life group Good Counsel Network in the UK, Asia Harvest and their ‘Bibles for China’ project. The backpack appeal is also still going strong.

Michael, right, spent 20 years in slavery before CSI freed him in 2008. He asked our slave retrievers to look for his children, who were separated from him in slavery. This month, we brought his son —- home! READ THEIR STORY HERE.

Its been a long journey and yet the time has gone rather quickly. Many of our volunteers have graduated into eternity and become intercessors, and new ones arrive to pick up the gauntlet. Thanks be to God for His providence and the privilege of serving Him in those in need.

A good Counsel Network Video Click here

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25th Anniversary – Thanksgiving Mass

On February 13th 2018 there will be a thanksgiving Mass at St Alphonsus Church, Ayres Rd, Old Trafford, Manchester at 9 am. The Icon of Our Lady Queen of Peace will be there for the day too.

Marking the 25th Anniversary of operations, there will also be the Rosary and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. A display of old photos and reports will be on show and the chance for old friends to meet up again.

Many people have joined this 25 year pilgrimage, some walking alongside for a while, others for the long haul. Many continue as intercessors now in eternity. Each has played their own unique role to make up the whole.

It is a partnership between our brothers & sisters in need around the world and those with the compassion to help them; somehow both receiving what they need.

For many it is also a spiritual journey which has enriched many lives. I hope all who can will join in this thanksgiving to God for 25 fruitful years and the privilege to be a part of it.

Here is Our Lady’s message from Medjugorje 25 years ago February 1993 :-

February 25, 1993
“Dear children, today I bless you with my Motherly blessing and invite you all to conversion. I wish that each of you decides himself for a change of life and that each of you works more in the church, not through words and thoughts but through example, so that your life may be a joyful testimony for Jesus. You cannot say that you are converted, because your life must become a daily conversion. In order to understand what you have to do, little children, pray and God will give you what you concretely have to do, and where you have to change. I am with you and place you all under my mantle. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Christmas Message

“What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see the misery and want.
It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like.”

– St. Augustine

Thank you for loving your brothers and sisters in need for another year. February 2018 will mark our 25 year anniversary so a report will follow and a date for your diary for a day of prayer of thanksgiving. Have a blessed Christmas.

Medjugorje International Relief Team

 

Our Lady’s Message  Given to Mirjana Soldo in Medjugorje on December 2, 2017

“Dear children, I turn to you as your mother, the mother of the just, the mother of those who love and suffer, the mother of those who are holy.

My children, you too can be holy – this depends on you. Those who are holy are those who immeasurably love the Heavenly Father, those who love Him above all.

Therefore, my children, always strive to be better. If you strive to be good you can be holy even though you may not think so of yourselves. If you think that you are good, you are not humble, and arrogance distances you from holiness. In this peaceless world full of threats, your hands, apostles of my love, should be extended in prayer and mercy.

And to me, my children, give the gift of the rosary, the roses which I love so much. My roses are your prayers pronounced with the heart and not only recited with the lips. My roses are your acts of prayer, faith and love. When my Son was little, he said to me that my children would be numerous and that they would bring me many roses. I did not comprehend Him. Now I know that you are those children who are bringing me roses when, above all, you love my Son, when you pray with the heart, when you help the poorest. Those are my roses. That is the faith which makes everything in life be done through love, not knowing arrogance, and always ready to forgive; never judging, always striving to understand one’s brother.

Therefore, apostles of my love, pray for those who do not know how to love, for those who do not love you, for those who have done evil to you, for those who have not come to know the love of my Son. My children, I ask this of you because, remember, to pray means to love and to forgive.

Thank you.”

 

*Stop Press* *****- as of December 7th, Medjugorje is now an official place of pilgrimage, pilgrimages from parishes & dioceses can now proceed . Previously only private ones were permitted so a big movement towards full Church approval.****

Appeal for Prisoners in Manila

A friend of ours who works as a volunteer with CARITAS visiting the holding cells of a Police Station; (where there can be up to 150 prisoners at a time in a space about the size of your living room) has asked for some help. Because of the war on drugs, the number of prisoners has swelled dramatically as has the length of time to process them and take them for trial or prisons. The overcrowding coupled with heat, poor ventilation and lack of water has led to many deaths from dehydration and suffocation in recent months. Diarrhea is a contributing factor as is a lack of water supply. Infections and skin diseases are also widespread. Prisoners are the bottom rung of society here and there are no resources for them.

The CARITAS group is permitted to visit once a week and they bring the prisoners food and pray with them. Occasionally people give money for water and basic medicines to treat the prisoners as best they can. The cost of a weekly ‘first aid kit’ consisting of things like:- Iodine/ antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds, plasters, cotton balls, diatabs and other simple medicines would be about £8-10 a week. Perhaps another couple of  pounds for a container of purified water.

We are appealing for a prayer group or family to come up with that amount per week to help these prisoners. It could really be life and death for them. So regardless of what they have done to get there please consider helping. …Address and bank details below .. Phone:-0161-881-5664… 

 

By bank transfer to our account:

Account Name:     Manchester Medjugorje Appeal
Sort code                 01-01-97
Account No :           31147658

Nat West Bank,
Chorlton- cum- Hardy Branch,
438 Barlow Moor Rd,
Chorlton -Cum- Hardy
Manchester
M21 0NW
UK

Or send Cheques payable to Manchester Medjugorje Appeal

Medjugorje International Relief
c/o 13 Erlington Ave
Old Trafford
Manchester
M16 0FN
UK

Tel: 0161-881-5664

Annual Report 2017

 

 

Our new annual report is now available for download Click here..

This year we have focused on the growing refugee emergencies in South Sudan and Syria ; the bulk of funds raised going to church based workers in those regions.

Other projects supported include Mary’s Meals and particularly their backpack appeal with 160 backpacks sent to enable children in Malawi to continue their education.

And to the Laura Vicuna Foundation in the Philippines who continue their wonderful work with the youth and especially young girls vulnerable from human traffickers.

The good Counsel Network in London also received a small amount for their pro-life work , where they have rescued many babies from abortion and their mothers from a lifetime of regret. They work on the front-lines , outside the abortion clinics to counsel those about to go in. Courageous work.

 

 

 

 

Back Packs Sent to Mary’s Meals

The Christmas appeal for backpacks to be sent to school children in Africa was a great success with 163 back packs being picked up in January by Mary’s Meals so they are no on the way. A further 7 boxes with excercise books, toothbrushes etc were also included in the shipment. Each pack includes all the essentials for school, pens pencils etc and also for hygeine like soap ,toothpaste etc and also shoes and a variety of other items.

Thanks to all who made the effort to make up a backpack or contribute to them.

Latest News..

Mountains of scrap

The recycling fundraiser goes from strength to strength every year as more volunteers get involved in this simple way of turning trash into hope. Its one of our biggest sources of income now. Why not start something where you are ? Collect aluminium cans, foil, other scrap metals, fill your car boot or shed, take them to your recycling centre and cash them in and send us the proceeds which will reach out to those in need around the world…

Bring & Buy Sales

This year a bring-and-buy at St Alphonsus Church in Old Trafford rasied funds for refugees from/in Syria , Five Hundred pounds was sent immediately via Aid to the Church in Need to those suffering the effects of this drawn out conflict.

Backpack Appeal for Malawi (Mary’s Meals)

This years back-pack appeal has begun, frantic packing of bags for kids in Malawi which should go in January via Mary’s Meals who organise this project.

Completed Backpacks