Annual Report 2023 .. 30 years on !

Medjugorje Message  (September 25, 2023)

Dear children! I am calling you to strong prayer. Modernism wants to enter into your thoughts and steal from you the joy of prayer and of meeting with Jesus. That is why, my dear little children, renew prayer in your families, so that my motherly heart may be joyful as in the first days, when I had chosen you, and day and night prayer resounded — and Heaven was not silent but abundantly bestowed peace and blessing on this place of grace. Thank you for having responded to my call.

SUMMARY

Thank you all for your support this year the total raised was £2820. 

£1000 was sent for digging a well in Africa, £320 to Ukraine, £350 to Mongolia for fuel and food for poor families, £350 to Peru towards an old people’s home all of the above via the Littleway Association. £400 to Mary’s Meals, £300 to the Good Council Network and £100 to Asia Harvest for Bibles for China.

Via Littleway Association
£1000 was sent towards digging a well in Africa to provide clean water.

An extraxt from the LWA website reads ..

Bishop Barthelemy Yaouda :-“Women and children have to walk miles each day to collect clean water, sometimes making the journey several times a day.” The bishop continues: “This has a bad effect on the children’s education and is a severe burden for their mothers. Many villages use unsafe water from ponds and poorly-maintained wells for domestic purposes. These waters are teeming with bacteria, parasites and mosquito larvae which are propagators of several waterborne diseases. The village of Konkorong has 1,012 inhabitants and its current wa-ter point is used for both human and animal use. A well-constructed borewell will improve the health of the whole population.”

Mongolia £350 was sent to the Consolata Sisters who work in a ger (tent) district of UlaanBataar with the poor and provide food and winter fuel to heat their homes.

Peru £350 was sent to A community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception based near Cusco in Peru are in the process of building a home for the elderly. They reach out to abandoned elderly people in the area whose families have moved away to find work.

Ukraine £350 was sent to help the aid effort for those displaced by the war.

Mary’s Meals:- £400 was sent to Mary’s Meals for their initiative in providing 1 meal a day for children at their school. They are now feeding 2.5 million children per day.

Asia Harvest
£100 sent to Asia Harvest for bibles for China. Tight restrictions on the availability of Bibles makes it a joyous occasion when believers receive their first Bible; it is met with tears of joy. And each one delivered produces a harvest in their lives and those they evangelise in turn.

Good Counsel Network

£300 sent to help further the prolife work in London and save more babies from abortion and their mothers from a lifetime of regret. Here is one story …

Another lady presented herself to us informing us that she wanted RU486, the abortion pill. We discussed at length the dangers of this ghoulish drug before going on to talk to her about the humanity of her baby. We discussed various positive solutions to her difficulties and offered moral support. It turned out that she had only been with her boyfriend for 3 months and when she discovered that she was pregnant neither of them discussed keeping the baby, both assumed that the other wanted an abortion. This lady was obviously quite aware in her heart that her baby was a real, unique, human being, and just thinking about the abortion was causing her suffering. After taking every book and leaflet we had on the baby’s development and accepting a Miraculous Medal, we offered her all the support we could and she left us laughing and crying at the same time. Weeks later we received a Christmas card from this woman in which she told us that she had her boyfriend’s support in keeping the baby and was now looking forward to the birth.

30 years on !

Its been more than 30 years since we first opened the doors to the leaking shed in Old Trafford and began to collect aid (in February 1993) for our first convoy to Bosnia a few months later. More than a half a lifetime ago for me. The plan was as simple as it was naive; “lets get a van, fill it with food and take it to Bosnia”

Through your work, prayer and giving we have reached quite a bit further in distance and quantity. From aid to refugees in many parts of the world, fundraising to free slaves in the Sudan or save mothers and babies from the horror of abortion, to bibles for those who hunger for God, education for the young and care for the elderly and a bit of compassion for prisoners. Its been extensive and for many of us a most rewarding and worthwhile mission to engage in.  And we are certainly not alone, more blessings than can be counted, a growing number of volunteers graduating into eternity each year, which does leave us a bit thin on the ground these days. We thank God for all the years so far and entrust the future to His pleasure. God Bless You all for your prayers, kindness and support.

News:- January 2023

February 2023 will mark our 30th Anniversary. Thanks to all our friends and supporters who have journeyed with us part or all of the way ! God Bless You all and Thank You for putting your love into action. 

As we had some donations and fundraisers before Christmas we decided to distribute this immediately so as to put it in place for those in need straight away and maintain a healthy empty bank account as usual; here are the beneficiaries of your recent generosity. £1220 in total sent.

Mary’s Meals

£200 was sent to Mary’s meals for their  wonderful project in providing 1 meal a day for children in their schools so they can continue their education and escape the poverty trap. Video Link .

Ukraine

£320 was sent via the Littleway Association to the church in Ukraine. The needs as usual in a war zone are for food, toiletries, medical supplies, mattresses, blankets. In common with  ourselves, the Littleway also make no deductions from your   donations—it goes 100% intact.

Mongolia

Again through the Littleway Association £350 was sent to the Consolata Sisters who work in a ger (tent) district of UlaanBataar with the poor and provide food and winter fuel to heat their homes. A missionary territory with only a handful of Catholics this is an important witness as well as stepping in to fulfill an urgent need. 

Peru

Another LWA project :- A community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception based near Cusco in Peru are in the process of building a home for the elderly. They reach out to abandoned elderly people in the area whose families have moved away to find work. The local government have given them land and provided machinery and a local builder is carrying out the work which will eventually accommodate 60 people plus a small place for the Sisters nearby. In the meantime the sisters visit people and bring food and Holy Communion but many still die alone, lonely and uncared for.  £350 was sent towards this long term work.

Medjugorje Message  (December 25, 2022)

Dear children!

Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, that you may be His peace and a reflection of the clarity and joy of Heaven. Pray, little children, to be open to receive peace because many hearts are closed to the call of the light which changes hearts. I am with you and am praying for you to open yourselves to receive the King of peace, Who fills your hearts with warmth and blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.

2022 Annual Report

Summary

Thank you all for your support this year the total raised was £3600. 

£500 was sent to Mary’s meals.  £1000 went to Ukraine Via the Littleway Association £200 went to Crown of Thorns, another Medjugorje charity who provide rosaries for prisoners and seafarers all over the world. £200 was sent to Good Counsel Network for their prolife work and £400 was sent to Asia Harvest  for the purchase of bibles in China. £1300 was sent to the Jesuits for their work in India  on anti-trafficking and also to Sudan for the on-going aid work there.

Jesuit Missions

£1300  was sent to the Jesuit Missions for 2 projects one in India  Darjeeling region helping young girls and another in South Sudan.

Darjeeling … Northeren India

In this project the Jesuits are helping raise awareness and protect young girls from being trafficked to the cities. There is less employment now in this tea growing region and many agricultural workers are having to find new ways to make ends meet. Where there is poverty there is also exploitation of the poor and  human  traffickers appear luring young girls and women with promises of good jobs in the cities but they are sold into slavery in the sex industry.  £500  sent.

Video below describes their work

South Sudan £800 sent .The largest project, ‘Sowing Seeds of Transformation in South Sudan’ provides a combination of humanitarian assistance and sustainable development to accompany more than 5000 people every year in areas of education, food security and livelihoods. There are a number of areas of work involved, including a teacher training college, a primary and secondary schools and a vibrant parish.     

Mazzolari Teacher Training Centre

The Centre was founded in 2011 and predominantly serves the Dinka community (South Sudan’s largest ethnic group). With enormous difficulty the centre has remained continually open throughout the conflict. This centre has become increasingly important in a country where 39,189 students are taught by 237 trained but 762 untrained teachers. 

Video below describes their work

Ukraine

£1000 was sent via the Littleway Association to the church in the South West of Ukraine where many  internally displaced people have arrived at ; they are also seeking to support those trapped in Russian held territory in the East of the country so every little helps as this tragedy unfolds. The needs as usual in a war zone are for food, toiletries, medical supplies, mattresses, blankets. In common with  ourselves, the Littleway also make no deductions from your   donations—it goes 100% intact.

Mary’s Meals

£500 was sent to Mary’s meals for their     wonderful project in providing 1 meal a day for children in their schools so they can continue their education and escape the     poverty trap. Just now we are planning a project where a local school will collect  aluminium cans for our recycling project with a view to raising £15.90p each year. That’s 3551 cans = 1 years Mary’s Meals  for one new child… Want to join our growing team of recyclers ? About one third of our income is from recycling these days £1000 a year 

Video below describes their work

                      

Crown of Thorns

Another  Medjuorje charity which does marvelous work in promoting the Rosary and  particularly with prisoners and seafarers all over the world . The Effect of these cards has been remarkable. A prison chaplain contacted them recently and said “If you walked around the prison, you would find many cells on every landing with your leaflets on the wall. It really and truly changes the atmosphere of the whole place in a very powerful way. I can’t describe the difference it makes.” £200 was sent to provide rosaries and rosary cards.

Asia Harvest

£400 sent to Asia Harvest for bibles for China. Tight restrictions on the availability of Bibles makes it a  joyous occasion when believers receive their first Bible; it is met with tears of joy. And each one delivered produces a   harvest in their lives and those they evangelise in turn. 

From the Asia Harvest website:— “Despite many troubles and challenges, our work continues to progress in  China. As we have  stated previously, as long as the Lord   continues to hold the door open, we will  continue to print as many Bibles as  possible and to equip believers while there is still light, for “night is coming, when no man can work” (John 9:4). By God’s grace and  power, we recently passed the all-time milestone of 15 million full   Bibles  printed and delivered to the  Chinese  churches, which has added fuel to the revival fires blazing across that great land.”

Good Counsel Network

£200 was sent to GCN for their tireless work to save unborn   babies and their mothers from the abortionists knife. Please Keep their work in your prayers.

Thanks to all MIR Supporters for you prayers, gifts and hard work. In February we will celebrate our 30th Anniversary

“What we do for others , we do for ourselves also “

Contact us:-

Medjugorje International Relief

c/o 13 Erlington Ave

Old Trafford

Manchester

M16 0FN

Tel:- 0161-881-5664

E-mail:- mir_medjugorje@yahoo.co.uk

Website:-     https://medjugorjeinternationalrelief.wordpress.com/

DONATIONS

Cheques payable to Manchester Medjugorje Appeal (our account name) ;- send to the address above or

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

2021 Annual Report

Summary

Thank you all for your support this year the total raised was £2950. 

£ 1000 was sent to Haiti for the disaster response following the earthquake through Mary’s meals.  £1000 went to India for a couple of projects that the Jesuit Missions are working on. £200 went to Crown of Thorns, another Medjugorje charity who provide rosaries for prisoners all over the world. £300 was sent to Good Counsel Network for their prolife work and £ 450 was sent to Asia Harvest  for the purchase of bibles in China.

Jesuit Missions

£ 1000  was sent to the Jesuit Missions for 2 projects they have in India one is for displaced Tribal Children in Southern India and other is in the Darjeeling region helping young girls.

Displaced Tribal Children in Southern India ..

The Loyola Integrated Tribal Development Society (LITDS), has been active for almost thirty years in forest region of Andhra Pradesh, Southern India. They are supporting their provision of education to internally displaced tribal children who are victims of armed struggle between extreme left-wing Naxalite insurgents and the police.

LITDS teaches all 244 children on its campus reading, writing, and basic arithmetic skills as well as value-oriented education on hard work, service to others, love for the nation, and gratitude. The tenth standard exam in India (equivalent to GCSEs) is one of the biggest exams in the world, with over two million students taking it each year. This year LIDS students passed with 100% pass rate. 

LITDS educates children for up to 10 years on their campus, but some of the girls will leave get married at an early age. In order to prevent child marriages, LITDS offers two years of nursing courses, which helps the girls to find employment as nurses in hospitals. There are currently 24 girls studying for nursing and five of them are employed as nurses.

The campus also provides nutritious food to the children from the interior forest who were deprived of nutrition in their early infancy and entered the school with  deficiencies. Father Elango SJ explains: “Once these little ones enter our campus we are happy to see them healthy and strong because of the nutritious food like rice, dal, and variety of grains that we continue to provide them every day… Children are very happy in the campus due to the variety of food items that we provide them with.”

Darjeeling … Northeren India

In this project the Jesuits are helping raise awareness and protect young girls from being trafficked to the cities. There is less employment now in this tea growing region and many agricultural workers are having to find new ways to make ends meet. Where there is poverty there is also exploitation of the poor and human traffickers appear luring young girls and women with promises of good jobs in the cities but they are sold into slavery in the sex industry.

Crown of Thorns

Another Medjuorje charity which does marvelous work in promoting the Rosary and particularly with prisoners all over the world . £200 was sent to provide rosaries and rosary cards.

Disaster Relief in Haiti :-Mary’s Meals

£1000 was sent to Mary’s Meals, as they have partners in Haiti, to help those affected by the recent earthquake.

Good Counsel Network

£300 sent to help further the prolife work in London and save more babies from abortion and their mothers from a lifetime of regret. Here is one story …

Another lady presented herself to us informing us that she wanted RU486, the abortion pill. We discussed at length the dangers of this ghoulish drug before going on to talk to her about the humanity of her baby. We discussed various positive solutions to her difficulties and offered moral support. It turned out that she had only been with her boyfriend for 3 months and when she discovered that she was pregnant neither of them discussed keeping the baby, both assumed that the other wanted an abortion. This lady was obviously quite aware in her heart that her baby was a real, unique, human being, and just thinking about the abortion was causing her suffering. After taking every book and leaflet we had on the baby’s development and accepting a Miraculous Medal, we offered her all the support we could and she left us laughing and crying at the same time. Weeks later we received a Christmas card from this woman in which she told us that she had her boyfriend’s support in keeping the baby and was now looking forward to the birth.

Asia Harvest

£450 sent to Asia Harvest for  bibles for China. Tight restrictions on the availability of Bibles makes it a joyous occasion when believers receive their first Bible; it is met with tears of joy. And each one delivered produces a harvest in their lives and those they evangelise in turn.

Contact us:-

Medjugorje International Relief

c/o 13 Erlington Ave

Old Trafford

Manchester

M16 0FN

Tel:- 0161-881-5664

E-mail:- mir_medjugorje@yahoo.co.uk

Website:-     https://medjugorjeinternationalrelief.wordpress.com/

Donations

Cheques payable to Manchester Medjuorje Appeal (our account name) ;- send to the address above or

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

Happy Easter

A Happy Easter to all our Friends

 

Our Lady’s message to Marija, March 25, 2021

“Dear Children!

 

Also today I am with you to tell you: Little children, who prays does not fear the future and does not lose hope. You are chosen to carry joy and peace, because you are mine. I have come here with the name ‘Queen of Peace’ because the devil wants peacelessness and war, he wants to fill your heart with fear of the future – but the future is God’s. That is why, be humble and pray, and surrender everything into the hands of the Most High Who created you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

 

 

Thank you for partnering and journeying with us over the years to serve our brothers and sisters in need all over the world. Our next report will be in the summer with details of projects old and new.

2020 Annual Report

Summary :- Total Raised £ 3650. Much of this years fundraising efforts went to the  Indian subcontinent with £1600 to  Pakistan via Aid to the Church in Need towards a replacement minibus for a hospital and £900 sent to the Little way for those in need as a result of the lockdown  over the Covid-19 pandemic, £400 to Mary’s meals plus 165 back packs and 28 boxes of school uniforms to Malawi, £250 to the Good Counsel network in London who save the lives of unborn  babies , £300 to Asia Harvest for Bibles for China and £200 to Radio Maria England another Medjugorje inspired charity committed to evangelization.

Pakistan £1600 was sent to Pakistan in response to an appeal by Fr. Armato and the Dominican Sisters who run the Rosary Christian Hospital  in Okara in Pakistan’s Punjab province towards the purchase of a replacement minibus (the current one is 17 years old and in poor condition and no longer reliable) in order to continue a free service to take the poor and sick people to the hospital. The hospital serves 15 poor villages in Faisalabad diocese. This donation was sent via Aid to the church in need.

India – £900 sent via the Little way Association to the Franciscan sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in India who work with the sick and hungry – covid-19 Pandemic caused increased poverty so the sisters have stepped in to  provide relief food items like rice, vegetables, etc to the marginalised and low-income segments of society comprising daily wage workers, migrant labourers, construction site workers, Gypsy Families, Leprosy Families, Sri Lankan refugees. This was carried out in and around Tamil Nadu,  Andhra pradesh, and  Telangana .

Radio Maria England:- £200 was sent to Radio Maria England, a fellow Medjugorje inspired charity that has just begun in England although with a strong pedigree throughout the world now. Its our priviledge to sow a small seed for its future work of  evangelization, much needed in our land.

“Radio Maria England is a 24hr Catholic Radio Station set up to broadcast programmes promoting and expressing the Christian Faith. It is part of the World Family of Radio Maria, formed in 1998 Radio Maria currently has 77 radio stations across 5 continents with 500 million  listeners world-wide.”

Good Counsel Network

£250 sent to help further the prolife work in London and save more babies from abortion and their mothers from a lifetime of regret.

Here is one story …

Time to listen

“One young woman came to us after going into hospital 3 times to have her baby aborted. Each time she would spend the day dreading the thought of what was before her. She would deliberately arrive 2 or 3 hours late at the hospital desperately hoping that her appointment would be cancelled. She would be prepared for the operation in a state of total panic. She would even come out in a nervous rash. Like so many other women she was totally confused and without moral support when she discovered that she was pregnant. All but one of the medical personnel that she spoke to put forward abortion as the only solution. The hospital counsellor seemed to be trying to ‘sell’ the abortion to her, portraying motherhood as a silly romanticised notion.  Somehow, each time this woman found the strength to walk out at the last moment (once, literally seconds before being anaesthetised). Each time, the hospital staff ‘kindly’ booked another date for her abortion to go ahead. Finally, through the efforts of a good Christian soul, Good Counsel was put in touch with her. After having a chat with us (We spoke for 8 hours and she said “Nobody else had the time to listen”) she is delighted to be keeping her baby, which is what she was crying out to do all along! With the help of your prayers and donations we will help her through and beyond her pregnancy.”

Asia Harvest £300 sent to Asia Harvest for  bibles for China—as the persecution of Christians continues its good to take the opportunity to supply as many as possible while the door remains open.

Backpack Appeal/ Mary’s Meals:- This year  another 165 backpacks and 28 boxes of school uniforms were sent and £400 for their Mary’s Meals project.  These contain an array of useful items for the school year like shoes, t-shirts, skirts, trousers as well as pens, exercise books, soap, toothpaste, & brushes, etc

Backpacks for Malawi .. Ready to go !

150 + Backpacks are ready for pick-up by Mary’s Meals to be sent to their projects in Malawi. One of our favourite projects it brings great joy to the children to receive the packs as they contain uniforms, school supplies, toiletries and other items we take for granted that are a real blessing to them and a  great encouragement. Thanks to everyone who gave items and helped with the packing ! God Bless You.

2019 Report

Summary :- Total Raised £ 3900 , much of which is thanks to the  recycling which keeps getting bigger as more people get    involved ; scrap from plumbers boosted us this year too, a big thank you to all our  collectors. This year  £2100 went to the Littleway Association for a solar water pump and a pig farm, £1000 to Sudan to a camp for internally displaced families ; £435 to the Laura Vicuna Foundation in the Philippines for their work with the poor, particularly young girls; £300 to Mary’s meals along with 145 backpacks  for school children in Malawi, £200 to the Good Counsel network in London who save the lives of unborn  babies , £400 to Asia Harvest for Bibles for China as the regime tightens its grip on Christianity once more and £500 for CSI slave redemption work in South Sudan . God Bless you all.

Tanzania & Malawi—(via Littleway Association) – Two of their projects were given support this year,  £1000 going to Tanzania for a solar powered pump and well . Currently a small community of sisters is having to hire  donkeys to bring water every day from far afield so this will      enable them to pump their own clean water. The other project in Malawi received £100 to buy pigs ! The community is starting a pig farm as a means of earning income so they can look after the increasing number of Aids orphans who come to their door.

Asia Harvest—£400 was sent for the Bibles for China   project which has sent more than 10 million bibles for new believers all over China. As the communist government  continues its intense persecution of the churches there, knocking their churches down, arresting Christian leaders and those gathering for prayer, this is one way to help them spread the faith in spite of the dangers and challenges.

South Sudan:-  £500 was sent to Christian Solidarity International for their slave redemption programme which we have been supporting for almost 20 years now. It’s a slow process to bring everybody home and give them a fresh start but imagine the joy of freedom and being reunited with friends and family !

Sudan  – £1000 was sent to a  refugee camp. A   Sister there says:-  Food was distributed to  the elderly, the blind, the lame, children and those living on the margins of life. Numbers continued to increase in the following months as there was a looming fear of more fighting and so more people joined the camp. The sense that someone cares about their welfare has had an   effect on people’s mental well-being as many  people suffer from a sense of hopelessness and despair. This support has enabled people to cope better with stress and trauma. People have also cultivated a sense of equal distribution of food and of helping each other as the beneficiaries are involved in food distribution.” 

Backpack Appeal/ Mary’s Meals:- This year another 145 backpacks were sent and £300 for their Mary’s Meals     project.  These contain an array of useful items for the school year like shoes, t-shirts, skirts, trousers as well as pens, exercise books, soap, toothpaste, & brushes, etc

Laura Vicuna Foundation  £435 was sent to help with the Salesian sisters work with children. As well as the orphanage for abused girls they also work with young people from poor communities to lift them up and follow their dreams.

Good Counsel Network £200 sent to help further the prolife work in London and save more babies from abortion and their mothers from a lifetime of  regret.

 

Christmas 2018 Message

Merry Christmas to all our friends and supporters.

God Bless You

December 2nd 2018 Medjugorje : –

Our Lady appeared to Mirjana Soldo and gave the following message:

Dear children,

When you come to me, as to a mother, with a pure and open heart, know that I am listening to you, encouraging you, consoling you, and above all, interceding for you with my Son. I know that you desire to have a strong faith and to express it in the right way. What my Son asks of you is to have a sincere, strong and deep faith – then every way in which you express it is proper. Faith is a most wonderful mystery which is kept in the heart. It is between the Heavenly Father and all of His children; it is recognized by the fruits and by the love which one has towards all of God’s creatures. Apostles of my love, my children, have trust in my Son. Help all of my children to come to know His love. You are my hope – you who strive to sincerely love my Son. In the name of love, for your salvation, according to the will of the Heavenly Father and through my Son, I am here among you. Apostles of my love, along with prayer and sacrifice, may your hearts be illuminated with the love and the light of my Son. May that light and love illuminate all those whom you meet and bring them back to my Son. I am with you. In a special way, I am alongside your shepherds. With my motherly love I illuminate and encourage them, that with the hands blessed by my Son, they may bless the entire world. Thank you.

 

* Latest News * An avenue has been opened to help those starving in Yemen, more news on that in our next report :-  contact us for information on how to donate for Yemen.

Also:– 145 back packs are ready for despatch to Mary’s Meals for distribution to school children in Malawi. A splendid project which goes well with their feeding program in the schools enabling children to stay in school and have a brighter future.

25th Anniversary Report Link

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