Angeline & Clare

Angeline: [I’ve been to Medjugorje] four times. The first time, on my own at the age of twenty. The second time with my agnostic boyfriend who didn’t believe at all, but after the fourth day, went for a hike on a mountain behind Mount Krisevac — the one with the radio tower on it — in the dark, got lost, and found God. 

We then got married, he became a Catholic, and the third time we came back after we lost our first child. We went to Medjugorje and Assisi. We prayed for another child. After Assisi, after praying, through the intercession of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, I was pregnant and I had Clare. She got her name after Saint Clare.

The fourth time, I’m here with Clare in Medjugorje. 

Clare: This is my first time. I’ve found it really interesting. At the start, it was a lot to take in, especially with all the pilgrims. There’s so many people here that it’s hard to get a personal connection at the start, until you go and take some time by yourself and pray and reflect. By doing that, I have learned more about myself, and it’s been a really good, interesting experience.

My favorite experience has been going up Apparition Hill, both for Ivan’s apparition and just going up with my mother — going up there and praying. It’s so peaceful up there looking over Medjugorje and the statue of Mary. I just love it up there. We found a rock that we sit on underneath a tree. It’s really peaceful there.

Angeline: She’s claimed it as her rock.

Clare: I’ve claimed it as my rock.

Angeline: Adoration last night was a real awakening for me about the beauty of Adoration and what it can bring to me in my life. I felt this call to go, and I was hearing about Adoration being a real centerpiece of Medjugorje so I made myself go. It was late last night, nine o’clock, and it was just so beautiful, particularly seeing the congregation. It felt like a real stand out moment for me. Just feeling the intimacy of Jesus. 

I’ll take that home with me, which is a good thing. 

Clare: I definitely think this pilgrimage has increased my prayer life. I’m really excited to go home and talk to my younger siblings about it and to help them move towards the faith, if possible, both by my actions, and also, I bought them the rosary beads for the seven Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s, and Glory Be’s. Because, as Mirjana said, Mary started [the visionaries] with that so I thought I’d help them learn that to start with. So I’m really excited about that. 

Angeline: I love hearing that from her. That’s beautiful. 

My husband, it’s the anniversary of his conversion at this time, twenty two years ago. I feel like he’s feeling like he wished he was with us, so maybe we will come back as a family, hopefully.