The Visionaries
THE YOUNG VISIONARIES
VICKA IVANKOVIC-MIJATOVIC
Vicka was born 3rd July, 1964 in Bijakovici. Regarded as the most outgoing of the visionaries, she did most of the talking during the early Apparitions. Her prayer mission from Our Lady is to pray for the sick. She has everyday Apparitions. Our Lady has so far confided nine secrets to her. She is most willing to answer the questions of visiting pilgrims. She lives with her husband Mario and two children in the village of Gruda, just north of Medjugorje.
IVANKA IVANKOVIC-ELEZ
Ivanka was born June 21, 1966 in Bijakovici. Her prayer mission from Our Lady is to pray for families. She married at the age of 20 to a young man from Medjugorje. In May 1985, Ivanka received the tenth secret from Our Lady on May 7, 1985. Her daily apparitions then ceased. She receives an Apparition annually on June 25, the Anniversary of the first Apparition. Ivanka lives in Medjugorje with her four children.
MIRJANA DRAGICEVIC-SOLDO
Mirjana was born on 18th March, 1965 in Sarajevo. Very intelligent, she has graduated from the University of Sarajevo. Her prayer mission from Our Lady is to pray for all unbelievers (those who have not yet felt God's love). She had everyday Apparitions up until December 25, 1982. Until the end of her life, she will have Apparitions once a year on March 18. Mirjana has received all ten "secrets" regarding events that will have an effect on the entire world. According to Mirjana, Our Lady has disclosed the dates on which the different secrets will come to pass. She lives in Medjugorje with her husband Marko and two daughters. Mirjana has chosen Father Peter Ljubicic as the priest to whom she could reveal the secrets when the appropriate time came.
IVAN DRAGICEVIC
Ivan was born on May 25, 1965 in Bijakovici. His prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for priests and the youth of the world. He has Apparitions daily at 6-40pm local time wherever he is in the world. He has visited Australia three times between 1993 and 2005. An interview with Ivan published the Australian Catholic Weekly is attached. Like Marija, he is quieter and more contemplative. Our Lady has confided nine secrets to Ivan. He is married to Laureen. They have three children, living half the year in Medjugorje and half the year in Boston, Massachussetts. http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/03/feb/9/22.html
MARIJA PAVLOVIC-LUNETTI
Marija was born on April 1, 1965 in Bijakovici. Her prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for all the souls in purgatory. She has everyday Apparitions. Our Lady has confided nine secrets to her so far. Through Marija, Our Lady has been giving messages to the parishioners of Medjugorje and the whole world on the 25th of every month. Marija initially conveyed the messages to Father Slavko Barbaric then to Father Ljubo Kurtovic after Father Slavko's death. She is regarded as serene and deeply spiritual. She lives in Italy, is married and has four children. She visits Medjugorje a number of times each year.
JAKOV COLO
Jakov was born on March 6, 1971 in Bijakovici. His prayer mission given by Our Lady is to pray for the sick. He had daily Apparitions until September 12, 1998, when he was told he would have Apparitions once a year on Christmas Day until the end of his life. Jakov lives in Medjugorje with his wife and three children. He has been told the tenth secret.
The Franciscans
The Franciscans, as the Order overseeing St James' Parish (named after St James, the apostle martyr, protector of pilgrims), have played a key role in the Medjugorje story both in their wider pastoral roles and as confidants and spiritual advisors to the Visionaries. They and their practice of the Catholic faith within Medjugorje and surrounding districts have left nothing to be desired. Their duties have seen them at times in conflict with the views of civil and Church authorities.
There had been a Franciscan presence in Bosnia since the 15th Century. The Franciscan Province of the Assumption was established in Mostar in 1892 with the Parish of Medjugorje founded in the same year. A Parish Priest, Father Bernardin Smoljan organized the building of the 12 metre high cross on Mt Krizevac in 1934, the 1900th anniversary of the passion and death of Jesus. Hundreds of priests were executed in Bosnia and Herzegovina during and immediately after World War II. This was followed by different times of oppression by the communist rulers.
FATHER JOZO ZOVKO
As a newly arrived Parish Priest, Father Jozo received the visionaries and their descriptions of the apparitions at Crnica Hill above Podbrdo in late June 1981. He endured the subsequent harassment of Communist authorities having, at one point, to hide the children in the Parish Hall. He and the visionaries were accused on national television of being "dangerous counter-revolutionaries" and "bitter enemies of the state". Eventually, he was arrested and jailed on 16th August 1981, initially for a term of 3 years, though he was released on February 17, 1983.
FATHER TOMISLAV VLASIC
Father Tomislav was Parish Priest after the jailing of Father Jozo, supporting the Parish and the visionaries until his arrest for a short period in January 1982, at which point Father Slavko Barbaric arrived.
FATHER SLAVKO BARBARIC
Known as Father Slavko, he did as much as anyone to solidify the devotion to Our Lady, Queen of Peace, through Medjugorje. Over twenty years, from his arrival in January, 1982, he was untiring in his efforts to meet and greet untold thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. He spoke five languages and had degrees in psychology and psychotherapy. He became the central figure in the Parish. He has written more about Medjugorje than anyone (see bibliography). He was the leader of the way of the Cross on Mt Krizevac every Friday. On November 24, 2000 at 3-30pm, whilst between the 13th and 14th stations, Father Slavko died suddenly. He is buried in the graveyard Kovacica in Medjugorje not far past the Statue of the Resurrection. Up to the time of his death, he received the monthly message from Marija.
FATHER LJUDEVIT RUPCIC
Father Ljudevit is a theologian, frequently quoted in this website, whose early writings on the apparitions of Our Lady at Medjugorje, brought threats of imprisonment from communist authorities.
FATHER PETER LJUBICIC
Father Peter has been chosen by Mirjana to disclose all ten secrets at the appropriate time
.FATHER LJUBO KURTOVIC
Father Ljubo now receives the monthly message from Marija. He writes a commentary on the messages, both of which are transmitted worldwide.