May your love grow more and more
Sixth International Pilgrimage of people with disabilities
For the sixth consecutive year, the International Pilgrimage of people with disabilities has been held in Medjugorje, with many local residents providing pilgrims with free accommodation and meals. Hotel Luna had the honor of hosting the St. Philip Neri Association from Split. The main organizer of the pilgrimage is the "Susret" Association, in cooperation with the Parish Office of Medjugorje and "Mother's Village".
During their stay at the hotel, we spent a great deal of time socializing together, and therefore we would like to share one special story — a beautiful testimony from one of the participants.
“This is my second home”
With these words, our conversation began with Ivan Banić, a 32-year-old from Split who, despite the challenges connected to his disability, serves as a volunteer with St. Philip Neri Association alongside spiritual leader Don Jozo Mužić. He began volunteering in 2010, when he first visited the sanctuary in Lourdes, where he had a beautiful spiritual experience. He lives with his mother and brother in Split, without his father, and says: “I want to help others!”
His greatest joy is helping other people. He goes to rest only after everyone else has fallen asleep, and although sometimes exhausted, he is aware that volunteering is a 24-hour responsibility. When asked about Medjugorje, he responds with great enthusiasm. He especially appreciates the large gatherings at Mass celebrations, the outdoor altar, and the area around the confessionals. He believes that Medjugorje is very well adapted for people with disabilities, although he still has a few suggestions for improvement. Among other shrines he has visited, he particularly remembers Vepric Shrine and Sinj Sanctuary.
Despite the difficulties he sometimes encounters in everyday life, Ivan’s great passion is cleaning the sea and the beaches of Split, which he has been doing with love for 17 years. He sincerely wishes that more people would join him because, as he says, everyone should love the sea.
During our conversation with Ivan, we learned that throughout his life he had also experienced rejection from the environment in which he lives. He told us that every day he tries more and more to understand even those people who have spoken to him unkindly. His greatest wish is that parents would influence their children more positively and show by their own example that there should be no place in their hearts for rejection, humiliation, or discrimination against those who are different.
Ivan believes that both people with disabilities and volunteers would greatly benefit from support — financial help, but also kind words, warm smiles, interest, and care. His greatest dreams are a world without wars and weapons, and for young people to invest not only in their worldly knowledge, but even more deeply in their spiritual growth.
Dear Ivan, we wish you many more pilgrimages to Međugorje, even more shared Mass celebrations and volunteering experiences, and that you continue to look at the world with the same eyes and heart.
This was our dear friend Ivan Banić, and through these words we would like to thank him, as well as all the volunteers who have dedicated their lives, effort, and commitment to making the lives of people with disabilities more beautiful and better. We truly believe that we should all look up to them. They won us over with their kindness and their smiles, and we are genuinely proud to have had the honor of meeting them. We wish them to always remain as strong as they have been so far, to continue rejoicing in life, and for the world to be exactly as they see it — full of love and happiness, without even the smallest trace of sorrow or hardship.
The best things in life cannot be bought with money! The time spent with you and every one of your sincere smiles were truly the greatest gifts we could have received. Therefore THANK YOU!
We send our warmest greetings from the entire staff of Hotel Luna and look forward to meeting again.
“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
Albert Camus
