On February 20, 2025, the Vatican issued a decree that the Parish Church of St. James in Medjugorje has been designated as a holy site for this Jubilee Year. This means that pilgrims who travel to Medjugorje and devoutly participate in the Jubilee rites and / or pious prayers under the usual conditions defined below will be able to receive a plenary indulgence. This decree is valid until the close of the Jubilee Year on Jan. 6, 2026.

The Jubilee Year is a time of great graces for the Church. One of its most well-known traditions is that of the Holy Doors. While the most famous holy doors are located in the four major basilicas in Rome, the Church also designates a number of other holy sites around the world where pilgrims can receive the graces of the Jubilee, including St. James Church in Medjugorje.

In 1981, Our Lady allegedly appeared for the first time in Medjugorje to six young men and women. The site was Mount Podbrdo, now known as Apparition Hill. Since that time, Our Lady has continued to appear and give messages of hope and a call for conversion to bring peace to the world. Over 40 million people have journeyed to Medjugorje to experience what many refer to as “Heaven on Earth”. It has been the inspiration for countless conversions, religious vocations, and deepening of faith. (Also, the inspiration for the founding of 206 Tours!)

The current Church of St. James in Medjugorje was built in 1969, several years before the first alleged apparition of Our Lady. At the time of construction, the townspeople were inspired to build a Church that was much larger than what they needed at the time. The Holy Spirit knew that millions would one day flock to Medjugorje. Another providential decision is the Church was named after St. James the Apostle – the patron Saint of pilgrims.

By visiting the Church of St. James, pilgrims have an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence for themselves and / or deceased loved ones. An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints (can.992).  A Plenary Indulgence can be earned once a day for oneself, and two additional times that day for others.

In order to obtain a Plenary Indulgence, the faithful must, in addition to being in a state of grace:

•  have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
•  have sacramentally confessed their sins;
•  receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
•  pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

The tradition of Holy Doors typically only take place every 25 years during the time of Jubilee, so this is a very special opportunity. A pilgrimage to Medjugorje will allow pilgrims to partake in the graces of the Jubilee while enjoying the peace and abundant graces this small town offers.

Read Updated Pilgrimage Guidelines from St. James Church in Medjugorje: www.206tours.com/rules-for-medjugorje

View Pilgrimages with 206 Tours: www.206tours.com

Today we begin the liturgical season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. This season, entirely focused on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, is an opportunity for each of us to dive deeper into our relationship with God.

One of the most well-known practices during Lent, is that of “giving up” something. Whether it may be one of your favorite treats, a morning cup of coffee, or limiting screen time, each of us can make sacrifices that will draw us closer to God.

As you cut out these distractions, Lent becomes the perfect time to discern, “What is God asking of me?” It can be difficult to hear God’s voice when we are consumed by the noise and busyness of daily life. That is why Lent is a wonderful opportunity to quiet our souls and make more time for God so that He can speak to our hearts.

We see a perfect example of this in Scripture when Our Lord went into the wilderness to pray and fast for 40 days prior to beginning His public ministry. This reveals to us the importance of prayer and fasting and taking time to step away from our day-to-day lives as we prepare to carry out God’s mission.

In addition to giving up something, Lent is also a time to add in good and holy practices that bring us closer to God. A perfect example of this is traveling on a pilgrimage. Pilgrimages have always been viewed by the Church an opportunity for prayer and deeper communion with God. Over the centuries, pilgrimages have traditionally been carried out as a form of penance or in thanksgiving for prayers being answered. To this day, they continue to change lives as the faithful travel to the very places where God has revealed Himself through the Church and lives of His Saints. When you step away from your daily life and take the time to focus on God, He will use this opportunity to speak to your heart and reveal His love in a new way.

This Lent is particularly special because it is taking place during a Jubilee Year. The theme of the Jubilee is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Pope Francis stated, “Our life is a pilgrimage, a journey that pushes us beyond ourselves, a journey in search of happiness. The Christian life in particular is a pilgrimage towards God, our salvation and the fullness of every good thing” (Pope Francis, Message for XXXIX World Youth Day, Nov. 24, 2024). Lent is the perfect opportunity to remind ourselves that we are all pilgrims in this life, journeying towards Heaven.

As we begin this season of Lent, let us all take the time to quiet our hearts and ask God how He wants us to draw closer to Him. Whether that may be traveling many miles away on a pilgrimage with 206 Tours or simply spending time at your local Adoration Chapel, each of us is called to become a pilgrim of hope this Lenten season.

View Our Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages