The Way. The Truth. The Life.

Celebrating the 42nd Anniversary of Medjugorje

The Birthplace of 206 Tours

The town of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina has in many ways become synonymous with the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is because on this day forty-two years ago, on June 24, 1981, Our Lady first appeared in this small village which at the time was largely unknown to the world. The next day, June 25, 1981, she appeared again to six young teenagers who would become the visionaries of Medjugorje on what is now known as Apparition Hill (Mount Podbrdo). Since the first alleged apparitions in 1981, Our Lady has continued to appear to the visionaries with her motherly messages of love. The messages are full of hope and peace for the world if mankind will return to God in prayer, penance, and love.

(Photo taken on Cross Mountain in the 1980s of 206 Founder & President, Milanka Lachman, and her daughter, now Vice President, Sandra Lippold.)

Medjugorje is a particularly special place for 206 Tours as it is the birthplace of our mission. In 1985, our President and Founder, Milanka Lachman journeyed there after hearing of Our Lady’s alleged apparitions. She was so moved by her experience that she began to return bringing groups of pilgrims with her and felt God’s call to begin a company whose sole purpose would be to bring people on pilgrimage. Thus began 206 Tours, whose name is derived from the specific time of 20 minutes to 6 in Medjugorje when pilgrims and locals await the time of the Our Lady’s alleged apparitions every evening.

In the 1980s, there were no hotels, restaurants, or shops in Medjugorje. The only accommodations available were those offered by generous locals who opened up their homes to visitors. In many ways, Medjugorje and 206 Tours have grown up alongside one another. Since the time of the first alleged apparitions, over 40 million people have journeyed to Medjugorje and that number continues to grow. 206 Tours has brought over 300,000 pilgrims to experience this sacred place over the past 42 years.

(206 Tours pilgrims atop Apparition Hill.)

Those who have visited Medjugorje can attest to a special peace which permeates the entire countryside. It is a peace like that of which Jesus described in the Gospels when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn 14:27). As the town of Medjugorje has been chosen in a special way by Our Lady who is the Queen of Peace, it is no wonder that pilgrims continue to flock here, leaving inspired and filled with hope.

Throughout her messages, the Blessed Mother emphasizes “5 stones” through which the faithful can grow in holiness and live out the call of Medjugorje:

• Praying the Rosary intentionally from the heart every day.
• Fasting twice a week.
• Partaking in the Sacrament of Confession each month.
• Receiving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament every Sunday.
• Reading Scripture daily.

The messages of Medjugorje promote these 5 practices as Our Lady continues to remind us that they are what will heal our hearts, our families, and our world. Although the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje are not yet formally approved by the Vatican, in 2019 Pope Francis authorized dioceses and parishes throughout the world to visit Medjugorje as a site of pilgrimage. Our Lord said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16), and the fruits of grace and conversion have been abundant in Medjugorje as it is known as “the confessional of the world”.

(Mount Krizevac “Cross Mountain”, Medjugorje)

The spiritually enriching experiences of Medjugorje are plentiful. In addition to climbing Apparition Hill, pilgrims to Medjugorje also attend daily Mass at St. James Church, climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain), partake in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, meet with the visionaries, visit the Community Cenacolo, and pray at the miraculous statue of the Risen Christ.

(St. James Church, Medjugorje)

On this special 42nd Anniversary of the alleged apparitions, two groups of 206 Tours pilgrims will be present in Medjugorje to partake in the special festivities commemorating the occasion. The town continues to be one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations for 206 Tours with groups traveling there all throughout the year. Thanks to long-standing relationships with the townspeople and visionaries, 206 Tours allows pilgrims to experience the town of Medjugorje in a deeply personal way with expert guides and comfortable local accommodations. Learn more about upcoming pilgrimages to Medjugorje and experience this special town which is so dear to Our Lady.

View the Full 206 Tours Pilgrimage Directory: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages