Auckland, New Zealand, February 1993

ALAN O'BRIEN

90/38 GOLF RD

NEW LYNN

AUCKLAND

PH: 8262082

New Zealand Day, 6th February 1993, the day Medjugorje came to New Zealand. Saturday 6th February 1993 will long remain in the memories of thousands of New Zealand people who attended the meetings held in the grounds of Marcellin Hall and the Holy Masses which were offered in St Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland and the following day, 7th February 1993, in Holy Spirit Cathedral in Palmerston North.

Saturday dawned as an overcast day in Auckland with a wether forecast for rain during the day. The committee members responsible for the meeting at Marcellin Hall grounds gathered at 10am to put the finishing touches to the preparations. Things that had to be done included the construction of the stage which would be used by the musicians, the installation of the outdoor sound system necessary for the large number of people we hoped would respond to Our Lady's call to come and hear Father Slavko Barbaric and Ivan give a first hand account of the story of Medjugorje.

At last all was completed, the publicity had been extensive, information having been sent to every Catholic presbytery, convent and school in both Auckland and Hamilton Dioceses. Arrangements had been made to park cars and busses on the playing fields of Marcellin College. Members of the Knights of the Southern Cross had kindly agreed to act as parking marshals on the day. Our big concern now was how many people would come.

The park-like grounds of Marcellin Hall covered in part by huge olive and oak trees were very inviting for an outdoor venue. As the advertised time of 1pm drew near people began to arrive in great numbers. Contrary to the weather forecast the sun was shining.

The Rejoice music group had been playing a selection of hymns while we waited for the pilgrims to arrive at 1.15pm. Suddenly, a murmur went through the crowd directing people to look at the sky. The clouds had parted and a wide band of beautiful colours reached across the sky. It was not a rainbow, the phenomenon did not curve and reach to the ground. It was visible to everybody for several minutes. It was clearly a sign from Our Lady that the meeting had Her blessing.

A 40 strong young peoples Croatian group who were visiting New Zealand and just happened to be in Auckland on this day agreed to come and sing a selection of songs in the Croatian language while dressed in National costume. Father Slavko, Ivan and Milona arrived in time to greet these young entertainers.

Having witnessed the miracle in the sky the crowd, which now numbered about 1,000, were eager to join in to say the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The response from the people seated on the grass was joyful indeed.

Ivan's address, which was interpreted by Milona Von Hapsburg, told of his life as a visionary of Our Lady for eleven consecutive years of his life. He is totally committed to a life of prayer and sacrifice to bring the message of Medjuorje to as many people as possible worldwide.

Father Slavko Barbaric completed the afternoon programme with a talk on the messages, which Our Lady is bringing to the world. Messages, which embrace every denomination. "I am your mother and you are my children."

Auckland was very blessed on this New Zealand Day as it was the only venue on a month long tour of Australia and New Zealand to have two opportunities in the one day to listen to and personally meet Father Slavko and Ivan.

Our evening ceremony was due to commence at 6pm at St Patrick's Cathedral located in the heart of the city. By 5.30pm the Cathedral was full of men, women and children. By six o'clock it was overflowing. People had occupied every possible vantage point, movement in or out was impossible for most of the congregation who were prepared for a three hour feast of religious fervour. Where else would you ever have witnessed 1500 people singing the opening hymn "Hail Queen of Heaven" with such enthusiasm and participate in 15 decades of the rosary before the Eucharistic celebration commenced?

At 6.30pm a number of people who had been involved in the preparation of the pilgrims' visit joined Ivan in the Eucharistic room. At 6.40pm Ivan came forward and looking straight ahead knelt down and began to speak to Our Lady. His lips were moving and occasionally his head would nod but no sound was heard in the room. On this occasion his apparition lasted for six minutes. Although we did not witness anything in the apparition room it was a special blessing to be so close to the Mother of God.

Confirmation that we had a visionary in our midst was not long in coming. On leaving the apparition room I noticed that a continuous stream of people were leaving the church by the side door. Being curious, I decided to join them outside. About 100 people were all looking up at the sky and looking directly at the sun. I witnessed the sun changing colour from yellow to green to pink. The perimeter of the sun seemed to emitting rays of light exploding out from the sun. I looked at this phenomenon for about five minutes before returning to the church. The miracle of the sun had commenced at 6.40pm when Ivan began his apparition. Medjugorje had truly come to Auckland. Receiving confirmation twice in one day that Our Lady did keep in touch with the visionaries when they travelled outside of Medjugorje dispelled any doubts I may have had about this aspect of the Medjugorje story. Father Slavko was assisted on the altar by five priests to concelebrate the Eucharist at 7pm. In his homily Father Slavko urged the congregation to take up the challenge to pray for peace: "the most beautiful thing you can have I this world is peace in your heart." This peace can only be obtained by living the messages from Our Lady of prayer, conversion, penance and fasting. You cannot hope to change people by talking to them of these things, they must learn from observation that you have changed because you are living the messages. Ivan, through his interpreter Milona Von Hapsburg, spoke of Our Lady's request that the rosary should be said every day and that prayer groups should be formed in every parish so that people could pray together.

Because February 6th was our national day we chose "God Defend New Zealand" as our final hymn. The 1500 people in the Cathedral sang it from their heart at full volume. It was a very moving finale to a very extraordinary day.

MARGARET PATON

29 COULTARD TCE

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: 2984409

On Saturday 6th February 1993 at Marcellin Hall, Royal Oak, Auckland, at 12.45pm approximately, clouds became coloured like crystal held up to light, but these colours and clouds were glittering and sparkling. Phenomena visible to every one present. At St Patrick's Cathedral at 6.40pm, Our Lady reportedly appeared to Ivan who was in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. At that time someone outside shouted "look at the sun!" so people near the door rushed out to have a look. The sun was spinning and changing colour, the pulsating and vibrating seeming to come nearer to the earth then back to the sky; the heat becoming intense then cooling. At one point the sun looked like a huge golden host with shafts of light coming from it. All those who watched the sun began to sing "How Great Thou Art". At 7.05pm Mass started and the sun stopped spinning. I watched the sun looking full on for a good ten minutes without damage to my eyesight. I know that this is humanly impossible to do. On Sunday 7th February I sat in the garden saying the rosary at 6.40pm because I knew that Ivan would receive a vision of Our Lady at that time during the ceremonies at Palmerston North Cathedral. For a few seconds I thought the sun behaved as it had done at St Patrick's on Saturday evening so I called my husband to see. By the time he came, however, the sun was its usual self and we were unable to look at it.

PENNEY BEAL

NEEDHAM RD, RD2

DRURY

AUCKLAND

PH: (09)2385729

While attending St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, on 6th February 1993, a couple returned from outside and I asked the lady what was happening. She said "the sun is dancing". It was just after the rosary and before Mass had commenced. It was a few minutes after 6.40pm. My nephew and I pushed politely through the standing congregation and made our way outside. I looked directly at the sun. It was like a 'white eclipse' with racing circles of colour at the circumference, mainly orange/yellow/bluey shades. The 'white eclipse' was in a larger circle of orange/yellow (gold). My nephew who is a medic in the Navy said this should be impossible to look directly into the sun as it can burn your cornices. I would have stood and watched for three or four minutes before making my way back to the Cathedral.

MAY HILL

18 KING EDWARD AVENUE

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: 2997486

Saturday 6th February was just another day as I prepared in readiness for the journey to Marcellin Hall and then on to St Patrick's for the Holy Mass. Little did I know along with many others that I would encounter a Medjugorje experience. The forecast for the day was overcast with a few showers; arriving at the outdoor venue, the weather had changed to sunshine and the warmth of the crowd added to the spiritual afternoon. Just before 1pm we were told to look at the sky. I saw a myriad of many colours, like feathers in the clouds, this captured the hearts of those who saw it. The phenomena lasted only seconds, then the programme for the afternoon proceeded. Songs of Praise, the history of Medjugorje, and a big welcome to Ivan Dragicevich, the spiritual afternoon brought a glow of peace over the crowd. Later, Ivan greeted us personally. On the conclusion of the programme my friends and I made haste to St Patricks. So far our pilgrimage had been a joy, we took seats close to the chapel where Ivan and his entourage were to be at the time of the vision of Our Lady, that is each evening at 6.40pm. The thought of being so close overwhelmed me. Although I wasn't invited to join the other chosen people in the chapel at the time of the vision received a strong anointing of the Holy Spirit which lasted through the Mass. A rosary was in progress. Near the finish I looked around to see all the seats empty, inquisitive, I went out. Looking up I saw the sun had a disc in front of it, and the disc was an image of the Queen of Peace. It had different colours around it. A young man next to me couldn't see it. The sun changed to a brilliant golden glow, it was pulsating and as I gazed on it I found no discomfort to my eyes. I raised my arms giving thanks to the Lord. A dark cloud underneath the sun parted revealing a glowing cross. At that point we were ushered inside as Mass was about to start. It's not possible for us all to travel as pilgrims, so thank you to Ivan, Leon Le Grand and entourage for bringing a tiny bit of Medjugorje to us. Thank you Lord and to the Queen of Peace.

Yours in Christ - May Hill.

MARY TAYLOR

29 ROYAL ARCH PLACE

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: 2986474

It was with some effort that I was able to get a lift to Marcellin Hall and then to St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, on February 6th 1993, as though to emphasise the commitment needed. So, when I offered my night prayers on Friday 5th February it was with special thanksgiving. It was during this prayer time that I was filled with a strong sense that I would see the sky over the city brightly illuminated on the Saturday evening. My feeling was that this would be near the Cathedral. I pondered this with anticipation.

As we drove through on Saturday morning I told my friends in the car (4) of this. In the peace and joy of a sunny afternoon on the green slopes the picnicking crowd - about a thousand - was amazed to see at 1pm, the scheduled time for proceedings to begin, a most incredible sight. I realised something unexpected was happening as people gazed heavenward and I got to my feet. To my astonishment I saw the most brilliant spectacle of coloured lights emerge against a backdrop of fluffy white clouds. Emerging from nothing to the richness of polished paua shell came the glorious shades of pink and green which gradually separated and formed shades that, through my eyes were absolutely distinct, I felt seemed to spell 'p e a c e'. As these began to fade I saw to the left another shade that seemed to form a figure with a cloak covering it from head to foot, and I felt this was the Virgin Mary. This seemed to be three to five minutes.

As we sat down again I remembered my foreknowledge from the previous night and was ashamed of my disappointment. Had I got it quite wrong? I said as much to those with me.

I the evening at Cathedral Square we put away our picnic tea and were in the Cathedral by 5pm where we chose our favourite spot in the wing beside the tabernacle and side chapel, the second seat from the front, and were delighted to hear that it was where Ivan Dragicevich from Medjugorje was to wait for the Virgin Mary's nightly visit.

The crowds thronged into the Cathedral and we prayed and sang as we waited. By 6.30pm I noticed people nearby being randomly picked to join those in the chapel. Would I be fortunate enough to be one of them? I knelt in prayer still reluctant to let go of my hope that 'my lights' would appear, though I expected that it would have to be about 9pm when the sky would be dark enough for them to be seen. Despite the fact that I had a real urge to go out and see, I resisted as it would be dreadful to walk out when Our Lady was about to come. Another sense I had was not to worry as it would last a long time (I thought an hour) and also that prisoners would be set free. Well, if the city thought it was the end of the world, maybe the gates of the prisons would be opened.

By 6.50pm I could resist the urge no longer and as I opened my eyes and stood I noticed that numbers had already left their seats around me and gone out the side door. I wept! There were 'my lights'. An incredible brilliance high I the western sky above the city buildings. The sun, at which we were able to look without pain, came closer and was surrounded by this brilliance; it returned to its place, came closer, and became solid white, reminding me of the Eucharist. It receded again then changed to gold, bathing us and everything around, including the sky, in a golden light. Once more it returned to brilliance, then brick red, came closer again, and as we felt the fierce heat on our raised hands and faces, the sky was bathed in a rich rosy-pink hue. As that faded back to brilliance the sun ten suddenly zig-zagged up and down, back and forth, in a wide area of the western sky, returning after a few seconds and becoming gold once more. By this time we were being urged to go inside as Mass had begun.

I was reluctant to leave and continued to praise God and pray that the city and the nation would recognise His greatness and honour Him. I was still weeping, a real feeling of intercession was upon me.

Gradually we moved back as the sky then changed to blue and I felt this amazing happening was not yet over. By then I realised that the hearts imprisoned by lack of Hope and sorrow would be 'set free'.

The Mass ended about 9.15pm. I felt I should make my warning of this event known so I introduced myself to Milona the Archduchess, as "Mary" had told her very briefly what I felt. A deep sense of privilege remains with me and the great significance that this was Waitangi Day, when we focus on the origins of our nation and our on-going needs.

ANNA VAN DEN BOGAART

OPAHEKE RD, RD4

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: 2985362

My strange experience on 6th February 1993. I went with m husband to this Medjugorje meeting in the grounds of Marcellin Hall. Just before the meeting started someone called out "look at the sky!". Of course we looked up and saw a big stripe of colours in the sky. Some colours were like from the rainbow, but not the same, and on top of that it was straight, not round like the rainbow. Was it like someone said Our Lady is pleased with our big gathering? At night in St Patrick's Cathedral we said two rosaries with Father Slavko and when he went into the sacristy to get dressed for Mass he said to the people "go and look at the sun and the sky". Lots of people went outside and many saw wonderful things. As we did not hear what Father Slavko said, and since we were sitting on the far side from him we did not go out of the church. But all the time I had a funny feeling that something was happening in the sky because it was between 6.30pm and 7pm, the very time that Our Lady appears to the four children of Medjugorje wherever they are. Ivan was in St Patricks so he would see Her there.

Later on he spoke about Her and I could not understand it. We could see through the open doors on the far side that people were looking up. I still wished that we had gone out of the church too. The next day, 7th February 1993, I thought; 'by myself tonight I am going to watch the sky because Ivan will be in Palmerston North and he will see Our Lady there, because he sees Our Lady every night'. I told my friends so they were going to watch too.

When the time was near I grabbed my camera and video and went to the back of our house to have a look at the sun and the sky. I did not have to wait very long. I look at the sun and saw her as a golden disc pulsating all the time. I looked away from the sun and thought maybe I may burn my eyes out, but I thought straight away 'If the good Lord gives me the privilege to look at the sun then I should look'. And so I did.

The sun was still pulsating away. I did not even have to blink my eyes. I could look straight in it for quite a while. I made a few photos when I called to my husband and son and said "look at the sun, how beautiful it is, I can look straight in it". Both of them could not look in the sun and saw nothing strange.

Then I took my video, but when I looked through it I could not see the golden disc. All I saw was a big light spot and different colours. I looked alongside the camera and still saw this pulsating disc. I kept the video on that light spot and saw all blisters of light in that light spot. Why could not I see the pulsating golden disc? Then the blisters stopped for a while, then started again. It did this several times. I cannot recall how long this phenomenon lasted because I forgot to look at my watch. When this strange phenomenon stopped it was about 7 o'clock and then I could not look at the sun any more.

I said to Our Lady "thank you, I do believe that you really appeared to those children of Medjugorje and even if I had not seen this wonderful sight I am still convinced that you appear to them every day".

And I know that Our Lady has got a message for all mankind which is prayer, penance, fasting, confessions, the rosary, the Mass. If we listen to Her, and do what She asks for then wars will be prevented.

To come back to my video, I did not have time to check it that same night because we were going out. But the next morning before I started my housework I had to see it. I was so surprised at what I saw. I saw the sun spinning for a while, and then it stopped, and then started again, and it stopped and started again several times. But the funny part was that I could not see the golden disc and the pulsating of it which did see if I looked alongside my camera.

It was all so very strange and if I may say, supernatural. Thank you Lord for this great privilege.

JOHN JOYCE

STANWRIGHT ROAD

KARAKA, RD

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: (09)2927889

Rosary, Mass with Ivan and Father Slavko at St Patrick's, 6th February 1993. While attending these ceremonies about 6.40pm a child came into the church calling to its mother to come and look a the sky. I went outside and there was about 50 - 100 people looking at the sun. I was able to look at the sun which seemed to have a filter between it and me. The sun was moving about, then it came towards me, the back again. When it got back it started spinning with spokes of light shooting out from it. This continued several times.

MARGARET JOYCE

STANWRIGHT ROAD

KARAKA, RD

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: (09)2927889

At Pat's I was setting up a bookstall in the courtyard. I could not see all the people who came from the left door to look at the sun. There were three or four people near me calling me to come and look. I saw the sun like a white disc, like a host with blue around it. It was very clear, very distinct and easy on the eye. When it disappeared there was a large area of yellow in the clouds.

JEAN KEOWN

66 ELLIOTT ST

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: (09)2984502

On Saturday 6th February 1993 it was my great privilege to be present at Marcellin Hall and again in the evening at St Patrick's Cathedral, when Father Slavko and Ivan Dragicevic, Medjugorje Visionary, together with Arch Duchess Milona Von Hapsburg, joined us during their pilgrimage of prayer for peace in the world. It was a day of tremendous blessings which began with a sign in the sky just as we were about to start the proceedings at Marcellin Hall. This sign took the form of blocks of colours; pink, blue and green. The shades of these colours were unusual and it wasn't until I got home that I realised that they were the same colours as those in a picture I have of a statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje.

As we watched the colours began to fade but just before they disappeared I'm sure they formed the word 'p-e-a-c-e'. he beauty of that day left a profound impression on me. The setting was so tranquil with gently rolling hills and clumps of mature trees casting their shade for us to sit under. Can you imagine approximately 1,000 people sitting quietly saying the rosary? Even the children seemed to sense they were on Holy ground and sat quietly, saying the rosary or just listening. Peace seemed to just seep into the very core of our beings.

Later that evening at St Patrick's Cathedral I was again privileged to witness, along with many others, a sign from Our Lady. This time the sun was involved. I believe this sign coincided with the appearance of Our Lady to Ivan Dragicevich, the Medjugorje visionary. I first saw what looked to be a huge hole I the clouds with an intensely bright light shining through, as though a door had opened and was illuminating the darkness. (In writing this it has just occurred to me that this was indeed a sign from Our Lady that the darkness had been illuminated. I was very aware of a rock concert which was being held in another part of Auckland and had prayed about it at length the night before. Thank you Mother).

Then the sun appeared as a golden orb intensely bright and began to pulsate and then to spin. As it spun the rays turned to a deep green but the orb remained golden. As we watched it, it seemed as if it played hide and seek among the clouds, disappearing and reappearing. By now Mass was beginning and I felt it was my duty to return inside. He feeling that I was on Holy ground was very strong. Once again it was the children who caught my eye. Although the Mass went on for about two hours, they sat quietly, attentive to all that was going on. Praise God!

MIRIAM THOM

34 MANSE ROAD

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: (09)2997264

On Saturday 6th February I was privileged to be able to see and hear Father Slavko Barbaric and Ivan Dragecevich from Medjugorje. In the afternoon we went to Marcellin Hall, the crowds of people were already there sitting around the lawns and under the trees waiting for the pilgrimage of prayer to start at 1 o'clock. About five minutes before devotions were about to start I heard someone say; "look up into the sky!" I looked up and there above our heads was a band of feathery cloud with the most beautiful colours coming from the cloud. They were colours like the colours of a rainbow. As we watched a beautiful ming-blue colour came through in the middle of the cloud. It lasted about five minutes then faded away. One of the speakers told us that we had Our Lady's approval. I wholeheartedly agree with him.

After being welcomed, Father Slavko came out and led us in a rosary. What a wonderful priest, he seems so humble and unworldly, he makes one feel unworthy just to gaze upon his face. After a while Ivan came out with an interpreter. He told us about when Our Lady first appeared to him and how his life had changed for the better. He asked Her who She was, She said; "I am Mary Queen of Peace, I come to bring peace to the world!"

Her message is, the way to peace in this world is to start from within ourselves. If we can show more love and peace from our hearts toward our own families, then in turn toward others around us, then we will truly find peace.

Later on in the evening we went to the Cathedral for more devotions that were to start at 6.00pm. The Cathedral was packed with people everywhere, sitting on the floor when there were no more seats. We started off with the rosary, Mass was going to start at 7.00pm.

Just before Mass was due to commence, I noticed quite a few people going out the side door on the tabernacle side. I thought; 'surely they are not leaving so early, and before Mass?!' I then saw them standing outside and looking up to the sky. After a while they came inside again. I later learned that they had seen the sun dancing and behaving strangely. One person told me she had seen the cloud under the sun part and the cross appeared under the sun. This incident occurred at about the time Our Lady, who was appearing to Ivan in the chapel, must have been leaving just before Mass was due to start.

We went home feeling tired but wonderfully blessed for being able to share in the Medjugorje Pilgrimage of Prayer. As I said to my husband, we couldn't afford to go to Medjugorje but Medjugorje came to us.

MRS M. KENNARD

ST HELIERS / GLENDOWIE BAPTIST CHURCH

AUCKLAND

PH: 5755664

My friend and I were waiting on a grassy slope at Marcellin Hall, Auckland. Waiting to hear more about Medjugorje from Ivan, one of the visionaries. When the meeting was to start I heard a man to the left of me say to another person "look up at the sky". I looked to where he was pointing and saw what I thought at first was part of a rainbow. Then I realised it was a straight line made up of two colours, a reddish and bluish haze.

People began to whisper excitedly to each other, and I must say my heartbeat raced at the sight of it. It lasted at least four minutes clearly, then began to fade, but it never changed position.

I was later told that a sign like this has only appeared twice before outside of Medjugorje. This was clear to me that the message we were about to hear was truly from the Lord through the Blessed Virgin Mary.

SR MARY MARGARITA RNDM

SISTERS OF THE MISSION

EDINBURGH ST

PUKEKOHE

AUCKLAND

I attended the prayer meeting for peace on Saturday afternoon 6th February at Marcellin Hall and experienced great joy and peace throughout the afternoon. It was inspiring to be with so many people of all age groups witnessing to their faith and trust in God and His Holy Mother.

At some stage before the official prayers began I was surprised to see an unusual display of colour over a portion of the sky just above where I was sitting. The sky was blue with small white clouds, and this splash of colours of the rainbow was overlaid for quite a large area. There was one small patch of bright blue which lasted longer than the other colours, and seemed to disappear into the distance after the other colours had faded.

The people around me all saw the display, and someone took snapshots of it. A gentleman (one of the officials) announced over the intercom "that's Our Lady saying, 'thank you for being here'", and I believe it was. Just a motherly touch! And a bonus as far as I was concerned, for I don't feel the need of signs and wonders.

RITA CARROLL

15 TUI ROAD

TE AROHA

My husband Paul and I were in the Cathedral when the sun danced on Saturday, but several of our party hadn't seen it. They were talking on the way home and four of us decided to say the rosary at 6.15pm on the next evening, which we did. It went behind a cloud and then began about 6.45pm to spin, giving off many colours which kept changing, blue, gold, deep rose, green. The sun itself was a brilliant white, as a host, then it would advance and retreat. As it retreated it became a beautiful gold. We were very grateful to God that we were allowed to see this. About 7.20pm I went home. I had phoned my husband and when I arrived he was still watching but inclined to blame his eyesight etc. I began to get a meal when a friend rang to say; "look again." We did. The sun gave a wonderful display until nearly sunset at 8.30pm. I phoned my daughter in Matamata and she and her family were able to view the sun too.

MARGARET YETTON

1 BRICK ST

TE AROHA

The programme was to start at 1pm and as we were being welcomed people began to surge forward and look up into the sky. We were sitting under the trees which blocked our view, so we too had to get up and walk forward to view what the others were looking at. There in the sky, directly over the venue I personally saw what appeared to be a huge oblong sheet of transparent rainbow colours, which, by the time looked up, were beginning to fade. The total duration was short but long enough for many people to have witnessed the experience. The programme continued and we later proceeded to St Patrick's Cathedral for the evening rosaries, Mass and talk by Ivan and interpreter who were in a side room by the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. During the afternoon session Ivan had told us that Our Blessed Mother appeared to him at twenty minutes to seven each night no matter where he was. At precisely that time people began to drift out of the church into the courtyard, and so followed. To my amazement all were looking up at the sun - directly - changing colour, green, blue, red, surging forward and back and colouring surrounding cloud.

The phenomenon went on until 7pm when Mass was due to start

We went home full of thanks that we had been able to be part of an incredible day. However, Sunday was another day and the visionary travelled to Palmerston North for an evening only programme. Mass was to commence at 7pm so four of us, Rita Carrol, Jo Haber, my husband Bill Yetton who was unable to be present on Saturday and myself Margaret Yetton decided that the visionary would again see Our Lady at 6.40pm in which case there was every possibility that the sun phenomenon would again occur. At 6.40pm we stood on the balcony to look at the sun and sure enough we experienced the events of the night before. My husband was also thrilled because he had missed Saturday's occurrence.

I trust that these experiences will help to confirm what others saw. I know that there were others who saw even more than I did, but I am grateful that through Our Lady I thank God for Her motherhood and Her leading us to Her Son.

ALEX AND HELENE BINNIE

5 CHELMSFORD AVE

GLENDOWIE

AUCKLAND 5

PH: 5755983

Saturday 6th February turned out to be a day which had a profound impact on those who attended the Medjugorje Pilgrimage of Peace. We went along with eagerness to listen to our visitors from Medjugorje: Ivan Dragicevich, one of the visionaries, and Father Slavko Barbaric, a Franciscan Priest from there; and of course, we went to pray. However, we did not anticipate the signs and wonders which awaited us all. The first venue was scheduled for 1.00pm at Marcellin Hall. No sooner had we joined the crowd of about 1,500 to 2,000 people when we had a visible manifestation of a rosary which had turned to gold at that very time. (This rosary belonged to a Catholic gentleman who could accept the visions and messages of Medjugorje, but drew the line at the possibility of rosaries turning gold, which has also been a feature of the Medjugorje phenomenon. He had barely voiced this disbelief when he pulled out the now golden rosary from his pocket!)

At 1.00pm the sky drew our attention. A most beautiful fairly wide strip of small clouds in pastel shades of pink, blue, grey stretched across the sky and hovered there for about five minutes. Coincidence? Certainly not, in retrospect. Moreover, the atmosphere became so peaceful. A 4/5 year old girl next to me pointed out quite calmly that she could see Our Lady's face in the cloud formation. We then prayed the rosary and listened to Ivan, who recounted in particular that day now over ten years ago when Our Lady first began to make Her appearances. He spoke through a very ale interpreter, Archduchess Milona Von Hapsburg, who is spending her life at present to help spread the message of Medjugorje.

Father Slavko emphasised the importance of the messages and gave the reason as to why Our Lady has been appearing for eleven years on a daily basis being similar to a mother lovingly cajoling her child into doing their homework each day. He also pointed out the importance for Catholics to be faithful to the teaching magisterium of the Church.

5.30pm saw us back at the Cathedral hoping for a seat! We were greeted by a packed Cathedral (over 2,000). Fortunately, we managed to sit on the step of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, but there were people on the floor and on the steps of and behind the main altar.

After some singing we prayed another rosary. The atmosphere was once again, quiet and peaceful. There was a complete absence of hyped up music or any attempt to enliven the congregation.

At 6.30pm a few of us were tapped at random on the shoulder and beckoned into the side chapel to the left of the tabernacle, out of sight of the main Cathedral. We realised then that we were to have the privilege of witnessing Ivan's apparition of Our Lady. There were about 12-15 of us in there. These moments were indescribable. The atmosphere was intense. Although Ivan's apparition lasted a mere five minutes of time, who knows how long this really was? We were told later, after the Mass, that although Our Lady had no special message for us in Auckland Her heart had been full of joy. A very consoling thought, as it was very evident that people had gathered that night with faith and love.

During the apparition I saw a very distinct glow on the wall to the right of Ivan. The apparition took place at 6.40pm.

The Mass was due to start at 7.00pm. We returned to our 'seats' only to find a steady progression of people going both out of and back into the Cathedral. I personally was too overwhelmed after the incident of the apparition to want to move, but my husband did join the procession. This is what in his own words, awaited him: "Outside the Cathedral Square were perhaps one or two hundred people all looking upwards towards the sun. The whole area was bathed in a warm, beautiful golden glow and the white clothes of the people appeared golden. On looking towards the sun, the sky was alive with this warm golden glow, at the centre of which was the sun pulsating, spinning, beckoning with a glow which was not the least strain to the eye. Surrounding the sun I saw many colours as the light from the sun passes through what appeared to be an opening in the clouds. These colours were marvellous, beyond description, in hues of red, green, yellow. All the buildings surrounding the Cathedral were bathed in this unusual light. It was the miracle of the sun, here, in Auckland, and started at 6.40pm (we heard later from an eye witness). It was with difficulty that one had to leave this manifestation of Mary's love for Her children and return to the Cathedral for the Mass to begin."

After the concelebrated Mass Ivan spoke yet again. The sick and rosaries were blessed and this unforgettable day drew to its conclusion. We are now left with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and with the responsibility of knowing that Our Lady is urging us to live and spread Her messages of turning to Her Son, Jesus; of fasting, going monthly to confession and of a response to pray, pray, pray.

A. BRUNNING

TOKOROA

We just turned the radio on where you (Alan O'Brien, Medjugorje Centre, Auckland) spoke about Medjugorje and the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That day we were there too, a bus load from Tokoroa was there. And I have seen the vision too. After I spotted it I ran to a friend to come and see. I saw the back side of a letter g or j. It looked ........ I feel very honoured to have seen it and hope to fulfil the responsibility it brings too. Wish you all the best and success.

IRMA TEICHELMAN

45 KAY DRIVE

BLOCKHOUSE BAY

AUCKLAND

PH: 6278231

We were sitting on the lawn at Marcellin Hall waiting for Ivan to arrive when I heard someone say: "look at the sky". I saw a band of colours, al pastel shades that went in a line across the sky. As it slowly descended, two iridescent green irregular shapes appeared in the centre of the colours. They all gradually faded.

GREG AND SALLY SMYTH

17 SUNRAY AVE

TITIRANGI

AUCKLAND

As Ivan was running late, I was talking to various people about the programme when I noticed a large group of people looking up at the sky. Knowing that miracles are a regular thing in Medjugorje, I bemused that I was looking at a bunch of hopeful optimists.

The level of excitement was rising in this group, which was growing, so, somewhat reserved, I went over to where I could see what they were looking at.

There was a band of colours across the (strato-cumulus) clouds. I have never seen anything like it anywhere in the world. It was a straight line, unlike the curve of a rainbow, and it was more in globules of colours.

No matter how I tried I could not rationalise what I saw as a possible cause except for a little grace from heaven.

In the afternoon the sight of the sun was much more dramatic. I was standing at the north door of the Cathedral when again the commotion of people looking at the sky grabbed my attention. I wasn't so slow to look this time, and when I looked at the sun, to my amazement I could look right into it and its centre was covered by what looked like a total eclipse. I have seen eclipses before and looked at them through welding masks, but I was looking at this through the naked eye. Every now and again I would look down and read my programme to see if my sight was being impaired and it wasn't. I could look away from the sun and read or look into the Cathedral with less impairment than I usually experience from going inside after looking at bright sunlight, let alone looking directly at the sun.

As far as I could tell about 500 to 1,000 people witnessed this, and by what other people around me were saying, some saw a lot more than I did and no one was suffering from the temporary blindness you would expect from looking at the sun.

This is what both my wife and I experienced on Saturday. We also saw, and have seen since, a dramatic change in some people after the event.

MARY McNAMARA

11 COLES CRESCENT

PAPAKURA

AUCKLAND

PH: 2984864

I attended the Cathedral to hear Mass and a homily given by the visiting priest from Medjugorje, Fr Slavko Barbaric OFM. Also with interest to hear the address to be given by a Medjugorje visionary Ivan Dragicevic, through the interpreter Archduchess Von Hapsburg.

The atmosphere in the Cathedral was very electric, while I watched people of all ages coming in, from tiny babies in mothers arms to the very elderly, and all ages in between.

Without understanding why, I was aware of an alertness and an unexpected sense of expectancy. At some stage while praying the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary I began to notice an unusually deep gold wide ray of sunlight coming from somewhere in the right transept of the Cathedral.

I remember thinking: 'what an astonishing colour the sun is tonight, it is absolutely breath taking.'

This indescribable colour of gold ray was shinning across the lectern and slanting on over the altar. It was lighting up the varnished wall, well to the left corner of the wall behind the altar. All in the path of this gold beam were transformed into the beauty of its gold. While occasionally opening my eyes during prayer, at one stage I saw the beam move around, it circled and shadowed as though a search light, then fell back steady to the same position. At another time it was again changing to different hues and returning to deep gold.

After rosary and before Mass began, moved by a strong impulse to go outside, I there glimpsed other people looking into the sky. Raising my arm to be a shield I realised it was possible to look full into the sun and remain doing so without harm or even strain to my eyes. The sun was pulsating, changing colours from various shades of flame red, gold and blue, throwing out into and lighting up the sky around the sun in strong movements. My eyes then became drawn and more strongly fixed toward the centre of the sun which was changing from electric blue to blue-white. Then, in an instant, the very centre became still and pure white as the host.

Thrilled, I immediately returned to my seat in the Cathedral, as Mass was beginning. Overflowing with joy I noticed somehow my eyes felt different, they were glazed over and filled with tears. These tears did not fall but remained to sink within gradually. I did not notice when they finally disappeared as Mass continued. (A friend who saw my return from outside told me later in an amazed way: "your eyes were filled with tears, but not falling on the face that was smiling broadly!")

Throughout Mass and the address of the visionary, Ivan, I felt held in an extraordinary presence which reached a peak of beautiful realisation as he revealed Our Lady's appearance to him at around 6.40pm that evening.

After Mass I was given individual accounts from a few people, describing how the sun also did beautiful things at Marcellin that afternoon at around 1.00pm at the outset of the pilgrimage.

Later in the square, just as I was to leave for home that evening, a friend told me: "Our Lady appeared to Ivan this evening as he was praying in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel." This was during the time of the sun doing miraculous things.

My decision to go to the Cathedral that evening was to learn about Medjugorje by hearing the homily and address given by the visiting pilgrims. Certainly not expecting to 'see' and 'experience' such incredulous events. I must state without any doubts, my very existence has received a new beginning. This day has burnt into my being a lasting impression, a heightened desire for God, to pray living in a continuing closeness in the company of Our Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. I find myself speaking very spontaneously with Her, through personal and family events following on from 6th February.

Since this evening Our Lady had 'appeared' to me, not as to the Medjugorje visionaries, of course, but in the form of other events in which I experience in both tangible and spiritual ways the nearness of Her tenderly motherly presence in the midst of our family situations. "Virgin Mary you give clear and beautiful evidence of your listening Immaculate Heart, to my silently pleading heart and prayer for those I see in need. Thank you most tenderly loving Mother, Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us your children, teach us to love."

JOSEPH ANG

22 STANMORE BAY RD

WHANGAPAROA

HIBISCUS COAST

PH: (09)4247036

While waiting at the Company of Peace to attend the evening rosary, Mass and talk from Ivan Dragicevic, Medjugorje visionary, my wife, Franciska and I went to the chapel to pray as we usually did when visiting the Company of Peace. After praying we helped Father Rory in getting the late lunch ready for those who returned from attending the afternoon session at Marcellin Hall. It was at that time that I was invited to join a group of people where I heard from a gentleman about his experience a moment ago. He said that his rosary had changed colour after praying in the chapel. I reacted that I had just been in the chapel also and put my hand in my pocket and took my rosary out. I was then that I realised that my rosary had also changed colour, they were white and now were a goldy colour.

During the evening Mass at the Cathedral I saw several people on the opposite outside porch pointing to the sky. Although there was no initial reaction from me for a couple of minutes, I decided to investigate what it was all about.

When I was outside the church I saw several people (10-15) looking at the sun. I also looked at the sun and noticed the sun spinning slowly and clearly, due to the slightly overcast sky. My immediate reaction was 'hang on Joseph, do not get carried away, wait a second and make sure what you see.' So I looked and looked and observed without any emotional attachment one way or the other, although I was aware of the significance of the moment. When I was convinced of what I saw I re-entered the church and called my wife without telling her to get outside. We went outside and immediately saw the spinning sun. For me this was the second time watching the sun from a slightly different spot. Again I observed the spinning of the sun without any difficulty, although this time the sun was in full view and clear sky.

MRS DAWN ZAMBUCKA

3 BRAGATO PLACE

BIRKENHEAD

AUCKLAND

PH: 4180256

On Saturday 6th February 1993, at the Prayers for Peace Pilgrimage Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral my daughter called myself and her father outside to look at the sun. On looking at the sun I put my hand up to shield my eyes but in a few seconds found that this was unnecessary. The sun was bright gold and pulsating rapidly, as I was watching the sun started to spin, as it spun the clouds surrounding the sun changed colour to real blue and a rosy pink. While this happened the sun turned to brilliant white like a large host.

SHIRLEY AND JIM MORAN

35 JELAS RD

OREWA

HIBISCUS COAST

PH: (09)4265090

When Ivan and Father Slavko visited on 6th Februay they brought with them a real experience of what it must be like to visit Medjugorje. Our Lady blessed us with many signs of Her presence. We now feel a real sense of urgency in the messages - that She has spoken to us personally.

In the afternoon at Marcellin Hall we all saw a band of beautiful colours in the sky overhead. Iridescent colours of turquoise, pink, rose and gold. Little fluffy coulds formed the letters 'MIR' to me and 'MARY' to Jim. We watched this for about 15 to 20 minutes then it slowly faded away.

Later, in the Cathedral there was a warm joyful feeling as we watched the church fill to capacity. At 6.40pm Our Lady appeared to Ivan I the sacristy. It was hard to believe She was in the room there beside us but just after the apparition finished we heard a buzz of excitement outside.

People were pouring out of the church. Mass had not started so we went out too. Everything was bathed in a soft gold light. Someone said, "look at the sun!" We looked straight into the sun, through the brightness to the sun itself. It was changing colour form green to pink to gold etc. It seemed to be spinning and throwing off colours around it. At one stage it bobbed up and down and then from side to side. We watched it for probably five minutes and afterwards our eyes were not affected at all. After this it was easy to believe Our Blessed Mother had truly visited us in Auckland.

The following night, again at 6.40pm, with other members of our family, we watched the sun again at home in Orewa. It was cloudy but between the clouds we saw it turn from dark to pure white like a host, and appear to move slightly toward us. Our sister in Papatoetoe also saw it on the Sunday. Thanks be to God.

MRS JOE HABER

JUBILEE FLATS

TE AROHA

At the first venue at Marcellin Hall the programme started at 1pm. Shortly before this time my attention was drawn by people telling other to look up at the sky. I heard someone mention the word 'rainbow'. I was sitting under a large tree on a slight rise and couldn't see the sky, the part they were all looking at. I went down and when I looked up I saw a patch, rectangular in shape, similar to apricot in colour. It was strange how the colour was not in or on the sky. The sky at that time was blue with small clouds, more like lines or ripples. It was a perfect day for an outside venue, I would have been amongst the last people looking up.

In the evening we went to St Patrick's Cathedral. We were aware that Our Lady had been appearing to Ivan (the visionary) for the past eleven and a half years at 6.40pm regardless of which part of the world he was in. It was about this time when I noticed, we were sitting near the tabernacle in the side isle, people going out the side door near where I was sitting. A man in a bright coloured shirt whom I had previously noticed and seemed to be involved with the organization, beckoned to someone sitting in front of the altar.

My curiosity got the better of me and I went out to see where all these people were going. There were a lot of people already there looking up, exclaiming they're wonderment at things happening to the sun.

I observed the sun moving up and down as if coming down to you, spinning and changing colour, green, orange, red; these are the colours I remember. I stood for probably 10 or 15 minutes, I can't be sure of the time. Suddenly, when the sun to me was red, the centre seemed transparent with the image of a dove in the centre. It's hard to say how long it lasted, perhaps 1 - 3 minutes, maybe longer. I was so enthralled time didn't really exist.

The next day, Sunday, Ivan was speaking at Palmerston North. A few of us decided to get together to pray the rosary timing it to finish as near as we could to 6.40pm. we thought that as Our Lady was appearing was appearing in New Zealand we might be lucky enough to see the sun changing. Two of the people present had not seen it on the Saturday. Also, we wondered if perhaps it could only be seen where the venue was held. We were blessed by having the same experience as the day before. This time I did not see the colours very much, mostly I saw golden, it looked rather like a monstrance. The movements were the same.

I think we were all very blessed by Our Lady's presence in New Zealand, encouraging us to pray to Her Son for peace and justice in this world.

BARBARA STRONG

GROSVENOR HOUSE

HOBSON ST

AUCKLAND

PH: 3585671

On Saturday 6th February a group of us went to listen to the Medjugorje pilgrims. I had taken along my four year old daughter, Sarah, and had explained to her that it was going to be a long meeting for adults listening to visitors from overseas. I deliberately played down the visionary aspect because I wanted her to be well behaved with no excpectations. Just before 1pm we were asked to look a the sky. Up in the sky to our left was an aura of shimmerng colours. Sarah looked and said: "She's there, but why can I only see Her face and neck?" I said, "who?" Sarah replied: "Mary, of course, aren't the colours beautiful?"

LINDA WELBORN

55 NEW NORTH RD

EDEN TERRACE

AUCKLAND

I was at St Patrick's Cathedral on 6th February 1993, and although I did not see the changes in the sun that others witnessed, I did feel an extraordinary electricity, a kind of "surge" which seemed to be experienced by the whole congregation while the changes were going on. A woman who had been sitting next to me and who joined the exodus of probably hundreds of people over a period of twenty minutes or so, on returning told me, obviously very moved, that she had been able to look directly at the sun without any ill effects, and saw a dove form in the middle of the sun, which pulsated and changed colour to a beautiful green. The sun seemed to move back and forth and her friend said she had seen it turn pink. Everyone seemed to have seen slightly different colours. Unknown to any of us, but told later by the visionary Ivan during his speech, he was experiencing a vision of the Blessed Virgin in the little chapel on the left side of the main altar, next to the Sacrament in the tabernacle, right at the time people were witnessing the changes to the sun out in the square.

JANICE O'CONNOR

7 RIVERVIEW ROAD

PANMURE

AUCKLAND 6

Last Saturday, 6th February 1993, I was privileged to witnessa miracle - the miracle of the sun. I had gone with several others from this parish to St Patrick's Cathedral to hear Ivan, one of the visionaries, speak at the special Mass for Peace. At 7.00pm I went outside to settle my newborn baby. The sun was unusually bright, and although under normal circumstances we are told never to look directly at the sun, I found that I could. As I watched, the sun seemed to be vibrating, and flashing colours - bright green to white again and again. The clouds underneath were awash with bright yellow. The sun started to drop down into the clouds, then unbelievably it came back up. This happened several times. By now 200 people had come out to investigate, and as I looked around, their faces and clothes were bathed in reflections of gold. Soon after, the sun (still bright green) was surrounded by a very distinct aura, which again was reflected on the buildings and the people below. I heard later that this phenomena had begun at 6.40pm, the time Our Lady was said to be appearing to Ivan, and wad continuing when I reluctantly went back inside at 7.20pm. I know this all sounds far fetched but I have no doubts whatsoever that this really happened, that this was Our Lady speaking to us. And I am so grateful that I was allowed to be there.

MRS THERESE MORRIS

11 TAIPARI RD

TE ATATU NORTH

AUCKLAND

PH: 8345833

On the evening of February 6th 193 at St Patrick's Cathedral, Our Lady appeared to the visionary Ivan. Outside the Cathedral the most wondrous miracle was happening for us to see. The sun in the sky was spinning and pulsating, faster than you could ever imagine possible. The sky around the spinning sun was the most beautiful blue I have ever seen, then turning to a beautiful pink, then orange, even green. The sun seemed to pulse forward then at times turn a deep blue, almost black, then back to glowing white/yellow. It looked like a big host in the sky. At one stage it went behind a cloud and then raced back up to its place spinning and pulsating. An orange light flooded the courtyard where we all stood and the most beautiful warmth was felt. You could watch the sun with absolutely no problem and couldn't take your eyes off such a blessed miracle. Once back in the church you could still see the orange light through the door, which was opened on the other side of the church. Since that incredible evening I have seen the sun spinning, the beautiful blue around te sun, the orange light and the warmth on numerous occasions, the last time being 5th March, the first Friday of the month, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When I came out of church that morning the sun was still spinning!

MRS COLLEEN BAYER

82a KELMARNA AVE

HERNE BAY

AUCKLAND

PH: 3781496

February 6th 1993 was a very special day for me. I had always wanted to visit Medjugorje but was never able to. That the Blessed Virgin came to visit us in New Zealand in both Auckland and Palmerston North on these days will always remain with me. On the afternoon on the 6th friends of ours had gathered at our place to go to Marcellin Hall together. The first blessing that occurred was John's (a friend) rosary links turned to gold after he had uttered sceptical remarks when my husband showed his (which turned gold at Lourdes). John took his rosary out of his pocket to prove they were definitely silver, but he was proved wrong, has another miracle taken place? I know also of several other rosaries turning gold on that special day. While we were gathered on the grass at Marcellin waiting for Ivan the visionary to arrive I looked up at the sky and saw the most beautiful stretch of colours to the left of the gathering of people. Many other people saw this and believe Milona (the interpreter) had told the youth that evening that this also happens in Medjugorje. The Cathedral in the evening was packed, and I was thrilled at the turnout. Because Benjamin (my son) would not settle down I took him outside and resigned myself to the fact that I was not able to take part of the grace-filled time. However, was waling Benji around in the pram and I noticed a young girl and a man looking up to the sky. I glanced up and was looking straight up to the sun. It started pulsating, so I immediately went over to a friend who was siting outside the Cathedral with his three sons. "Phil" I said, "Medjugorje is here! The sun is pulsating!" He joined me. Very soon other people started to gather around to see the phenomena. The sun was pulsating, it would then spin around and the dark clouds would then go behind the sun, it was so amazing! Then I could hear father Slavko through the sound system talking of sorrow and suffering, maybe starting the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. At this very point the sun was surrounded by the most beautiful red colour and beyond the dark clouds surrounding. After that there was nothing. This all started at 6.40pm sharp and after a short break it started happening again. This time the sun would pulsate again, spin with the most beautiful soft colours of green, yellow, pink. The sun then seemed to take the appearance of the host. It was large and white and was surrounded by a ring of sometimes red and sometimes bright yellow. The sun would again pulsate, spin, disappear then come back. Never at any stage did the sun seem to go down. It was as though it was hanging in the sky, not moving. I went back into the church as I longed to be there, however, it was only for a short time. Benjaman started playing around. I went back outside by the fountain. The sun was again pulsating and dancing, spinning, the sky was beautiful and the colours amazing. At one point I saw what appeared to be a dove in the shape of a cloud in the centre of the sun which had the appearance of a white host. At that point Benjaman, who is nearly two and has Down's Syndrome, looked directly up at the sun and smiled and clapped his hands. That was a very special moment for me. In all I looked directly at the sun for approximately 35 minutes. My eyes did not seem to be affected. However, at the Lamb of God I had to take my daughter Kathleen and Benjaman from Mass for toilet reasons. Some children and a friend of mine were outside also. I could see these discs on some people. I thought that must be something to do with looking at the sun for too long, but for two weeks after this truly blessed night I had been seeing these discs, usually a green/yellow colour, sometimes pink, mainly on people and sometimes on cars. On Tuesday morning (of 9th February) John Porteous rang to say that he and his family were still witnessing this phenomena of the sun, so three of us ladies from Grosvenor went to see. Again we saw the sun pulsating, spinning and the colours etc, but not to the same intensity of the Saturday evening. Barbara (one of the ladies who was with me) said she momentarily saw Our Lady. That morning Barbara, Shiela and myself were seeing these green/yellow discs, the interesting thing, they were in exactly the same places and on the same people. I don't know if there is a natural explanation for this. Our daughter Michelle who also witnessed the phenomena of the sun had the same experience throughout the week at school. Praying her friends would see it and would not think her crazy, she practically ran from the bus stop to school to tell them to look at the sky. God performed many wonders that day as her friends saw the sun. One girl who hasn't any Christian background looked to the sky as they were together and saw a cross. While some were jealous because they did not see anything all day, it was a great way to witness. Again, just this week, on March 8th, my husband Terry and myself had a grace filled twenty minutes witnessing the sun. It was amazing but not as intense for me as February 6th. However, for Terry it was the same as what he saw on that Saturday. Last Sunday he also saw what appeared to be a red heart surrounding the sun. We thank God for these faith-building experiences.

MR PHILIP ZAMBUCKA

3 BRAGATO PLACE

BIRKENHEAD

AUCKLAND

PH: 4180256

I was present at the Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral when the visionary was present and I was summoned to go outside where I was amazed to see strange colouring in the sky. All of a sudden the sun appeared and to my knowledge I have never looked into or tried to look at the sun before, but on this occasion I looked straight into it and saw it was spinning and different colours were appearing, blue and pink, and finally in the centre of it there appeared a distinct round object which to me was exactly the same as the Blessed Sacrament being elevated at the consecration of the Mass. I was most impressed with the whole thing and I do believe Our Lady is appearing to the visionary.

MRS GLORIA MORRIS

TE ATATU SOUTH

AUCKLAND

On the evening of 6th February 1993, I was invited by my daughter-in-law Therese to go along to St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, where Ivan, one of the visionaries from Medjugorje and Fr Slavko were to speak. I have read the Medjugorje story and found it most interesting, and, although I am not of the Catholic faith (I attend St Paul's Anglican Church, Te Atatu) I am quite sure that the urgent message for conversion is for all people. When we arrived at the Cathedral the only seating not taken was by a side entrance door. As the Service proceeded some of the people in the back rows went out into the courtyard and they were beckoning others to follow. Words are quite inadequate, but I will do my best to describe what I witnessed, which occurred at 6.40pm apparently at the time of the vision. What I saw was an awe-inspiring sight. The sun was spinning and pulsating very fast and seemed to be very close. Brilliant colours were radiating from the sun. I especially remember the deep rose pink and at one stage the whole courtyard was a gold colour. It seemed to envelop us all. Right in the centre of the sun the outline of a dove appeared, in a pale shade of grey, just like a sketch of a bird, but not a detailed sketch. I have read accounts of signs and wonders appearing in the sky and have always kept a very open mind about it. I now have witnessed what I previously had read about.

ROSALIND DOYLE

NO ADDRESS GIVEN

St Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, 6.45pm, Saturday 6th February 1993, with group in prayer room. My account, in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. A powerful presence of the Holy Spirit engulfed me and an image of a globe of the world came before me. A single length of barbed wire encircled the globe across America from coast to coast. I could only see one side of the globe. I did not see any visible sign of Our Lady only a voice telling me that the Blessed Virgin Mary was very sad. I was conscious of yawning deeply, then tears started to run slowly down my cheeks. I heard the words: "many souls are being lost through lack of Love, pray (or ask) St Michael for protection".

PAT G. ROBINSON

10 JACARANDA AVE

BIRKDALE

AUCKLAND

PH: 4837299

Saturday 6th February was the most exciting day of my life for the following reason - it all happened this way. Ann Marie told me on Saturday morning she would be going to a gathering on Saturday afternoon at some park near Pah Rd, Auckland. She was going to listen to the story of Medjugorje and our friend was going because she was hoping for a miracle. Ann Marie, being rather curious, thought she would go along and indeed she did go on her own. I had presumed she was going to go with Graham. George and I decided to go over to Takapuna and then do our food shopping. We came home about 4pm and I was surprised to see Anne Marie home. I said: "Did you go?" She said, "yes" but she was not really overly impressed with the afternoon. They all gathered outside on the lawn and nothing would start until everyone was quiet, just like children being pushed around. Anne Marie couldn't hear very well at all because of the paging system and also her ear which had been operated on a week previously. Anne Marie was just so-so about the afternoon but said that she didn't think she could go to the Mass at the Cathedral at night because she felt tired. Apparently at the Mass at 6.40pm (every night to the visionary wherever he is in the world) Our Lady appears to him. He has had apparitions for years. The person was from Medjugorje and was in Auckland on Saturday 6th February. I told Anne Marie that George and I were going to 6.30pm Mass at Northcote because on the Sunday we wanted to spend the day on the boat and seeing we hadn't gone to Rangitoto as planned , we would have an early start on Sunday if we went to 6.30pm Mass at Northcote. Anne Marie said "why don't you go to Mass at the Cathedral? Seeing you are going to Mass in any case". "I suppose we might as well" after much persuasion. We had just had afternoon tea and she said to me, "you had better hurry up as there will be a lot of people there and you won't get a seat". When we got to park in the Farmers Car Park we saw hired busses parked and obviously this Mass was going to be quite popular with people devoted to Our Lady. When we got to the door of the Cathedral Graham, who was outside, said "you'd better get inside or you won't get a seat". Once inside the Cathedral the Church was full, people standing in the isles and the surrounds of the altar with people sitting on the floor and it did look as if we would have to stand. George and I then walked up to the altar and then went to the left hand part of the church and found two seats in the very back row, quite close to the door. To start with the congregation took an hour to say the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Anne Marie told me that at 6.40pm Our Lady was supposed to appear to one of the visionaries from Medjugorje. I thought at 6.40pm "well, nothing has happened" and then I forgot about it. At 7pm or thereabouts I noticed some Dalmation people start going outside and then going back into the church and telling their relatives to come outside. A few seconds later they came back into the church and told others to come outside. Quite a few followed and I could see something was happening outside and me being nosey said to George "come on and go outside". He just followed me not knowing what I was up to. When I got outside there were quite a few people already outside and they were chatting to eachother and looking towards the Farmers building. I moved further out into the courtyard and looked toward the Farmers, just following everyone else. First of all saw the sun with an aurora around it. I said to George "can you see the aurora around the sun?" He said "yes". I thought to myself "this is a miracle or sign of Our Lady". Again, I thought to myself "gee, that's great!". Then the sun came a bit bigger and became blue. Everyone seemed to sigh and people around me started praising the Lord. I wasn't quite sure what I should do, kneel down, praise the Lord like them (that was not natural for me) so I just kept watching the sky. It was such a fantastic sight I just couldn't believe what I was seeing, such an awesome sight. My nerves by this time were really shaking. My heart was beating two to the dozen. I just felt like crying. I kept watching the sky and then the blue sun became smaller and moved back into the sky into the distance on the right hand side and I coulkd see the outline of the Virgin Mary on the right hand side. I kept staring hard as I couldn't see Her hands in the normal position as it would be on the miraculous medal (I also knew I was not seeing Our Lady in person but it was definitely an image of the medal). The hands seemed to be at Her side but for a second I knew it was Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. She was standing on a curve of white outline which would represent the world. There was something on the left hand side of the blue sun but I couldn't work it out. The next thrilling sight was the sun spinning, just like Guy Fawkes night. It was a small sun but really whirling around as if it was attatched to a fence (the sun was not attatched to anything). Really whirling around. It was yellow with a slight red colour on the rim but the colour on the rim was not very vivid. I am not sure about the sequence but the sun became big and yellow and started to come down to earth. I thought "if the sun comes down to earth like Fatima what will I do? Fall to the ground? Go back into the church? But while I was trying to make up my mind and actually feeling a bit frightened the sun went back into the sky, but not into the distance. It then seemed to go behind cloud and lit up the sky with a white background, couldn't see the sun at all but the clouds in front which would normally be white and fluffy turned scarlet red. A beautiful sight. I am not sure whether the sun started to spin again. I think I saw it spinning on two separate accounts. One for sure. By this time my eyes were really giving out on me and I thought "I will go back into the church". This is a true sign and while I have not really had any doubts about Faith it certainly confirmed everything I had been taught. I thought "I know, I will have to go back to say the rosary".

FRANCISKA ANG

22 STANMORE BAY RD

WHANGAPAROA

HIBISCUS COAST

PH: (09)4247036

We (Joseph and I) not only heard but saw rosary chains turning gold, for some, not for others. The phenomenon in the sky, what many saw in the afternoon session earlier on while praying. All these exciting events while we were assisting Fr Rory and the Company of Peace getting lunch and refreshments ready for the pilgrims who had just returned, before continuing to St Patrick's Cathedral for the Peace Pilgrimage Mass. We overheard a gentleman telling that his rosary chains had turned gold just after praying in the COP chapel. When Joseph took his rosary out of his pocket I saw staright away that his too had turned gold, while mine stayed silver, just like when we bought them in Lourdes during our pilgrimage on Pentecost 1989 (at the same place in the same shop!). A little while before we too had been praying in the COP chapel. Our Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, had given Joseph a tangible sign for everybody to see. A phenomenon encounter that he can share and speak about with others if he so wishes and I am so happy for him. To secure a place for the three hour long service, followed by Ivan Dragicevic's personal talk, who up 'til now receives daily apparitions since 24th June 1981, we came long before it started. Being there a good hour before the church was still empty. We chose a corner seat at the very end of the right hand rear side near the side door, to make sure that we got a good view of the altar for the con-celebration of the Eucharist. The church was filled in no time and just before the rosary started we were squeezed like sardines in a tin. Still people kept streaming in. Side doors were opened, people standing behind us in files, filling the side isle. Joseph too was standing on the very corner as he gave up his seat to a lady who was now sitting, reciting the rosary next to me. The Church was filled with the Holy Spirit. Suddenly I was aware of mary's presence. I sort of felt the knowing of the presence of a spiritual being (cannot put it into words). I looked at Joseph to seek his attention, to ask for confirmation, clarifying my cognisance, but he was out of my reach, praying intently, reciting the rosary with closed eyes. I felt warmth, a heat, like sun rays shinning on my left shoulder and my back. Slightly turning my head I saw these multi iridescent colours; a reflection of the shining sun coming through the open side door from outside. It was like a beautiful rainbow in the sky after a heavy rain, a splendid display of iridescent colours. The warmth on my back penetrated through my body. Divine peace engulfed my whole being. It felt just like that time when I was miraculously healed after suffering ostioporosis for more than ten years, during our pilgrimage to Lourdes on Pentecost 1989. A repeat of a marvellous event. Again I was healed while praying on behalf of others, this time from a splitting headache and a stiff neck. Was Mother Mary interceding for me just like when we were in Lourdes in 1989? I tried to think rationally. Is this iridescent colour behind me a natural reflection from the shining sun coming through the many coloured glass panel pictures all over the church? Is it the sun shining on my back that I feel this heat? I must not be carried away. Without looking at me Joseph passed me to go outside. He stayed away for such a long time that I became anxious. I was disappointed but my worry took the upper hand. I gathered my things to go, a tap on my shoulder, "leave your bag" Joseph whispered. Following outside walking into the entrance yard of the Cathedral he pointed to the sun. "Be prepared at all times for the gift of God, be always ready for new ones, for God is a thousand times more ready to give than we are to receive" Meister Eckhart. A magnificent, astounding, dazzling phenomenon. I could look with my naked eyes straight into this sun and it didn't even hurt. This spinning sun was a perfect round bright golden glowing golden disc of light high in the sky just above Farmers building near the Company of Peace, an Urban Monastic Monastery. While the sun stayed still a display of rainbow colours were slowly rotating round it, for many to see for miles afar. Some people around us were singing, looking up at this spinning sun. Silently watching in awe and wonder at this spectacular phenomenon, I noticed the picture changing. Now this spinning sun was a radiant disc of illuminating light, a cloudy smaller disc covering the golden glowing light, like a rim, was motionless. The iridescent radiant colours, much more vivid now, were spinning around this motionless sun very slowly. Rotating as a wheel on its axis, here, this magnificent spinning sun. I then could hardly believe my eyes as the next 'picture' took place. I had to pinch myself for it was just like a dream. More grandeur in details to utmost perfection. This radiant, illuminating, spinning sun, perfectly round, was a huge, pure white, glowing, radiant, illuminating disc, surrounded by whitish red golden tongues of fire on a clear blue sky. To me it was like the embodiment of our Holy Sacrament when we receive at Holy Communion 'the Body of Christ' , our risen Lord, who gives Himself in His unconditional love to mankind, to each one of us. A sight beyond description, for me to be remembered as long as I live. Our Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, is very concerned about the state of the world. She is imploring, urging us to pray, repent, fast, convert, change our hearts, to live according to Christ's teaching. Let us join Mother Mary's army, fighting with Her in frequent praying for peace in our beautiful world and for all mankind. I am so thrilled and grateful that this time I can share my feelings of joy and excitement with numerous people who saw some of Medjugorje's phenomena, witnessed by many from all over the world during Mother Mary's apparitions and now here in New Zealand, and visible too!

MRS THELMA DRAGICEVICH

3 VEGAR ST

KAITAIA

NORTHLAND

On arriving at Marcellin Hall, Royal Oak on February 6th we looked at the sky and saw the long cloud of all pretty sparkling colours. Outside St Patrick's at ten minutes to seven pm I saw a slim cross of light to the left of the sun. I spoke about it in three sentences and then it was gone. We watched the sun for twenty minutes. The sun, as I saw it, was pure white, like a large host with slight movement. The sun was encircled quite broadly around by red and then blue colour. Sometimes the sun itself was red, then blue, changing again to white! It was a wonderful spectacle.

SISTER ALICE HARDIMAN SMSM

NO ADDRESS GIVEN

On Saturday 6th February this year one of the visionaries from Medjugorje in Croatia (where war is raging now), and a priest who has been with the visionaries almost from the beginning came to New Zealand. The visions of Our Lady to the children (now adults) started on June 24th 1981. Four of the visionaries still see Our Lady every day. Our Lady told the children to pray for peace and also gave them other messages. She said that if Her messages were not heeded there would be great troubles, not just in Croatia but in other parts of the world. The war started exactly ten years to the day after She had spoken this particular message. What I want to share with you now is my Auckland experience. The gathering at Marcellin Hall was held outside on the hill. It was informal, and about 1,000 or more people gathered on the grass to pray, and to hear what Ivan and the Franciscan priest had to say. It was a beautiful afternoon, although the morning had been unpromising weather. When we arrived cars were being directed where to park and people were making their way up the hill. We joined them. An announcement came almost immediately over the loudspeaker: "Mary has given us a beautiful day .. She has also given us a sign. Look up into the sky!" There in the lines of white clouds were patches of colour, beautiful, delicate colour.... light blue, light green, a soft pink and yellow. At least these were the colours I saw. They stretched across about 60 meters among the clouds. I would say that from the time I saw them they were there for about 25 minutes. They were in patches, not in lines. A friend of mine rang up the weather office the next day and asked if they had noticed the phenomena. She was told that a resident of the Mt Roskill area had reported them from his home. We sang and prayed the rosary together as we waited for the visionary and the priest to arrive. When they came I was surprised to see the size of Ivan, the visionary. I had thought of him as a boy, but he was a very well built, strong looking man. The Franciscan priest was in his brown habit but most of the other priests were in ordinary clothes, except for two who seemed to be the key people. One had a blue suit coat and regular clerical garb while the other was in a light material black outfit. Some people went to Reconciliation later in the afternoon for I could see some just standing informally with a priest.

IVAN'S TALKS. Ivan gave two talks, one at Marcellin Hall and one at the Cathedral at night. The Cathedral one was longer. I took a few notes there, but now I will combine the two. This is mainly from memory. I hope the talks will be printed later.

INAN'S TALK. I want to share with you mainly on the first few days of the apparitions. The day was June 24th 1981. It was a Wednesday. That morning I had been to Mass with my family as it was a feast day, John the Baptist. I played a game of football and afterwards went home. I watched a game of netball on TV and at half time went off to get some clothes and then return for the second half of the game. Suddenly I heard someone calling my name from a distance. I ignored it, for a start, but as it kept on I went to see what she wanted. It was Vicka calling me, she said to come and see something. After following for a few minutes I saw this figure of a person, a real person, a woman, but one who was standing on a cloud. I was terrified. I ran home that afternoon so fast that no one could have caught me, and to this day I have never heard the result of the second half of the netball game I had missed! I spoke to no one and locked myself in my room. I was so frightened. At home, at school and in my family no one had ever talked about such things. I had a terrible night, full of fears. Then in the morning when I went out of my room there were members of my family outside my door waiting for me. Someone had told them what I had seen. They warned me against it. We were under communist rule and they felt there would be big trouble. Later in the day the others came........... some of them suggested we go back. I was afraid, terribly afraid. Some people followed us and we saw again the beautiful lady. We asked Her who She was and She said She was Mary, the Mother of God. She asked us to return. She was kind and beautiful and told us not to be frightened. The police began to hear what was happening and they came after us. They blocked all the paths to the mountain. They gave us a terrible time. Mary appeared in different places. One of the girls grandmothers gave her some holy water. She told her to sprinkle it on the apparition. She said that if the person was Mary she would stay but if it was the devil he would flee. The Lady just smiled when the holy water was sprinkled. Ivan also told us about the messages of Mary, I will include these briefly at the end of this witness. You will also be able to read all about this in next months NEW ZEALANDIA, it is going to run an article. You can also get books. Ivan said at Marcellin Hall grounds that Our Lady was going to appear to him that night at 20 minutes to seven, wherever he was at that time. That made me keen to go to St Patrick' Cathedral as there was to be prayer and Mass there from 6pm 'til 9pm. I got a place near the Blessed Sacrament Chapel as that was where I heard Ivan would be waiting.

IN THE CATHEDRAL: A tremendous crowd, people sitting on the altar steps, standing and sitting in the aisles and crowded into the choir loft. Kids too. Just after 6pm Ivan quietly slipped into the side chapel and stayed there 'til about 9pm. His translater was with him and a few other selected people were allowed in. I wasn't one of them! At 20 to seven the Franciscan priest told us to pray quietly and present our petitions to Mary to take to Her Son. I could not see any light or sign of Mary's presence in the chapel but I did hear a rumble about that time. It might have been a sign but it might have been an ordinary noise. I prayed quietly. At 7pm I noticed people quietly slipping outside from where I was in the left hand side of the church, up near the front. At first I didn't go as Mass was expected to start fairly soon. The I thought 'go out and take a peep, come back in if there's nothing of interest."

THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN: About 40 or 50 people were outside looking up into the sky. I looked up and saw what appeared to be a very beautiful sunset but it was high up in the sky, but not right up. The sun was a beautiful golden colour, and I thought 'it is beautiful, but I've seen it beautiful before.' Then it changed. It became almost pure white, and I could see a picture of a bird on it with wings outstretched as if in flight. It was a shadow outline. Then it went pure white again, but soon after I saw another picture, like that of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus' head was on the extreme left side and drooping. I thought 'I can't remember seeing a crucifix like that - usually the head is to the right.' This was again a shadow outline. Then it went white again, then the picture, then pure white.... Like this for two or three minutes. Someone called out "look at the dove! Isn't it wonderful!" I was just in time to see it. I thought all was over but it wasn't. The sun moved behind the clouds to the left and then re-emerged brighter than ever. Then it began to pulsate as if breathing in and out. That was amazing, but not as amazing as when it began to change colour! It turned the most brilliant blue colour and then a magnificent kind of emerald green, also a deep brilliant purple, with a pink outline at times. It almost looked as if it was going to come out of the sky! The colours were just so beautiful I can't describe them... and this was against a background of golden light and white clouds beyond this. Then the sun began to spin at incredible speed, round and round and incredibly fast. Then it would stop and begin to pulsate, changing colours and the actions every minute or so. At one stage the sun turned back to the bright golden colour and began to move forward in about six movements, like in bounds, and I thought it was going to come right down to the ground where we were, but it returned to its former place in the sky, the way it came. Towards the end of the colour changes the sun was the brilliant, shimmering green again, and out from both sides was a beautiful pink colour in a kind of triangular shape. I looked back at the people and their faces were brick red from the light. Then Leon Le Grand from Australia who had financed the trip, and who had had a conversion experience at Medjugorje some years before, came out and told us that Mass had started and to go in. People wanted to continue watching so he got quite annoyed as he encouraged us to go back into the Cathedral. He reminded me of a sheep farmer without a dog, as he tried to shoo us back in. He told us Mary wouldn't be pleased if we didn't go to Mass, buy Mary didn't stop the sun's actions. It also made me think of St Peter and the apostles trying to chase the children and mothers away from Jesus. When I did go back into the church I was laughing to myself as I thought these thoughts. I was also filled with a very deep joy. It made me think of Jesus' words "and no one will be able to take away your joy." Mary said (Ivan told us this) that She did not want us to be frightened by the apparitions, but She wants us to take seriously Her requests. Mary said She was sent by Her Son Jesus to help us. His words were "I am coming because My Son sends me to help you. The world is in great danger of self-destruction. I want to lead you to new times, to prepare you for the new times. You can start right now". Ivan said his trip to New Zealand and Australia was a mission of peace. When Our Lady first appeared She offered Herself as Queen of Peace.

SOME SAYINGS I WROTE DOWN THAT EVENING:

My Son wants to renew the world, to bring more joy, more peace.

I love you and ask you to give this love to others.

See others with the life of Jesus, with His love.

The visionaries said: She loves us, and it is so beautiful to be loved by Mary. It is impossible to describe.

They said you have to experience it to know it, She loves us, She sees us with different eyes.

Once one of them said to Her: "You are so beautiful." She answered "I am beautiful because I love."

Accept the Gospel and live it, put it in the first place in your lives, be converted, exclude sin and evil from your lives, turn to God every day. When you pray think of what you say, pray with the heart, have a true dialogue with God. It will be spiritual nourishment.

"I come as a Mother, as Mother of you all."

Mary has come to solidify our faith: "If you are weak the Church is weak." A call to renew the Church.

In a special way young people are called to stop, and to look where they are going.

"I want families to pray together. I want every family to be a prayer group. I want to renew families and to be renewed they need to spend time together, to pray together. Make a path in your hearts for peace, there is lack of peace in individuals, in families, in communities. Peace is a gift. You are called to be Missionaries of Peace, to bring peace to others, you know how to get that peace."

SIX SPECIAL MESSAGES: Prayer, strong faith, conversion, peace, fasting (2 days a week on bread and water - if you are sick substitute prayer and penance), penance.

MARY'S MESSAGE TO IVAN SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE CATHEDRAL (I didn't get it all): Praised be Jesus. My dear child, Ivan said Mary came with great joy. She prayed a long time with arms outstretched for our intentions. When She left She turned towards us and blessed us with extended hands and sais "Go in Peace My children."

ROSEMARY BLACKIE

30 DUEXBERRY AVE

NORTHCOTE

PH: 4182205

I was unable to get to the Cathedral on Saturday evening as early as I would have like to so I missed the miracles of the sun that every one was talking about, and my sons saw. All the following day, Sunday, when Our Lady was appearing in Palmerston North I was praying that I could just see the miracle of the sun. I was at work at North Shore Hospital on Sunday evening and kept looking out the window in the hope of seeing the sun set. The sun was hidden. "Never mind, I really didn't need to see the miracle, I believe anyway" I was saying to Our Lady. I was driving home about 7.50pm praising the Lord for the miracle that had happened with a patient and how I had the chance to witness the Lord's love for her, when I saw the sun setting. I pulled straight over and could hardly believe the size of the sun. It was huge, much bigger than normal. It was pulsating in the sky. Quick, what shall I do? Just sit there and watch or race home and get Alan and Dominic and be back within three minutes? Rush home, everyone needs to see this. I was back within three minutes. It was just amazing, pulsating in the sky and changing colours from deep red to light pink then deeper red then pink, changing all the time. The outside of the sun had a gold band around it and then it was silver and then gold again. I was telling Alan and Dominic what I was seeing, they were seeing something but not as vividly as I was. I sensed Our Lady saying "This is for you" so I became very calm and stopped speaking. Then I saw the sun very deep pink red, divide in half, and on either side two hearts formed. They were pulsating as one but they were two separate hearts. I sensed deep in my spirit Our Lady saying "do you understand My messages about praying and fasting? Praying and fasting can change the worlds problems. Don't be lukewarm." Then the sun set. I wanted to find another higher point but we came home. I have this memory with me forever.

ANN WILSON

TE ATATU SOUTH

AUCKLAND

At about 6.50pm I noticed many of the congregation leaving their pews and filing outside by the side door of the Cathedral. Thinking that there was a blessing outside before Mass I followed. Outside the crowd was looking up at the sky, or what I thought was something on the roof of the Cathedral. Someone said to me "Look up there at the sun." I replied that I couldn't because the sun would blind me. Nevertheless I looked up and with amazement I saw the sun spinning almost directly overhead. As I watched it took the form of a host, then it started to pulse and come down towards us. Around the sun came the most beautiful crystal rose and violet coloured veil spreading out and down over the crowd. I was very aware that Our Lady was in our midst and I was filled with Her love. Inside the Cathedral a radiant light surrounded the altar, far more pure than any sunlight. A Divine presence was very evident. This was a time of very special grace for us all.

MARIE BURNETT

31 CLIFTON RD

TAKAPUNA

PH: 4897766

When I first learned that one of the Medjugorje visionaries was going to visit Auckland I was determined to go and see and hear as much as I could. I managed to get to Marcellin Hall on 6th February with two of my friends. We sat on the grass and listened and prayed the rosary, we did not see the colours in the sky, but I was not too disappointed because I knew the Mass was still to come. We arrived at St Patrick's at 5.45pm, my husband and I and out four children. The church was already full to overflowing and my heart sank a little because I thought of our younger children aged 9 and 4 and wondered how they would last the distance sitting on the floor. We found a place to sit near the sacristy under the crucifix on the floor. There were people everywhere and more and more kept coming. Our little ones went to sit on the steps of the altar where some of our friends were sitting. Soon it seemed that every available space on the floor was taken. It was warm but a wonderful atmosphere was there, perhaps an air of expectation. I knew that I was certainly very excited. We began the rosary, I found it difficult to concentrate. I thought Ivan at the special time would come up on the altar while the apparition took place. At about 6.25 Leon Le Grand came up to me and my two older daughters and asked us to follow him. He led us around the corner into a little room near the sacristy. I'm afraid it took me a little while to realise what was happening. We had been asked to be part of the group in the room where Our Lady was to appear! When this finally dawned on me I was completely overcome. I had finished a novena to Our Lady a few days before because I felt somehow I wanted to see Ivan and perhaps talk to him. Out two daughters have an incurable eye disease and I and many others have been praying for them for over a year now. I know this was a special blessing from God, that my girls and I were allowed to be part of that group. A deep sense of gratitude to Our Father in heaven overwhelmed me. I was shaken, trembling, quite unable to say anything to Our Lady. Stunned into silence! The apparition took place, Ivan got up, smiled at me and we were ushered out. The rosary began again and finished. I saw my husband get up and go outside, so were a lot of other people. It was very warm and I thought they were going out for fresh air. Andrew came back in and beckoned us out. When we got outside there were many people gazing at the sun. It took me several seconds to get used to the light. The sun was dancing! It was changing colour from pink to purple to green. It was spinning and pulsating! It was as if Our Father in heaven was playing with His children. Amusing them just for the fun of it. It was indescribably beautiful! We were bathed in a pink glow and all the children were greatly excited.. My two friends who had come with me to Marcellin Hall, their husbands and children, also saw the sun dancing. We went in for Mass. At the end of it, after Ivan had spoken, it was nearly 9 o'clock. We had been there for nearly three hours. People were filled with joy, talking and laughing afterwards. I felt a deep urge to pray the rosary to do as much as I could to help Our Lady in Her cause. I still do. I have no fear of the future, I know Our Father loves us.

ROSEANNE OATES

1/7 HARLSTON ROAD

MT ALBERT

AUCKLAND 3

After listening to you on 1YA (Alan O'Brien who promoted the event in Auckland) this morning I feel compelled to write to you about our experience with 1,000 or so others on that beautiful sunny afternoon on 6th February at Marcellin Hall. The meeting was in progress and we could not help but be part of the exciting 'ripple' that went through the crowd as each and every one of those present looked up at the small bank of clouds above eye level, to see a large shimmering area of pink, blue and green hovering in the middle of the cloud, elongated in shape. As it was such a bright sunny day in no way could it have been a rainbow, the seven colours were not present, nor the defined outline. Probably lasted four to five minutes. My 38 year old daughter and I feel very strongly that it was a vision sent to all of us who were present that day, and we feel very privileged and humbled to be part of that 1,000. It could be said that it was the most dramatic experience of my life, and certainly my daughter seems to be more at peace with herself. God Bless you all.

HILARY SHACKLETON

17 GEORGE ST

KINGSLAND

AUCKLAND

PH: 6305486

I heard you talking on the radio (Alan again) this morning about Medjugorje and what happened at Marcellin Hall during the outdoor gathering there. As the programme began the sky in the North over Marcellin College was coloured with an iridescent band over the mackerel clouds. It was not a rainbow, it was nothing I have ever seen before. It lasted 10 to 15 minutes.

EMMET T. MALONEY

24a MOORE ST

BIRKENHEAD

AUCKLAND

This is to testify that I witnessed the herein phenomenon while assembled with a large group of citizens at Marcellin Hall grounds in Auckland, on the occasion of the visit by Father Slavko Barbaric OFM and the visionary from Medjugorje (Ivan) on the afternoon of Saturday 6th February 1993. On gazing skywards I observed an unusual cloud formation associated with a variety of colours (more than in a rainbow) which formed vertical lines in vivid display, the like of which I have not witnessed during my 65 years on this planet. The phenomenon lasted several minutes and prompted excited comments and gasps from the large crowd present.

MRS ANGELA NIUMATA

21 HIGHLAND RD

MT ALBERT

AUCKLAND

Details of two unusual sights on 6th February 1993. I was walking into Marcellin Hall grounds at exactly 1pm in the afternoon to hear Ivan and Father Slavko speak. I had two or three people I was with, Veona Trishon, Mary Gould and Julie Valante. We all saw the coloured clouds as we were walking up the driveway, and as I had dark glasses on I thought the colours were more vivid. I tried taking the dark glasses off and then I thought the colours were more faded looking so I put them on again and the colours were more colourful. We saw it for only about 4 or 5 minutes. I believe it was a sign of Our lady being there that day. At the Mass in the evening I took a friend with me, she was blind. As we were a bit late arriving we could only get one chair for my friend in the back recess of the church near the foyer. We were near the loud speaker. At 6.40pm when I knew Ivan would be having his meeting with Our Lady I walked outside. My friend stayed inside on the chair. I saw Colleen and Phil. Colleen was looking up to the sky. She said (she was excited) "come and see the sky! Look at the colours!" She had her hand up to shield her eyes. Phil and I went over to where she was standing. I could not look at the sun at first. I said to Colleen "it hurts my eyes." I was wishing afterwards that I had my dark glasses on but they were probably in the car. Anyway, I looked again, and then I could look, shielding my eyes with my hand, trying to get some shade. I remember seeing the sun pulsate and after that the colours surrounding the sun, clouds, green, yellow, pink. Unfortunately it stopped. A cloud seemed to come over the sun at the time and there was no more colour. I gave up and went back inside to see if Mass was starting. I assess my time outside as not being more than a few minutes, perhaps five minutes. I did not go outside again at that time.

MARY KNIGHT

52 WILLIAMSON AVE

BELMONT

AUCKLAND

Having been to Marcellin Hall in the afternoon and experienced a peaceful and prayerful time I decided to take my family to the prayers and Mass at the Cathedral. Somewhere around 7pm we noticed people wandering in and out of the Cathedral and on going outside we noticed people were looking up at the sky. I said to my children that you can't stare at the sun as it is dangerous, but somehow we were compelled to do so. After a few seconds of resistance from my eyes I witnessed the sun moving in a most spectacular manner. It appeared to be spinning very rapidly and pulsating and looked as though it were coming closer. The centre looked like a solid white circle with bright colours around the edge. The experience was exciting and not at all frightening. My 13 and 15 year old son and daughter were so amazed that when they came home they rand Radio Pacific talkback where they received fairly cynical treatment from Piere Beautrais, but he did admit to hearing tremendous elation in my daughters voice. My husband came out of the Cathedral a little after us and did not see so much but he said there was a lot of colour around the sun. By this time Mass was underway in the Cathedral

JIM HOLLAND

17 CLEVE RD

GREEN BAY

AUCKLAND

PH: 8273949

My wife and I who are Orthodox Christians arrived at the venue at ten to one on Saturday 6th February and sat down on the grass under the shade of a large tree. Almost immediately I received inner indication that suggested to me that the occasion was a specially holy one. After about 5 minutes someone called out "look at the rainbow!" We looked up at the sky. It was not a rainbow. My wife and I saw a beautiful patch of colour in the clouds. Now I am not unfamiliar with meteorlogical phenomena, for as a mariner, I used to see a great deal of Aurora Borealis and also once, St Elmo's fire. But this phenomena I have never seen before. There was no rain, this was no rainbow. The priest at the microphone said "look at the clouds, the Holy Mother is showing Her thanks for us coming here this afternoon." It was noticeable that this unusual phenomenon was taken very peacefully by the assembled crowd. There was no emotional or charismatic activity. My wife and I felt peaceful about it ourselves and were disinclined to run out from under the tree to see the full extent of the colours in the clouds. The impact of it really came later when we read a book about Medjugorje and which said the 'luminary phenomena' were common there.

MIRIAM HOLLAND

17 CLEVE RD

GREEN BAY

AUCKLAND

PH: 8273949

My husband heard from a friend in Australia of the visit of Father Slavko Barbaric and the visionary Ivan Dragicevic to New Zealand. He checked with Alan O'Brien who told us about the 1pm meeting at Marcellin Hall. It was a perfect, still, sunny day and we were directed to a large sloping lawn with beautiful trees. A microphone had been set up on the verandah of the house below us. As the organisers were explaining to us the programme of hymns and the rosary, someone said quietly to her neighbour "look at the clouds". I looked up and there on a fluffy white cloud was a large splash of iridescent green, and on another cloud nearby, a large splash of pink. Both my husband and I sat transfixed and nobody rushed forward to get a better view. Then the voice on the microphone said that the Mother of God was thanking us for holding these prayers for peace in Yugoslavia. All the afternoon and until now the wonderful reassurance of that experience has stayed with me, that the Mother of God is with us when we pray. I wish I could put into words what it has meant to me.

J.S. DOYLE

62 KARAKA ST

TAKAPUNA

AUCKLAND

PH: 4866299

On 6th February 1993 I arrived at Marcellin Hall about 11am to help prepare things for the arrival of father Slavko Barbaric of Medjugorje, Ivan Dragicevic (Medjugorje visionary) and Milona von Hapsburg (interpreter). At approximately 12.55pm while I was setting up table for one of the book stalls I glanced out of the rear doors of the gymnasium and noticed two or three people pointing up towards the sky. I didn't take much notice at first but a moment or two later I looked again and this time there were more people from the crowd pointing and looking. I decided to go and have a look myself. What I saw was a beautiful array of colours strewn across the sky over Marcellin College grounds. Green, yellow, blue, pink. Most prominent in my mind are the rays of pink and the patches of turquoise green. The beautiful green colour especially. It seemed to shimmer. This happened approximately 15 to 20 minutes before the people from Medjugorje arrived. My daughter arrived with her boyfriend about half an hour after all this had happened. I told her all we had seen and needless to say she was disappointed she missed it. Father Babaric's talk about Ivan Dragicevic's story on the first apparition at Medjugorje was very inspiring indeed. That evening I went to St Patrick's Cathedral in the city where there was to be a Mass at 6 o'clock and Ivan was to tell his story once again to the people there. I had arranged to meet my daughter at St Patrick's as we ahd enjoyed the gathering at Marcellin Hall so much. The church was packed when I arrived and I gave up on the idea of trying to find a seat so I remained standing at the back of the church. I couldn't see my daughter anywhere because of the large crowd. After the rosary, Mass and concluding hymns one of the priests gave thanks on behalf of us all for the sun miracle that had occurred earlier in the evening. It was the first I had heard of it and out of curiosity I turned around and asked a young man behind me if by chance he had seen anything. He said he had and that the sun was shifting, pulsating, and beautiful colours were coming from it. He also mentioned he'd been to Marcellin Hall earlier in the day and described what I had seen. I couldn't find my daughter and thought that perhaps she didn't make it to St Patrick's after all. In my excitement I rushed home to tell my wife and my family about the events of the day. Later on when my daughter arrived home I was about to tell her that she'd missed out again but before I could get it out she told me that she was with the crowd of people who witnessed the sun spinning, changing colours and shifting in the sky outside St Patrick's Cathedral.

TONI DOYLE

62 KARAKA ST

TAKAPUNA

AUCKLAND

PH: 4866299

My father had mentioned to me that one of the visionaries from Medjugorje was to come to New Zealand and speak at Marcellin Hall in early February about the Medjugorje experience. Dad had often spoked to us of the happenings there and invited us to come along. The opportunity to hear one of the visionaries first hand was an occasion I didn't want to miss. Dad went to Marcellin Hall two hours before the meeting started to help set things up. There was a bit of misunderstanding about the starting time and consequently my boyfriend David and I were about 20 minutes late. We also had a bit of trouble finding Marcellin Hall and ended up at the Latter Day Saints church down the road. Needless to say the people in the church were a bit bewildered when we rushed in looking for the visionary from Medjugorje. They kindly pointed us in the right direction for Marcellin Hall. When we arrived everyone was up to the last decade of the rosary so we found my dad and joined in. After the rosary was said dad asked me if we had heard what had happened there a short time before. Dad and many others there had evidently seen a luminary phenomenon of some kind made up of various colours in the sky. Both David and I were disappointed that we had missed this but it was a beautiful day and we had Ivan to look forward to. Father Slavko Barbaric came out and spoke to us which was most enjoyable and then Ivan came to speak of his experiences. Dad had told us the story of what happened and what is still happening at Medjugorje, but to hear Ivan with the help of his interpreter helped make me realise just how real and important the messages from Mary are. It also helped me to see just how much Mary must care for us and how much Our Father loves us. It also helps to see that Ivan was just as human as the rest of us. Father Slavko Barbaric came and spoke to us again after which David and I left to meet up later with my father at St Patrick's Cathedral. Mass started at 6pm. The church was so crowded that we didn't have a chance of finding my dad. People were everywhere, sitting in the isles, standing. The church was jam packed. It was when we were singing that both David and I noticed some people were leaving the church's side entrance and going outside. David and I carried on singing but noticed more people heading outside. David commented to me that something was going on out there and we should take a look. David went out to see what was happening and then came back inside a few minutes later. He said the sun was doing crazy things. David went out for a second time. This time I went out with him. Outside I looked up at the sun which was really bright at first but then it was like there was something in front of it. You could see the sun behind it flashing. David saw what he described as the Eucharist in front of the sun.The Eucharist seemed three dimensional and there was what looked like a path going back getting smaller and smaller. The sun was spinning and flashing. I also saw the sky go completely pink in colour. It was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. Both David and I decided to go back inside the church and sing to our hearts content. It was an experience I will remember always.

DAVID NERU

/11 DUNBAR RD

BALMORAL

AUCKLAND

PH: 6304854

While I was in the church with Toni I noticed people walking in and out of the side entrance. There was some sort of activity going on outside. I was a little curious and asked Toni if we should go outside and have a look as well. She suggested that I go while she remained in the church. As I walked outside I saw a crowd of people looking up towards the sun. I looked up and saw something blocking and spinning in front of the sun. It looked to me like a host. While I was looking I noticed the sky open behind the sun. It was like a green channel heading upwards and to the right. It looked very distant and deep. There were clouds, very small, that seemed to make up a stairway or garden pathway. The second time I looked, three or four minutes later, the spinning object had gone but the sun was pulsing and the channel was slowly disappearing.

PHIL O"CONNOR

7 RIVERVIEW RD

PANMURE

AUCKLAND

PH: 5277633

Our Lady's kiss. On Saturday 6th February 1993 I was present at both the afternoon talk by Ivan and Father Slavko at Marcellin Hall and in the evening outside St Patrick's Cathedral during the prayer for peace tour. As our fourth child had been born only a week previously my wife (Janice) and I decided to split shifts. I would go to Marcellin Hall while she would attend the evening Mass and I would meet her outside the Cathedral with the baby at 7pm for feeding. At the afternoon talk, however, Ivan had indicated that Our Lady would most likely be appearing to him again that night at 6.40pm the usual time. There had also been such a peaceful prayerful atmosphere that I was determined to be present during the actual time Our Lady would appear. Accordingly I arrived outside the Cathedral at 6.30pm with my sons and saw immediately that it would be impossible to go inside as every doorway was jam packed with people. We set our blanket down on the flagstones outside the main door of St Pat's and joined in with the rosary which was being relayed outside via two large loudspeakers. At this stage the Cathedral courtyard was deserted apart from our little group and a friend if mine, Colleen Bayer, who was walking her little baby up and down, also reciting the rosary. It was very calm and still. At 6.39 precisely, I checked my watch and remembered thinking 'in one minutes time Our Lady will be visiting Ivan somewhere within this church. ' Barely had the thought crossed my mind than Colleen came rushing over saying "Phil, Phil, the sun. Something's happening with the sun!" I remember thinking 'Oh my gosh' and recalling that some people have in fact damaged their eyes looking at the sun in Medjugorje. I also know, however, that the miracle does occur and I have spoken to at least three witnesses of this event, but I didn't really ever imagine that I would see it. I moved rather reluctantly with Colleen to a position between the Cathedral Presbytery and Liston House where the sun was visible at about 35 degrees in the late afternoon. While Colleen was excitedly jumping up and down I took a cautious peek at the sun but felt really that it was too bright and was fearful of damaging my eyes. I looked again, as Colleen was obviously seeing something unusual, but again felt it was too bright. At that point another woman joined us and said quickly "can you see anything?" So, for a third time I glanced out the corner of my eye at this star which for the past 39 years of my life I had been told to never, ever, under any circumstances, look at - and I could see. While bright, the sun was not painful to the eye and appeared as a flat white disc. This disc, slightly.... At the edge was whirling at a tremendous rate and gave the impression of looking down on a spinning top. It also began pulsating very rapidly, appearing near and far, near and far, at the rate of a fast heart beat. I continued looking at the phenomena for 3 to 5 minutes and again thought 'I hope my eyes are OK.' So I left the group of 10 to 12 people and went back to sit with my boys still on the blanket, to check that I could still view things alright. While retaining and after image of sorts I could still see OK and there was no pain or discomfort. Michael (7 years) had now joined the group which was growing bigger and quietly buzzing with excitement. He came running over saying "dad, the sun's green" and then ran back. Still slightly sceptical and fearing for his vision now I returned determined to bring him back if things were the slightest bit doubtful. Again, I looked at the sun and as before there was no doubt that what we were seeing was an extraordinary occurrence. The whirling, spinning, pulsating sun was quite viewable and seemed to be skipping in and out of the clouds as we watched. Being in no doubt now, I continued watching until 6.55 when I moved around to the grassed area outside the northern transept to meet Janice as arranged. She arrived promptly and with her came my sister Jane (a registered nurse) and Yasmin a non Catholic friend who had come along. And now the sun really began to perform. The four of us had our arms around eachother amidst 200 - 300 people. We were laughing, excitedly describing aloud what we were seeing to each other. Many people saw beautiful colours of green, yellow, blue, none of which I saw, but the whole area was bathed in a warm golden light, while the sun continued its amazing performance over and over. Our children too, Michael, Steven 5 and Daniel 3 alomg with their five cousins ranging in age from 10 to 4 were laughing and dancing and obviously seeing what we were seeing too. This all continued until 7.20pm when Leon LeGrand ushered everyone back inside the Cathedral pointing out that the Mass is by far the most important event to experience. While not going to the Mass ourselves the children and I did as Leon asked and desisted from looking at the sun further though it was still performing at this point. Has this experience changed me? Has it made any significant difference to my life? My answer has to me no. I believed in the message of Medjugorje from the first time I heard it 5 years ago and I have attempted to live my life along the lines Our Lady is recommending through these apparitions. None of this has changed. And yet I know somehow that I have been kissed by Mary. We were part of that wonderful day. It's nice to remember when things get tough.

YASMIN GIBSON

22 RIVERVIEW RD

PANMURE

AUCKLAND

On Saturday 6th February I went with Janice O'Connor and Jane Hudson to the Medjugorje Mass and talk. I had read Medjugorje the Message by Wayne Weible and thought it would be interesting to hear Ivan Dragicevic speak. The church was very crowded so we sat on the floor in the aisle to the left of the altar. I was near a boy of about 9 years old and was watching his fingers move around the rosary beads during the saying of the rosary. Not being a Catholic I was fascinated to see how the beads fitted in with what was being said. Shortly before 7pm I started thinking to myself 'nothing is going to happen here'. The boy went outside and when he came back he said to a relative that there was a bright light outside. People started leaving the church. I didn't initially but felt I wanted to. Eventually Jane came inside and said to come outside and see the sun, it is doing some crazy things. I went outside. The light was very bright and I thought this won't be good for my eyes if I look at it. I wanted to look so I shielded my eyes with my arm. I saw a very round bright sun with pink and yellow hues around it. The sun was moving in and out from behind a cloud, and up and down. At one stage it was like a green beach ball spinning round and round very fast. I kept watching and said to Janice "I feel sorry for all those people in the church who have come here to see this and are missing it all." People were standing around saying what a miracle it was, some were crying with joy. As the light bathed us all I thought to myself how lucky I was to see this event. I had no reason to believe that this could happen to the sun but I definitely saw this phenomenon.

MAUREEN FITZGERALD

2 NETTLINGHAM PLACE

TE PUKE

In the afternoon I went to Marcellin grounds with my son and daughter. Just as the afternoon proceedings were about to start (I think it was 1 o'clock it started, actually a little after) a couple of gusts of wind whipped around us shortly after 1 o'clock. Friends from Te Puke moved over towards us and came to sit by us. My son stood up and was looking at the sky and down in front of us people were standing up and looking up to the sky. I asked him what it was and he said a rainbow. I didn't get up as my friends were talking to me. I regret this now but I could see the end of it from where I was sitting. It was brilliant. It seemed to sparkle. It had the effect of looking through one of those kaleidoscopes that children have. The colours mingled and sparkled. I mentioned to my son that it was a sign of God's covenant with man. I pointed it out to my friends, the man said "oh yes". They later said, however, that they hadn't seen it but they remembered that I had told a Father Green from Auckland who had given them a lift to their hotel that I had seen it as he had too. I never gave much importance to it at the time but did comment on the fact that it happened just as the meeting had started. As we talked about the events of the day later the real significance of it came to us all. We had lots of little wonderful things happen to us that day even before we left Te Puke. In the evening my son stayed at home to mind the children and his wife came with my daughter and I to St Patrick's. We were late so we sat in the aisle. At just before 20 to 7 people started moving about the church and going to the left of the church. The priests had just come out to say Mass so on an impulse we rushed, and feeling a little guilty, I must say, at passing the priests walking to say Mass, as we got to the door we just knew it was the miracle of the sun. I saw a beautiful pink cloud behind the sun, it was something like the pink in some sunsets, or an aura. The sun looked smaller than usual, in fact when I was relating it to my son later, I called it the moon. The centre was like a Sacred Host, it moved away from the sun down towards me and back up, but it didn't completely ever cover the sun. It was easy to see the host was separate from the sun. The peace and joy I felt I can't describe. I had recently had an operation on my left eye but was able to watch the sun without any difficulty at all. Needless to say we didn't get to bed that night until after midnight. My son and his wife saw it repeated the following evening at 20 to 7 at their home. I must also say we, my daughter-in-law and I, were not aware that the vision was taking place when we went out to look at the sun. I thought it happened at 20 to 7 in the mornings. My daughter thought it was in the evening but said I had almost convinced her she was wrong. Of course we all realised, once this had happened, that it was at the time of the vision. I am a hopeless letter writer but love to share this wonderful experienceof God's love and power. I hope this is of some help.

GABRIELLE FITZGERALD

2 NETTINGHAM PLACE

TE PUKE

My name is Gabrielle Fitzgerald. I am 25 years old. I am writing to tell you about my Medjugorje experience in Auckland on Saturday 6th February 1993. With God's help I would like to remember this day forever. Firstly, having arrived in Auckland for this experience was a small miracle in itself. The same weekend I was supposed to attend a reunion with a group of people I had met at Outward Bound. Si I had a small fight with my conscience and decided that going to Auckland would benefit me more (little did I know how much!). At Marcellin Hall on the Saturday just before the afternoon function began my mother pointed out to me a rainbow over the venue site and stated that it was God's covenant with us. I did notice that the bands of the rainbow were quite thick and appeared to go straight across the sky, but to be honest, I didn't connect it to anything. I enjoyed my afternoon while at the same time I felt a little disappointed to have just missed out on shaking Ivan's hand. The same evening I attended Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. I arrived with my mother and sister-in-law. We were late to the church and the only space we could find was in the centre aisle. Just before Mass started the people who were sitting in the aisle started moving out of the side entrance to the left of the church. I did not know why they were moving out of the church but I decided that I did not want to miss out a second time , so I followed them out. Before I reached the exit I noticed people returning to their seats crying or exuberant. Outside I automatically looked up into the sky. I noticed the sun was quite bright but it was not difficult to look at. From the centre of this brightness came a light that I identified as the shape of a host. This host sat in the centre of a cloud that went from a bright blue colour to a soft pink within minutes. The feeling of God's presence that came with these happenings was very strong and convincing. I smiled all the way back into the church and thanked God particularly because my mother also saw this ( she always had wanted to go to Medjugorje, Lourdes or Fatima) and she didn't have to leave New Zealand for her blessing. I felt wonderful throughout the rest of the evening. And we talked late into the night, or should I say early morning, about what we had seen. It was during this time that I thought about the rainbow and became aware that it had not rained at any stage since arriving in Auckland the day before. I had not realised that there was also a Medjugorje experience the following day at Palmerston North. This was where I was supposed to have gone to the reunion for Outward Bound. I feel I was supposed to go to Auckland and I'm thrilled that I did. I hope and pray that from this experience that I take notice of Our Lady's message in Medjugorje.

SISTER ANGELA McARTHUR

ST JOSEPH'S CONVENT

WILLOUGHBY ST

PAEROA

With four others from this parish (more really I think) I was able to participate in the wonderfully 'electric' prayerful gathering at Marcellin Hall. I was privileged to see the 'out of this world' colours in the sky at 1pm. I must admit I felt extremely humbled and awestruck and wept for a long time. Experiencing such a closeness to Mary never known before. We were all delighted with the guest speakers and the messages they gave. (Since then I've managed to say three rosaries a day, usually, and make my chief prayer priority that of seeking peace within myself, my dealings with others and then, the wider world). That evening back in our chapel here I sat 'caught up' in the magnificently coloured sky and prayed yet another rosary, wondering what was happening at St Patrick's Cathedral. Next afternoon, Sunday 4pm, I was again in the chapel going over these strange but wonderful events, and praying that I could find out about the previous night when the visitor at the front door turned out to be a long lost cousin (whom I've seen only twice in the last 40 years!). She was returning to her Te Puke farm and had been to all the events re Mary in Auckland. So we chatted and shared (in the chapel - our Convent is small) until 6pm, and even then she stayed on 'full of the occasion' unt