Center for Peace West

We conduct pilgrimages to medjugorje, a catholic shrine located in bosnia- herzegovenia. We arrange for ground transportation, lodging/meals and a local english-speaking guide. We provide an experienced coordinator to accompany the pilgrims, as well as a catholic priest to offer spiritual direction (when available). During 2023, twenty-eight (28) people joined our march pilgrimage, which was accompanyied by our coordinator and a catholic priest. We are expecting a much larger group for our april 2024 pilgrimage. During 2023 we received advance deposits from pilgrims totaling 110,547 and made advance payments of 35,304 toward airfare for this pilgrimage. The total income and expenses will be recorded in 2024 when the actual pilgrimage is conducted.

Humanitarian aid: the croatian parish of medjugorje is situated in bosnia-herzegovina. The communists took over the area during world war ii, until the bosnian war in the 1990's when the croatian people gained their independence. Many lives were lost during the war, leaving orphans and others without food or shelter. An orphanage named majcino selo (mother's village) was soon organized to shelter and provide for the children. During 2023 Center for Peace West provided 1,000 in financial aid to this organization. In 2016 a local humanitarian aid organization named marijine ruke (mary's hands) was founded with the goal of helping the poor and all people who are in need. During 2023 Center for Peace West provided 1,000 in financial aid to this organization.

We publish information about medjugorje and the catholic church in a bi- monthly newsletter. We distribute it in bulk to churches and other religious organizations, and mail it to our list of individual subscribers. We publish the monthly message from medjugorje on our website at www.centerforpeacewest.com, on our facebook page at wwwfacebookcomcenterforpeacewest and email it to our list of individual subscribers. We publish and distribute various pamphlets with information about medjugorje and other catholic religious information.

Gift shop (expenses 936, revenue 2,300): we acquire books, videos, and religious articles directly from medjugorje and offer them for sale to the public. Many other medjugorje items are offered for free. Proceeds are used to buy more medjugorje items and to support our newsletter distribution activities. Annual Peace mass (expenses 159, revenue -0- ): we organize and host a Peace mass at a local parish on or near june 25th each year. A catholic bishop and multiple priests usually concelebrate the mass. Participants are invited to a reception following the mass, where refreshments are served and medjugorje information, photos and religious articles are displayed. Participants of previous medjugorje pilgrimages reunite to reminisce and extend their friendships.