Međugorje’s Križevac to be replicated in Gabon
By Tomislav Kvesić

The words of peace, comfort and hope are often more precious to each man than all earthly goods. Only a man strong in spirit can conquer all obstacles he meets in his life. Strongly aware of this is His Excellency Bishop Jean-Vincent (known also by his African name, Ondo Eyene), whose episcopal diocese is in the northern part of the African state of Gabon, close to Equatorial Guinea.

Gabon is located in the western part of Central Africa. It is a large country in area alone –­- almost half the size of France -­- but it has only 2,2 million in population, with about 70% of them Roman Catholics.

We found Bishop Jean-Vincent in the Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Međugorje, where he had come for the fifth time for spiritual invigoration. In conversation with him we discovered that in his diocese in Gabon, a large centre for spiritual renewal is being built.

The spiritual centre

His Excellency points out that the spiritual centre is of great significance for his bishopric, and equally so for the population of nearby Equatorial Guinea and southern Cameroon. All these people speak a common language and many would attend this new centre.

‘’I have felt that our people are in great need of spiritual renewal. The faith is really alive in my bishopric and the friary call is highly represented, although not still enough. Therefore priests keep coming from Europe, especially from The Netherlands. I saw the faithful coming to Mass on Sundays, going back to their homes, and returning to Holy Mass, and I realised that people needed something more besides the church and the Sunday Mass. Therefore we came upon the idea of constructing the spiritual centre,’’ says Bishop Jean-Vincent. ‘’People will be able to come to the centre for a few days and attend the programmes of spiritual renewal.’’ Soon after the idea was formed, construction started.

‘’The walls have been built, and the clear shape of the centre can be seen. We are close to finishing the large conference hall, and near to constructing the roof’’’ declared His Excellency.

But with the economic situation in Gabon uncertain, the work on the completion of the spiritual centre has been delayed somewhat significantly. Any form of help in the construction is necessary and would be very welcome.
Bishop Jean-Vincent spoke to Medugorgje seer Marija Lunetti-Pavlović about ways of finding the resources for continuing the building work after the completion of the centre, and they came around to the idea of appealing to the public for help through the media.

Yet the link to Međugorje does not stop there. There is a plan to build a replica of the Hill of Križevac above Međugorje on one of the hills adjacent to the centre. For the time being it is all just at the idea stage, but Bishop Jean-Vincent says he would like the stations of the Way of the Cross to be mounted on their hill, identical to those on Križevac, as well as the Cross on the top. The identical piece of art should be made by the Italian artist, Carmello Puzzollo, who made the Cross at Križevac, but no contact has been made with him yet. It is the wish of the Bishop to complete the spiritual centre first, and then to start the construction of the Križevac replica.

The full article can be found on pages 32-33 of Vol 3
2007 issue.