English
Some 650 years ago, when there was a drought in the eastern area of the Kingdom of Slavonia (now eastern Croatia), the Blessed Mother appeared and asked for a drink of water from a dry well. When the bucket was lowered and water came forth, the people knew it was a miracle.
Today this well of saving water is venerated as a place of an apparition of Mary Immaculate. The well is in an oak tree forest by the small town of Sumnovci where devotion to Mary has continued down through the centuries.
The Miraculous Medal Association of Croatia made a pilgrimage to this holy land of Mary in May 2022. They promoted it to all pilgrims as “going to the land where Mary waited with open arms”- The Shrine of Our Lady of Sumanovac. Pilgrims came from Osijek, Kapela, and Zepce.
Rev. Ivica Zivic is the pastor of this sanctuary and was happy to welcome the pilgrims. And upon arriving, he led them in praying the Rosary. With time for confession, the pilgrims celebrated Mass with him. The religious Sisters of the Miraculous Medal prepared a lunch for all the pilgrims.
After a rest, the pilgrims had adoration to the Blessed Sacrament with prayers and songs and then went to the sight of the apparition. There they prayed the Solemn Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, invoking her love and grace for all. Everyone felt the presence of Mary at this special site and the quiet and peace of Our Lady of Sumanovac.
Returning home to Zagreb, the bus was filled with prayers, songs, and games about the history and knowledge of Mary’s Miraculous Medal and Sumanovac. As always, they ended the day with our prayer – O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.