St. Ann Catholic Church • Charlotte, North Carolina
Dear Brothers in Christ,
It is my joy to invite you to join me on a grace-filled pilgrimage to Medjugorje — a place many pilgrims have called the closest thing to heaven on earth. On June 24, 1981, six young people from this quaint Croatian village in modern-day Bosnia-Herzegovina reported that the Blessed Virgin Mary had appeared to them, bringing messages of peace and conversion for all people. She continues to appear to this day, and her messages urge all people to turn their hearts back to God and place Him first in their lives and families.
Her messages also provide the instructions for doing exactly that: daily conversion, prayer of the heart, fasting, penance, Mass, monthly Confession, and reading and living out Scripture. Medjugorje is not just a pilgrimage — it is an immersion experience into a rhythm of prayer in a setting steeped in the Lord’s peace.
This is a men’s pilgrimage. That is a deliberate decision, not an incidental one. There is something a man will say on a mountain path to another man that he will not say anywhere else, and something he will finally bring to Confession when he is surrounded by brothers who are doing the same. We will climb Apparition Hill together. We will carry the Cross up Križevac together. We will pray, eat, laugh, and keep silence together for ten days. And we’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy some fraternal camaraderie.
As men of faith, it’s important that we learn to enhance our spiritual leadership through education, service, prayer, and fellowship. This pilgrimage is a 10-day boot camp designed for that very purpose using the particular tools that Medjugorje affords: a mountain and the Mother of God. If you undertake this pilgrimage with the right mindset, you will come home a better husband, a better father, a better son, and a better parishioner. Like so many holy sites, Medjugorje has the power to transform those who make pilgrimage there in faith, hope, and charity.
You do not have to be a parishioner of St. Ann to come. This pilgrimage grew out of our parish, but it is open to the public. If you are a man who has been putting this off, bring a friend, a brother, a son, or your father — and come with us.
Together we will spend six days immersed in the spiritual life of Medjugorje — participating in the daily English Mass at St. James Church, praying on Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain, and experiencing the powerful evening programs of prayer and Eucharistic Adoration that have drawn millions of pilgrims from around the world. We will also enjoy the guidance and leadership of Ann Vucic, a dear friend to me for many years, and an early witness to the Medjugorje apparitions. Born just two miles from Medjugorje, Ann was present with her family in 1981 when the Blessed Mother began appearing to the children, and she has since dedicated her life to sharing that story and encouraging others to grow in love for Our Lady and her Son.
Our days will close along the Dalmatian coast — in Split, Primošten, Trogir, and Dubrovnik — where the beauty of creation and the long Catholic memory of these cities give us room to consider what we have just received before we carry it home to Charlotte.
With more than 30 years of experience, Tekton Ministries guides Catholic pilgrims not as tourists collecting photographs but as seekers encountering the living God. Every detail of this journey is designed to lead you deeper into relationship with Christ through the intercession of His Blessed Mother.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation with churches. It is one of the most ancient spiritual disciplines in the Christian tradition — a physical journey that mirrors the interior journey of the soul toward God. The difference between a tourist and a pilgrim is not the itinerary; it is the posture of the heart.
Medjugorje holds a unique place in the life of the Church today. The Vatican, after an extensive investigation initiated by Pope Benedict XVI, has formally affirmed the abundant spiritual fruits of Medjugorje and granted a nihil obstat, encouraging the faithful to visit. Millions of pilgrims have experienced profound conversions, healings, and a deepened prayer life in this small village where Our Lady continues to call her children home to her Son. The visionaries tell us that no one goes to Medjugorje by accident — you have been invited by the Blessed Mother herself.
Before you leave, write down 3 to 5 specific intentions — a vice you want conquered, a person you need to forgive, a virtue you desperately need. Do not be vague. “Pray for my family” is a start; “Pray for my son’s return to the sacraments” is a pilgrimage intention. Carry these with you to every sacred site, especially to Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain.
Our Lady’s messages consistently call us to five practices: daily prayer (especially the Rosary), fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, monthly Confession, daily Mass, and reading Sacred Scripture. Begin incorporating these into your life before you depart — the pilgrimage will be far more fruitful if you arrive with a heart already turning toward God.
Jet lag, sore feet, rocky trails, early mornings, June heat — these are not inconveniences to complain about. They are small penances to offer for your intentions. The climb up Cross Mountain on bare, rocky terrain is itself a powerful prayer. When something goes wrong, say simply: “Lord, I offer this for my intentions.”
Join Fr. Reid and your brother pilgrims for this seven-session retreat, included with your pilgrimage. It is the single best way to arrive in Medjugorje already prepared to receive.
Our Lady asks for three Rosaries daily in Medjugorje. Begin with one and build up. The Rosary is the prayer of Medjugorje.
Arrive in a state of grace. Schedule Confession before departure and ask for a blessing for your pilgrimage journey.
“By A Different Way: A Catholic Guide to Pilgrim Spirituality” by Fr. Clinton Sensat.As an Amazon Associate, Tekton Ministries earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
The Eucharist celebrated each morning with pilgrims from around the world is the heart of this pilgrimage.
The nightly program of Rosary, Mass, healing prayers, and Adoration is where Medjugorje comes alive. Do not miss it.
The men beside you are not travel companions. They are the Body of Christ on the move — and they will still be beside you in the pew at St. Ann.
Throughout this journey, we will pray for:
Expect up to 5–6 miles (roughly 15,000 steps) of walking per day. This pilgrimage includes the climbs of Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain over rocky, uneven terrain, walking on cobblestone streets in Dubrovnik, Split, and Trogir, and moderate to extensive stairs. Days may begin early and end late, particularly with the evening program in Medjugorje. June in Herzegovina can be hot and dry — hydration matters. Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes with good ankle support are essential. For those unable to make a climb, alternative prayer and quiet time are always available in the village.
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart on our overnight flights to Europe. Meals and drinks are served aloft. Use this time of transition to begin setting your heart on what lies ahead — pray your intentions, begin your Rosary, and ask the Holy Spirit and Our Blessed Mother to open your eyes to what God wishes to show you in this sacred place.
St. James Church in Medjugorje — the spiritual heart of the village
After arriving in Croatia we drive into the beautiful walled city of Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic” — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of medieval walls, terracotta rooftops, and centuries of Catholic heritage. We will celebrate Holy Mass together, our first as a group. Afterwards we have lunch and time for a short visit in the city before departing for Medjugorje.
We cross the international border from Croatia into Bosnia-Herzegovina, and dinner will be waiting for us on arrival at our pansion — our home for the next six nights. As you settle in, take in the peace and stillness that so many pilgrims describe in their first moments in this grace-filled village.
Many of the activities below are subject to availability and weather, and the order may vary. You will always have the option of participating in group activities or spending time on your own.
The Queen of Peace — Our Lady watches over Medjugorje
On our first full day in Medjugorje, our guide, Ann Vucic, will provide a comprehensive orientation about Medjugorje and the apparitions, and give us a brief tour of the area so that we become familiar with everything. Ann is an early witness to the apparitions — born just two miles from Medjugorje, her family had returned from the United States to visit relatives in 1981 and were there when the Blessed Mother began appearing to the children. Hearing of the apparitions, Ann and her family rushed to the site, where she became an eyewitness to the earliest appearances.
Each day here follows a beautiful rhythm of prayer. We will have two meals each day at our pansion — breakfast every morning, and either lunch or dinner depending on the events scheduled that day. There are many restaurants in Medjugorje for those who wish to have a third meal. Across these five days, you will experience:
Celebrated at St. James Church, usually at 10:00 AM, with English-speaking pilgrims from throughout the world.
The nightly program includes the Rosary, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, international Mass for all pilgrims, prayers for healing, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Hear from visionaries, priests, and other locals when possible — firsthand accounts of faith and conversion.
Time for personal reflection, quiet prayer, and browsing the shops — bring back a piece of Medjugorje to your loved ones at home.
Apparition Hill — where Our Lady first appeared to the visionaries
We climb Apparition Hill (Podbrdo), the site where Our Lady first appeared to the six young visionaries on June 24, 1981. The rocky path up the hill is marked with bronze relief plaques depicting the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. At the summit, a statue of the Blessed Mother marks the spot of the first apparition — a place of profound prayer where countless pilgrims have experienced conversion, healing, and deep peace. Bring your intentions and your Rosary.
Cross Mountain (Križevac) — crowned by the cross erected in 1933
We ascend Cross Mountain (Križevac), praying the Stations of the Cross as we climb the steep, rocky path to the summit. A large concrete cross was erected here by the parishioners of Medjugorje in 1933 to commemorate the 1,900th anniversary of Christ’s death and Resurrection, and a relic of the True Cross is embedded within it. The climb is demanding, and the spiritual rewards are immeasurable — many men describe this ascent, made shoulder to shoulder with their brothers, as one of the most powerful hours of their lives. For those unable to make the climb, there is time for personal prayer and reflection in the village below.
St. James Church — where pilgrims from around the world gather in prayer
St. James Church is the spiritual center of Medjugorje. It was built in 1969 — twelve years before the apparitions began — as if Providence knew what was coming. The church hosts the English-language Mass each morning and the powerful international evening program that draws thousands of pilgrims nightly.
The evening program is where Medjugorje truly comes alive: the Rosary prayed in multiple languages, the Sacrament of Reconciliation with confessionals available in many languages, the international Holy Mass, prayers for healing of body and soul, and Eucharistic Adoration. Many pilgrims describe the evening program as the single most transformative experience of their pilgrimage.
Eucharistic Adoration — encountering Christ in the Blessed Sacrament
At the heart of Medjugorje’s spiritual life is Eucharistic Adoration. Our Lady has repeatedly called pilgrims to spend time before her Son in the Blessed Sacrament, and Medjugorje provides abundant opportunity for this. Whether during the evening program or in the quiet daytime hours, time before the Lord in Adoration is where many pilgrims experience the deepest graces of their journey.
Medjugorje is also known as the “Confessional of the World.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available daily in dozens of languages. Many men who have been away from Confession for years — sometimes decades — find the courage here to return. Our Lady asks for monthly Confession as one of her “five stones”; in Medjugorje, the grace to respond to that call is palpable.
The Medjugorje visionaries — witnesses to Our Lady’s ongoing presence
When possible, we will hear talks from visionaries, priests, and other locals — men and women who were here at the beginning, or who have given their lives to this place since. These are not lectures. They are testimonies, told plainly, and they have a way of dismantling the defenses a man brings with him.
Alongside them, allow yourself the gift of unstructured time. Sit in the gardens near the church. Walk the quiet paths around the village. Write in your journal. There is also free time for shopping, so that you can bring back a piece of Medjugorje to your loved ones at home. Let the rhythm of prayer — Mass, Rosary, Adoration, Confession — do its work. Many pilgrims say the graces of Medjugorje arrive in the quiet moments, not only the dramatic ones.
The Franciscan Monastery of Široki Brijeg — hallowed by the blood of martyrs
We visit Široki Brijeg, a Franciscan monastery that is the site of the martyrdom of thirty Franciscan friars during the Second World War. On February 7, 1945, the friars were executed here by Yugoslav Communists for refusing to renounce their faith. When ordered to stomp on their crucifixes, they refused. Their superior is remembered as answering: “You can take our lives, but you cannot take our faith.”
For a group of men, this is the most important stop outside the village. These were ordinary men who were asked one question and gave one answer. Stand in that church long enough to ask yourself what you would have said.
The historic waterfront and Diocletian’s Palace in Split
We spend one last peaceful morning in Medjugorje before departing after lunch for the beautiful city of Split on the Dalmatian coast. Split is one of the oldest cities in the region, with a history stretching back more than 1,700 years.
We begin with a tour of Old Town Split, including a visit to Diocletian’s Palace — one of the best-preserved Roman palaces in the world. It was built by the emperor who persecuted Christians, and was later converted by the faithful into a living city with a cathedral at its center. Few places state the case more plainly: the empire is a ruin men pay to walk through, and the Church is still offering Mass inside it.
The balance of the afternoon is free to explore on your own. We then check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
The old town of Primošten, ringed by the Adriatic on its own small peninsula
This morning we take an excursion to Primošten, famous for its charming old town and stunning coastal views — a fine place for both some beach time and a bit of culture. The old town sits on a small peninsula, and the walk up its stone lanes to the parish church at the summit is short, steep, and worth it.
Alley cafe in Trogir
Time permitting, we will stop in Trogir on our way back to Split. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with remarkably well-preserved medieval architecture, Trogir is ideal for exploring historical sites while enjoying the coastal scenery.
Afterwards we return to our hotel in Split for dinner and overnight.
The historic walled city of Dubrovnik on the Adriatic coast
After breakfast we make our way back toward Dubrovnik. En route we stop in Ston, famous for its European flat oysters, for lunch. Ston is also known for the great defensive wall that climbs the hillside above the town — the longest in Europe after Hadrian’s.
Upon arrival in Dubrovnik we check into our hotel, and the balance of the day is free to explore on your own. This evening we gather at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner — a last night to say out loud what these ten days have done, before we take it home.
We depart early this morning after a wonderful pilgrimage with Our Lady, transferring to the airport for our return flights home.
We return not merely as travelers with photographs, but as pilgrims carrying seeds of grace that will keep bearing fruit in our lives, our marriages, our children, and our parish community at St. Ann. Our Lady’s call to conversion, prayer, fasting, and reconciliation does not end when we leave Medjugorje — it begins anew. The real pilgrimage starts the moment you walk through your own front door.
Expect up to 5–6 miles (roughly 15,000 steps) of walking per day. This pilgrimage includes the climbs of Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain over rocky, uneven terrain, walking on cobblestone streets in Dubrovnik, Split, and Trogir, and moderate to extensive stairs. Days may begin early and end late, particularly with the evening program in Medjugorje. June in Herzegovina can be hot and dry — hydration matters. Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes with good ankle support are essential. For those unable to make a climb, alternative prayer and quiet time are always available in the village.
“To go on pilgrimage really means to step out of ourselves in order to encounter God where he has revealed himself, where his grace has shone with particular splendor and produced rich fruits of conversion and holiness among those who believe.”— Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
| Base cost per person (double occupancy) | $3,905.00 |
| Air taxes & fuel surcharges | $863.53 |
| Total Per Person | $4,768.53 |
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Learn More & EnrollAverage conditions for early June in Croatia & Bosnia-Herzegovina
Dress in layers and plan for sun — a hat, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle are worth their weight. Modest attire is required at all sacred sites (shoulders and knees covered). Sturdy walking shoes with good ankle support are essential: Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain have rough, rocky terrain.
“A tourist looks for souvenirs; a pilgrim looks for seeds of grace. The difference between the two determines whether your trip becomes a dusty photo album or a profound turning point in your life.”— “By A Different Way: A Catholic Guide to Pilgrim Spirituality”
A plain summary of what we will see and do each day. Mass locations are subject to availability and may be adjusted by our Pilgrimage Manager. For the full reflections and photographs, return to the main itinerary.