By Sr. Laurencila, FSSA.
What was planned as a brief 30-hour spiritual stopover became a 63-hour encounter with God’s grace. Bishop Eduardo Kussala, concluding an extensive pastoral journey through Poland and Slovenia, arrived in the holy pilgrimage site of Medjugorje — and found himself unable to leave as quickly as planned.
“Those sacred hours touched my soul in ways words can hardly explain,” the Bishop wrote in a reflection shared with his diocese. “The beauty of this holy place, the peaceful hills, the spirit of prayer flowing gently everywhere, the humility of pilgrims, and the atmosphere of faith and surrender moved me deeply.”
20,000 in Silence: A Sight Never to Be Forgotten
Among all the moments of his pilgrimage, Bishop Kussala singled out one scene as the most profound: more than twenty thousand pilgrims gathered before the Blessed Sacrament in complete silence.
“A multitude larger than many football stadiums, yet quieter than a forest beneath the stars. No movement. No noise. No confusion. Only silence before Jesus Christ,” he wrote. “That silence itself became a homily.”
The Bishop described asking himself interiorly what power could move thousands upon thousands of people to remain so still and surrendered. His answer: the living presence of God.
“I have seen God touching humanity in silence.”
32nd Priestly Anniversary: A Prayer for South Sudan
During his time in Medjugorje, Bishop Kussala celebrated the 32nd anniversary of his priestly ordination. Standing before the altar, he carried the entire Diocese in prayer — its priests, religious, catechists, youth, benefactors, and the people of South Sudan.
“I prayed especially for peace, healing, reconciliation, unity, spiritual renewal, courage, and hope for our fragile South Sudan and for all communities wounded by violence, fear, poverty, displacement, division, and uncertainty,” he said.
A Reflection on Reconciliation: Lessons from the Former Yugoslavia
The Bishop’s journey through Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina — lands once torn by ethnic conflict and war — prompted deep reflection on the possibility of healing between nations. Crossing multiple borders in a single day and passing through cities once associated with destruction became, in his words, “a pilgrimage of reflection about humanity, suffering, forgiveness, resilience, and reconciliation.”
“The landscapes are beautiful, yes, but even more beautiful is the living witness of people who continue choosing reconciliation over revenge, dialogue over hatred, hope over despair, and coexistence over division,” he observed. For a Bishop from a nation still navigating its own fragile peace, the message was immediate and personal.
“It reminded me that no conflict is eternal. No wound is beyond healing. No darkness is stronger than the light of God,” Bishop Kussala wrote, citing Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”
Returning Renewed
Bishop Kussala returned to his mission spiritually refreshed and renewed in hope. He reflected that the unplanned extended stay in Medjugorje was itself a message: “Perhaps these sixty-three hours were for me a gentle reminder from Heaven that amid the noise of our troubled world, God still heals quietly through prayer, renews tired souls through grace, and strengthens hearts that are close to giving up.”
He also expressed gratitude to the friends, supporters, and benefactors who made the pastoral journey possible, describing their generosity as “a living sign of God’s providence,” echoing Proverbs 11:25: “Whoever refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
