Mary’s Meals founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow has been in Medjugorje as a pilgrim this weekend and it was his first visit to the place where he experienced, as a young man, a renewal of his faith, since the Holy See announced the “nulla osta” for pilgrimages to Medjugorje 19^th September 2024.

As a “fruit of Medjugorje”, Marys Meals keeps nurturing the important link between this growing international movement and its origins, as those involved in the first Mary’s Meals projects were all people whose lives had been changed by pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

“Every year when we do this pilgrimage is a very special moment in Mary’s Meals calendar, but this time felt specially amazing with the Vatican saying there are no obstacles to the authenticity of what is happening here all these years and the encouragement for the faithful to come here. Such a happy time of joy, love and prayer”, said Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow. “It’s also a great responsibility. If we claim to be a fruit of Medjugorje, if we choose to do this work in the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we take on board the huge responsibility to do this work in a particular way. That’s why our values are so important”, he added.

At the October 2024 Mary’s Meals Pilgrimage there were more than 200 people in attendance representing 14 countries from all over the world. It was an opportunity for everyone in the Mary’s Meals family – active staff members, board members, volunteers and supporters to join Magnus in a time of prayer and thanksgiving for the mission of Mary’s Meals in Medjugorje. Not only that, but new people discovered the movement over the weekend in Medjugorje and joined the pilgrimage spontaneously.

The three-day event helped to bring pilgrims closer to Jesus and Our Lady, but also offered opportunities for fellowship and friendship and rejuvenated Mary’s Meals family to its shared vision and mission: FOOD + SCHOOL = HOPE. 

The itinerary included opportunities to come together to pray for the mission of Mary’s Meals, through climbing the hills – amid the rain! Praying the rosary, joining the Holy Mass and hearing talks from members of the Mary’s Meals family.

Some of the talks happened at The Blue Container, Mary’s Meals Information Centre – where many pilgrims have shared their experiences with new visitors or spontaneous pilgrims who have discovered there how to put in action the words of Pope Francis: “You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. This is how prayer works”. 

Mary’s Meals began feeding just 200 children in Malawi in 2002. Today, the charity reaches more than 2,400,000 hungry children across 17 countries with a nutritious meal every day they attend school.  

Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow remarked that everyone is welcome to this pilgrimage, no matter the age, no matter the situation in life, no matter the faith. “Please, come and join us another year. This is for everyone”.

Visit marysmealsmedjugorje.org to find out more about the origins of Mary’s Meals.