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A Precious Pearl

A Precious Pearl

“He belonged completely to God, and even in the darkness, he shined. Sin never divided his heart; such was his fidelity to the sacraments, Holy Mass and the Rosary”, I explained to the Fr PJ Summers the priest who would attend to our uncle’s funeral. Our uncle Peter, who was affectionally known to his family…

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Mary my Mother

Mary my Mother

Recently I met up with a journalist named Gloria who writes for a religious magazine.  Within moments of chatting it was obvious that Gloria had read my book, Journey Of Ten Thousand Smiles. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you don’t stammer anymore.”  In chapter two of the book, I write about…

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25 Years On – Still Longing to go Home

25 Years On – Still Longing to go Home

Lydia was visiting her mother in the house that the Irish charity Rebuild for Bosnia built for the family after they were ethnically cleansed from a town called Kakanj about an hour north of the capital city of Sarajevo. It once had a Catholic population of 11,000 before the war began in 1992 in Bosnia-Herzegovina….

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Will you join us on this first time ever expedition of challenges?

•Should  you  decide  to  participate  in this expedition  you will be providing the much needed  funds  to  build  two  more  of the houses  in  Hodbina  for  families  presently living in shacks in Tasovcici Refugee Camp.•To  secure  a place, a non  refundable deposit of  €500.00•The  trip is  limited to forty people on a first come  first …

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Saturday 31st May

•After a deeply fulfilling week it is time to pack  and make the return journey knowing  in  your  heart that your  challenge has made an overwhelming  difference  to two families whom you will have met.  •A  late breakfast will be served in the hotel before our departure for  the airport at 12.30 p.m.•Depart  Sarajevo  at 2.30 …

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Friday 30th May

•A day  trip  to  Herzegovina  will take us through the spectacular fjords encapsulated in the Bosnian mountains. •Visit  the quintessential Ottoman quarters of the old city of Mostar and absorb the quaintness of the shopping areas.•Catch  the thrill of  professional divers plunge 25metres into the Neretva River from the world famous old bridge. •Visit  the work of…

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Thursday 29th May

•The astounding beauty of the Rakitnica Canyon  has  to be  experienced  to be believed.• This two and a half hour walk  commences in Lukomir, the  highest and  remotest  village in Europe, built  in  traditional  Bosnian  style on the edge of the Rakitnica Canyon.•Enjoy  the opportunity  of meeting the self sufficient villagers of Lukomir and discover …

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Wednesday 28th May

•Relax with one of the following activities of your choice. •A  guided  sightseeing  tour  of the  historical  Sarajevo. •Stroll  through  and  enjoy   the ambience, the art, the  museums and shopping in the Ottoman Quarters of old Sarajevo.•Join the Mission Impossible Tour which  includes a trip to the famous Tunnel of Hope the only escape route…

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Tuesday 27th May

•Fourteenth century Bobovac held the Royal Bosnian Crown from 1349 until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1463.  A fortified, medieval city built in the splendorous Bobovac Canyon could only be reached through the mountains. •Hike the Bobovac Canyon from the ancient Franciscan  Monastery of Kraljeva Sutjeska, following the river with its rapid…

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Monday May 26th

An inspiring guided  exploratory tour of the 12,000  year old  Bosnian  Pyramid of the Sun, making it 8,000 years older and one third taller than the Great Pyramid of Egypt.•Discover and view the amazing details and archeological facts uncovered to date. Leading, eminent Egyptian archeologists say “keep digging”. •Walk  part of  the  three mile underground …

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