Caritas of Birmingham

Caritas of Birmingham is an independent organization of Catholics founded by Terry Colafrancesco in 1986 to promote the visions of Mary reported by a group of young people in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1981. It is now one of the world's largest Marian organizations, with publications distributed worldwide. Despite its popularity, the organization is not sanctioned by the Catholic Church and ordained priests are prohibited by Diocese of Birmingham Bishop Robert Baker from leading services for them. The visions themselves are being investigated by the Vatican, but no official ruling is expected until they cease or are perceived as heretical.

Colafrancesco was among the millions who made pilgrimages to Medjugorje. In 1988, Father Slavko Barbaric gave him a crucifix that had hung in his office/bedroom, the place where daily apparitions were then taking place. He asked one of the Bosnian youths who claimed to continue receiving communications from Mary, Marija Pavlovic, to pray over the crucifix before he brought it home. He also learned that Pavlovic's brother, Andrija, was suffering from kidney failure.

Upon his return to the Birmingham airport, Colafrancesco learned from a newspaper story that UAB Hospital was rated as the best in the world for kidney transplants. Feeling led by God, he invited Pavlovic and her brother to travel to Alabama and to have the procedure done at UAB. As soon as they were granted visas, they departed for the United States. While here, it was planned that Marija would pray for visions at a local church, but that plan was blocked by unforeseen circumstances. She accompanied the Colafrancescos to their home on Bear Creek Road in Sterrett. Upon seeing the crucifix hanging in their bedroom, declared that that would be where the visions would take place. The site was interpreted as representing Mary's desire that the conversion of the United States would come through the marriage contract and the family bond. The "Bedroom of Apparitions" is now a pilgrimage site at Caritas.

As word spread that Pavlovic was in Alabama and receiving new visions, thousands of pilgrims arrived at Sterrett. They gathered on a 90-acre field adjacent to Colafrancesco's house. Pavlovic joined them there under a tall pine on Thanksgiving Day and shared a message from Mary through a translator to the crowds. The field has since become a pilgrimage site managed by Caritas.

Pavlovic married an Italian man in 1993 and is now known as Marija Lunetti. She has made many subsequent return visits to Birmingham at Caritas' invitation. In 1999 20,000-30,000 pilgrims made their way to Sterrett for a week-long worship event. Nearly 50,000 were expected for a return visit in 2004, the same weekend as the Bruno's Memorial Classic at the nearby Greystone Golf and Country Club. She has claimed to have had numerous visions here and often prays with pilgrims who travel to Shelby County during her visits.

Caritas reports between $3 and $4 million in annual donations, over and above its revenues from book sales. The organization constructed a Tabernacle of Our Lady's Messages at its headquarters and has expanded its publishing operations. The operation is staffed by resident volunteers, numbering about 55, who reside nearby.

References

• Foss, Sara (March 16, 2001) "Faith or folly?" 'Birmingham Post-Herald
• Garrison, Greg (August 2, 2005) "Pilgrims visit a visionary in a Shelby County field." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (July 2, 2008) "Visionary from Medjugorje returns." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (July 5, 2009) "Thousands gather for visionary in Shelby County." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (March 20, 2011) "Spreading the word of Caritas: Headquarters grows as visionary returns to Alabama." The Birmingham News
• Garrison, Greg (June 23, 2012) "Caritas of Birmingham prepares for more visions of Mary." The Birmingham News

External links

• Caritas of Birmingham website
• Community of Caritas website
• Caritas' Medjugorje website
• List of messages at medjugorje.com