Many Utah Catholics join their counterparts from around the world in pilgrimages to places like Fatima or Lourdes, France, or Medjugorje, Bosnia. It was in the latter village that the faithful believe a series of apparitions began on June 24, 1981. Six young people, ranging in age from 6 to 20, said they saw and heard Mary speak as she held the infant Jesus.

One of those "visionaries" was Ivan Dragicevic, who visited Utah earlier this year and spoke to a capacity crowd at St. John the Baptist Church in Draper, according to a news story in the Intermountain Catholic. Speaking through an interpreter, Dragicevic recounted how he heard Mary speak to him and the others, saying, "My dear children, I am your mother. I will not let anything happen to you. I will lead you."

"I could not move. Then Vicka Ivankovic asked her who she was," the paper reported. "Our Lady answered, 'I am the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Peace. I am your mother. Do not be afraid of anything. I will protect you. I believe in you. I am coming because my son is sending me so I can help you.' "

The Catholic Church has yet to formally recognize the events at Medjugorje, but the events at Lourdes and Fatima have been accepted as authentic.

Today's sessions of the local conference are being held in honor of Sister Lucia, one of the three children who are said to have witnessed the apparitions in Fatima. She died earlier this year at age 97. The other two visionaries who experienced the events there with her were beatified by the Vatican on May 13, 2000. Beatification is one step below official sainthood, or canonization.

Taylor said the conference gives participants a chance to reflect not only on Mary and her concern for humanity, but on their own lives in context with her requests for peace and love among all men, whether in one's own family or in the world as a whole. She wants to clear up any misconceptions some may harbor, and said the public is welcome to attend all events.

"Some think you're just worshipping a statue, but it's nothing like that at all."

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Editor's note: For more information on Our Lady of Fatima and the activities of the World Apostolate of Fatima U.S.A., see www.bluearmy.com.

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com