About MirPeace

“Mir” is the Croatian word for peace.
As native Croatians, our family is familiar
with the local language & customs, and has
established strong ties with the villagers
and parish community of Medjugorje.
We are dedicated to sharing Our Lady’s
message, and to serving all of Her dear
children. The Mir-Peace group is family.

MirPeace pilgrimage group was started by Helen Šarčević in 1986.
Helen (Jelka) and her husband Joseph (Josip) were both born in Croatia, and emigrated to the United States in 1957 as political refugees escaping communism.

When Helen heard, in 1981, that Our Lady was appearing to six children in the remote Croatian village of Medjugorje, Hercegovina, she immediately believed it to be true. She knew that the people living in that region were of very strong faith.

Making her first pilgrimage to Medjugorje in 1986, Helen recognized the need for a reliable representative for English speaking pilgrims. She then made it her life’s work to help pilgrims respond to Our Lady’s call, to preserve the integrity of Our Lady’s messages,  and to share them with the world.

For over 20 years, Helen led groups of American pilgrims to the village of Medjugorje nearly every month of the year. Thousands of pilgrims have responded to Our Lady’s call through her gentle and loving guidance, many of whom continue to make the pilgrimage each year, forming a beautiful family of faith.

During the 1990’s when the war of independence from communism broke out in the region of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Helen never stopped going, bringing with her much needed assistance that was donated by MirPeace pilgrims for the local villagers and the many displaced refugee families- “so that they know they are not forgotten”, she would say. Helen and Joseph had been refugees themselves for three years before being accepted by the USA, so the need was very close to their hearts.
Helen and Joseph have gone home to God, and their mission of faith continues through their children, grandchildren, and through the many other hearts they have touched throughout the years, as we follow their footsteps on the path of holiness.