The regular annual joint session of the members of the Bishop’s Conference (BK) BiH and the Croatian Bishop’s Conference(HBK) was held on Monday, March 2nd, at the premises of the Bishop’s ordinary in Banja Luka.
Prior to the session, on Sunday, March 1st, in the evening, the bishops of the Bishop’s Conference of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Croatian Bishop’s Conference celebrated a joint Eucharist at the Cathedral of St. Bonaventura in Banja Luka.
Holy Mass was led by BK BiH President, Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić in concelebration with the President of HBK Msgr. Želimir Puljić, Archbishop of Zadar and Apostolic Nuncio to BiH Msgr. Luigi Pezzuto and 21 other arch/bishops from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia, as well as with 15 priests and the assistance of one deacon.
The present were greeted by Msgr. Franjo Komarica, Bishop of Banja Luka.
The sermon was delivered by HBK President Msgr. Puljić, who recalled that Lent began on Ash Wednesday, and talked about the meaning of ash.
Referring to the passage in the Book of Genesis, which reads “how God ‘creates man’ and wants to be the ‘living soul of the universe’ …”, he emphasized that the history of man begins with temptation.
“We care when we read on the same pages of the Bible that man, as the work of God, was expelled from Eden and thrown into the land of wars, camps, and killings; in a place full of sickness and dying, in a valley of tears”, said Archbishop Želimir, noting that the young Ivan Merz, who was born in Banja Luka 124 years ago (1896.), was tortured with similar questions and was added to the people of God at baptism. The Archbishop of Zadar then recalled the life path of Bl. Merz.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the congregation prayed a prayer that is regularly prayed in the parishes of the Diocese of Banja Luka, for suffering brothers and sisters in the Christian faith in North Korea.
The next day, on March 2nd, during a one-day joint session addressed by the Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, the bishops heard reports on the work of the Council and the Directorate of two Bishop’s Conferences for Croatian foreign ministry who are coordinating the activities of Croatian Catholic missions on various continents.
They also listened to the Report on the Pontifical Croatian Institute of St. Jerome in Rome.
During the session, they discussed common issues on the liturgical plan and the implementation of the Lenten Action of the Croatian Caritas Solidarity Week with the Church and the People in BiH. A special discussion was the work of the Commission of two Bishop’s Conferences for Croatian Martyrology and the missionary activity of the Croatian Church.
The press conference was held at the premises of the Bishop’s Ordinary, where Presidents of the BK BiH and HBK Cardinal Puljić and Archbishop of Zadar Msgr. Puljić talked about this joint session. On this occasion, it was announced that the Vrhbosna’s Archbishop coadjutor, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, was elected President of the HBK Council and the BK BiH for Foreign congregation.
The meeting ended with a Holy Mass in the cathedral also led by Cardinal Puljić.
KT
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Banja Luka – March 3, 2020
