In the parish and pilgrimage church, dedicated to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Presnače in Banja Luka, a Holy Mass was celebrated on May 12th on the occasion of the anniversary of the burning of the parish priest rev. Filip Lukenda and the nun of the Society of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent, sister Cecilija Grgić.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this time about 20 participants gathered for the annual commemoration of their martyrdom. The Eucharist was attended by the Bishop of Banja Luka Franjo Komarica, Auxiliary Bishop Marko Semren, parish priest Msgr. Ivica Božinović and six priests from Banja Luka and the surrounding area. Seven nuns and nine believers were present.
The Holy Mass was led by Bishop Franjo, and the appropriate sermon was delivered by Bishop Marko.
In the memorial room in the parish house where the two martyrs were burned, all those present could pray individually.
Let us remind that one of the seven priests of the Banja Luka diocese killed in the war, Filip Lukenda, and catechist and organist in the parish sister Cecilija Grgić were burned in the parish house on the night between May 11th and 12th 1995., when the entire parish house burned down, and with the house the church was demolished to the ground. So far no one has been held accountable for this. The vast majority of parishioners have been displaced.
KT
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Banja Luka-Presnače – May 12, 2020
