In the former parish branch of Stara Rijeka, in the village of Briševo near the Ljubija mine, the 31st anniversary of the bloody massacre of 68 Catholics was liturgically commemorated on July 25th.
The Holy Mass was officiated by Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Franjo Komarica. It was concelebrated by the administrator of the parish of Stara Rijeka and parish priest of the faithful community of Ljubija, rev. Zlatko Matić, along with two other priests.
Bishop Komarica, in his sermon, emphasized that “from the very beginnings of Christianity, it is characteristic of this religion to suffer persecution, misunderstanding, contempt, suppression, and eradication.”
“Thus it was from the time of the apostles to our days, including Catholics from Briševo, Stara Rijeka, Sanski Most, Sasina, as well as Catholics and their priests from the parishes of Ravska and Prijedor”, he explained, connecting the plea of the Old Testament believer and similar pleas of countless millions of people before and after it, including the plea of the martyrs from Briševo and others. He concluded by thanking all those “who have made an effort so far and who will continue to make an effort in the future to ensure that the prayerful memory of the innocent victims from that area does not fade.”
The liturgical singing was led by Sister Miroslava Ljevar from Sasina.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the attendees proceeded to the common memorial cross of all the slain people from Briševo and other parishioners, where Father Matić read the names of all the victims of the massacre, and Bishop Komarica prayed the prayers for the dead.
KT
