On Tuesday, January 17th, the parish of Stara Rijeka near Sanski Most celebrated its heavenly patron Saint Athony the Great.
The solemn concelebrated Holy Mass celebration was led by the parish priest from Mrkonjić Grad, rev. Darko Anušić, together with the dean, rev. Marko Vidović and local parish priest rev. Zlatko Matić.
In the appropriate sermon, rev. Anušić brought the figure and work of St. Anthony,i highlighted the virtues he had and that rightly make him a role model in following Jesus: fasting, prayer and faith. He encouraged the believers that every day should be started as a new opportunity, because it is a true gift that comes from God. Through several examples from the life of this saint, in which “wise Greeks” came to him for life advice, the preacher emphasized, among other things, that knowledge should be directed towards faith in order for it to be fruitful.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the local parish priest, rev. Matić thanked all the faithful present for their participation and the local parishioners for their sacrifice in the organization. He also expressed his gratitude to the president of the Stara Rijeka Association, Franc Galešić, and the president of the Briševo Association, Zdravko Marijan, for animating the believers from the diaspora and organizing lunch for all present.
In addition to several dozen local parishioners and a few believers from neighbouring parishes, exiled parishioners living in the Zagreb area also arrived by organized transport.
After the Holy Mass celebration, the gathering continued in the parish hall with lunch and song.
KT
Stara Rijeka – January 18, 2023
