On the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Monday, September 14th in the courtyard of the Mostar Cathedral of Mary the Mother of the Church, Msgr. Petar Palić took over from Msgr. Ratko Perić the service of the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and the administrator of the Trebinje-Mrkan diocese.
The ceremony in the Mostar Cathedral was attended by: members of the Bishops’ Conference of BiH, headed by Archbishop of Vrhbosna cardinal Vinko Puljić, Apostolic Nuncio to BiH Msgr. Luigi Pezzuto, apostolic visitor with a special role for the parish of Međugorje Henryk Hoser, a dozen bishops from the Republic of Croatia, led by the Archbishop of Zadar and the President of the Croatian Bishop’s conference (CBC) Msgr. Želimir Puljić, Belgrade Archbishop Msgr. Stanislav Hočevar, Msgr. Rrok Gjonlleshaj and others. OFM Miljenko Šteko, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, and Dr. Tomislav Markić, National Director of the Pastoral Care for Croats Abroad, also took part.
The Holy Mass was also attended by representatives of numerous male and female religious communities, Bishop Dimitrija of Zahum-Herzegovina and Primorje, a large number of representatives of political authorities led by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, FBiH President Marinko Čavara and HDZ BiH President Dragan Čović and many others, as well as numerous believers.
At the beginning, Msgr. Perić, spoke about the formation of the Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan dioceses and his 28 years as a shepherd of these two Herzegovina dioceses. “Bishop Petar, you too begin in the sign of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the consecration of this Cathedral of Mary the Mother of the Church. You have always been accompanied by the great grace of God, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, from wisdom to piety and at the word of Christ you threw nets of grace and joy and had abundant success and evangelical blessing”, said Bishop Ratko to his successor Petar.
After the address of Msgr. Amaury Medina Blanco, advisor to the Apostolic Nunciature in BiH, he showed, and then read in Latin, Pope Francis’ bull on the appointment of Msgr. Petar Palić, Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan. Those present could then hear the bull in Croatian, which was read by rev. Ivan Štironja, the parish priest in Studenci, who also played the role of the ceremonialist.
This was followed by a lecture by the pastoral staff and a walk to the episcopal chair, followed by a Holy Mass reading.
In the introduction to his first sermon as the newly enthroned Bishop of Mostar and Duvno, Msgr. Palić spoke about the 40th anniversary of the blessing of the Mostar Cathedral and how reading from the Book of Genesis about Jacob’s miraculous dream about a ladder reaching to the sky, opens eyes so that everyone understands the meaning of each house of prayer.
He went on to say that the mission of the bishop in Herzegovina, after Ratko Perić, was entrusted to him and that he was aware of the fact that moments of difficulty and temptation would not be lacking in his path.
At the end of the solemn Holy Mass, the Archbishop of Vrhbosna, cardinal Vinko Puljić, addressed the present. He thanked Msgr. Perić for cooperation with the bishops and the faithful, priestly and episcopal ministry, and welcomed his successor Petar to the communion of the episcopal conference. He told him that together they should boldly witness and proclaim the risen Christ.
After him, the message was delivered by the President of the CBC, Msgr. Želimir Puljić.
On behalf of the priests of the Mostar-Duvno and Trebinje-Mrkan dioceses, the Vicar General, rev. Željko Majić, greeted the new and thanked the retired bishop.
OFM Miljenko Šteko, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, also addressed the two bishops.
On behalf of the faithful, words of thanks and welcome were said by Borislava Šarić, a medical worker and mother of four.
The solemn Mass celebration was animated by the mixed cathedral choir Marija under the direction of mo. Rev. Dragan Filipović.
We remind you that the news of the appointment of Msgr. Petar Palić as Bishop of Mostar-Duvno and Apostolic Administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan, was published on July 11th 2020., more than a year after Bishop Perić made his mandate available to the Holy Father due to the canonical age of 75 (February 2nd 2019).
KT
www.nedjelja.ba
Mostar – September 14, 2020
