XXVI joint session of the BK BiH and HBK
On March 13th, members of BK BiH (BiH Bishops’ Conference) and HBK (Bishop’s conference of Croatia) held their XXVI regular annual session in the Archbishop’s residence in Sarajevo.
The meeting was presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Vrhbosna and the Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Msgr. Tomo Vukšić, president of the BK BiH, and Archbishop Metropolitan of Zagreb, Msgr. Dražen Kutleša, president of the HBK.
Members of the BK BiH from Banja Luka and Mostar and all active bishops of the HBK, including one apostolic administrator, participated in the session. In the first part of the session, the apostolic nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Archbishop Francis Assisi Chullikatt, and the Archbishop of Vrhbosna in peace, cardinal Vinko Puljić also participated.
BiH and Europe
After the joint prayer, Archbishop Vukšić sent a greeting and expressed his joy at the appointment of four brothers to new offices after last year’s joint session: Msgr. Kutleša, archbishop of Split, Msgr. Zdenko Križić, Bishop of Banja Luka, Msgr. Željko Majić and the bishop of Požega, Msgr. Ivo Martinović, OFM.
“Thank you for coming from the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is facing very important decisions by Europe and other power centres regarding its organization and geostrategic position in the future. It is about the process of European integration, which is also supported by the BK BiH. We do this as Christians because of the need to achieve higher legal standards and adopt better legal solutions, to protect the safety, dignity and individual rights of every human being and the collective rights of all peoples, which in that case would be more respected. We are also convinced that such an increase in legal protection standards would greatly help all people, nations and the state itself”, said the archbishop of Vrhbosna.
He further emphasized that this would help consolidate peace, social harmony and protect against manipulation, over-voting and humiliation of the dignity of those who are in the minority. “Therefore, the Croatian people are looking forward to such new constitutional and legal solutions, which will protect individual human rights and the ethics of legitimate representation of collective identities”, said Msgr. Vukšić, concluding that in many ways this part of the world has always belonged to Europe.
Deep connection
The welcoming speech was then delivered by Archbishop Kutleša, who first pointed out that this joint meeting “provides them with an opportunity to renew and deepen their ties in Christ, sharing experiences, challenges and hopes in our services”.
“This session symbolizes not only the unity of our Church, but also the deep connection of our people, believers, who, although politically separated by state borders, remain inseparably united in religion and culture. The presence and togetherness of our conferences are a testimony of our mutual support and solidarity”, said Msgr. Kutleša, stressing that “the Church in Croatia stands with its brothers and sisters in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
“Our duty, as pastors, is to be bridges of reconciliation, love and peace, following Christ’s example (…) We are called to act and take responsibility for the spiritual and moral renewal of our believers. This requires us, first of all, to return to Christ. Our efforts must be focused on making Christ the centre of every believer’s life, which means deeper evangelization initiatives, the renewal of liturgical life and the promotion of prayer and sacramental life in the community,” said the Archbishop of Zagreb, adding that they are also called to be messengers of hope, promoting dialogue, reconciliation and ecumenical spirit, to encourage believers to be active participants in social life, witnessing evangelical values in everyday life.
Overview of activities
In the working part of the meeting, the bishops first paid special attention to the Croatian pastoral care abroad, which is organized in 181 cities in the world where 186 diocesan and religious priests work. They thanked the national director of the Pastoral Ministry for Croats Abroad, rev. Tomislav Markić and elected him for a new five-year term.
The bishops also listened to the report on the official visit of the chairman of the Bishops’ Commission to the Papal Croatian Institute of St. Jerome in Rome in mid-January, and thanked the administration, employees and all residents of the Institute, which currently houses 23 Croatian priests.
After listening to the report on the Week of Solidarity with the Church and People in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the members of the BK BiH thanked everyone who contributes in any way so that the people of BiH feel the closeness and support of the Church and people in Croatia in a concrete way.
They also thanked the experts who are working on the new translation of the Roman Missal. The bishops were then introduced to the activities of the Croatian Institute for Liturgical Pastoral Care and the work of the HBK Council for Missions, and expressed their joy at the good cooperation of the National Administrations in Zagreb and Sarajevo as well as all diocesan directors.
The presidents of the Council for Seminaries and Spiritual Vocations of the Croatian Catholic Church of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council for Clergy and Seminaries of the Catholic Church of Bosnia and Herzegovina reported on the work of these bodies on harmonizing the document on priestly education, Ratio fundamentalis institutionis sacerdotalis, and the members of the two bishops’ conferences expressed their agreement that it should be drafted joint document and provided the necessary guidelines.
They also listened to proposals for the celebration of the Holy Year in 2025. They invited all the faithful to, in accordance with the Holy Father’s encouragement, during this year get involved in its preparation, primarily in a prayerful way. They also considered proposals for marking the 1 100th anniversary of the national Split church councils during the time of the Croatian King Tomislav and gave the necessary guidelines.
At the end, they expressed their support for the protection of Croatian minorities around the world, including the Croats in Kosovo.
Joint celebration
The bishops of BK BiH and HBK previously celebrated Holy Mass in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With the concelebration of 18 archbishops and 30 priests, the Holy Mass celebration was led by Msgr. Vukšić, and Nuncio Chullikatt delivered the appropriate sermon. He explained that Jesus cares not only for the physical condition of the sick, but also for the spiritual condition that requires healing at the root. “That Savior is always with us, in our hearts, and never leaves us (…) He comforts us. He takes care of us. He heals us”, encouraged the nuncio.
At the end, he encouraged those present “to ask the Lord to grant them the grace of listening to faith so that the echo of Jesus’ silence, as it was for the one taken from the Gospel, would also be a sure source of hope that comforts and encourages us”.
During the Holy Mass, theologians under the direction of Professor Rev. Ivan Rako assisted, and the liturgical singing was animated by the cathedral mixed choir Josip Stadler under the direction of Rev. Marko Stanušić.
With the theological community
After all this, on March 13th, the bishops met with the theological community, where they celebrated Holy Mass. The rector of the seminary, rev. Zdenko Spajić, greeted all present.
The Holy Mass celebration was led by Msgr. Kutleša, who emphasized the importance of obedience to God’s will in an appropriate sermon. “We, on the other hand, through the merits of Jesus, have become partakers of the community, sons of the heavenly Father, called not to seek our own will, but to act according to his will. Jesus is completely subject to the Father’s will”, reminded Bishop Dražen, concluding by highlighting three gospel messages for priestly life and service to the Church: “authority should be accompanied by communion with the Father and Jesus Christ; one must respect the law, but also listen to what the Spirit says; complete submission to God’s will should be the goal of all their efforts”.
After the Holy Mass, followed joint photography and refreshments in the seminary dining room.
The Church is looking forward to the good news from Brussels
After the first part of the one-day XXVI. joint session of BK BiH and HBK on Wednesday, March 13th, in the hall of the Priest’s House of the Vrhbosna Archdiocese, Archbishop Vukšić and Bishop of Varaždin Msgr. Bože Radoš, addressed the journalists.
At the beginning of the press conference, which was moderated by the general secretary of the BK BiH, Msgr. Ivo Tomašević, Archbishop Tomo informed those present about the discussed topics that are important and common to both Bishop’s Conferences.
Journalists were particularly interested in how Msgr. Vukšić comments on news from the European Union related to BiH’s European path and the opening of membership negotiations.
“The bishops’ conference and I personally have always supported any progress in that process and we look forward to all these positive signs”, said the archbishop, explaining that he believes that when, God willing, the European processes end in a positive way, they will bring here, above all, certain legal standards that will enable peace to be more secure, for people’s satisfaction to be greater.
KT
